Is a baby laundry detergent necessary? Yes. Your new baby’s skin is pure and delicate and deserves to have products that are especially formulated to protect his sensitive skin, such as an all natural baby detergent. Ideally, you should began to wash all of baby’s clothing, bedding, cloth diapers, towels, bibs, car seat and stroller covers, soft toys, and and even your clothing that baby will be snuggling against before baby is born.

Babies are sure cute, but they are messy little humans.  In the first few months, many parents report changing outfits 3-4 times a day. If you plan to use cloth diapers, you will go through an average of 9-12 a day, and require an ample clean supply at the ready. You will need plenty of baby detergent on hand.

A baby’s clothing should always be washed separate from other household laundry. Some laundry can harbor germs even after a thorough washing. A newborn baby’s immature immune system needs to be protected from bacteria, fungus and viruses .

Baby Safe Laundry Detergent Considerations

Avoid Synthetic Scents

Babies have a distinctive sweet smell all of their own. Any baby detergent that you use should ideally be unscented. And if it scented, it should contain only naturally occurring organic fragrance.  Manufactured scents contain chemicals that are known carcinogens. A 2010 study found highly toxic chemicals in scented laundry products, some of which were carcinogenic.

Remember that babies have a very acute sense of smell. Fresh from the protective womb, they feel all sensations very strongly. What may be a refreshing scent to you, even if natural, might be troubling to your baby.

Stay Clear of Harsh Ingredients

These should be avoided in baby detergents: Optical Brighteners,Quaternium-18,Sodium Laureth Sulfate,Sodium Laurel Sulfate,Formaldehyde, Bleach and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates. The Environmental Working Group cautions consumers to”Read labels carefully and pay special attention to warnings. Don’t buy any products labeled “poison,” “danger” or “fatal” if swallowed or inhaled.”

Unfortunately, a label isn’t enough to keep you safe. Currently, there are no laws mandating that detergent manufacturers list their entire ingredient list.

The advocacy group Women’s Voices For The Earth (MVE) commissioned independent lab testing that showed all is not as safe as seen.  Both standard Tide Detergent and Tide Free and Clear (fragrance free) were found by MVE to contain 1,4-Dioxane  (a carcinogen ) and Limonene an allergy trigger. Read their report, here. Other popular brand detergents, such as All Free and Clear laundry detergent, contain optical brighteners. Skin irritations have been connected to optical brighteners, as these chemicals leave a heavy residue on washed clothing. Cara Bondi a Research Chemist at Seventh Generation, has a enlightening visual demonstration about about optical brighteners, watch here. Clearly optical brighteners and other harsh ingredients prevent a health risk to the chemically sensitive and babies

The best advice is to go with a company that fully discloses it’s ingredients and is truly committed to safe, green and natural cleaning. Any company that upholds such values is more than willing to talk to consumers and disclose full information about their product. Parents need this assurance when deciding on a baby laundry detergent.

Stain Fighter Capacity

Moms need their babies too be cute, and their baby laundry detergent to be mighty. Baby laundry detergents need to be tough on the goo, grime and well… poo of babyhood. But contrary to common consumer belief, clean does not have to cost your baby his health. Natural cleaners can be very effective at fighting stains and odor removal.

Clean Rinsing

Babies skin is their largest organ. You want a baby laundry detergent that rinses away all detergent residue. Undetectable detergent residue on baby garments and other infant items, could contribute to allergies and other skin conditions. Residue allows dirt to quickly adhere to fabric. Leaving clothing questionably cleaned.

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Time To Get Clean!

What detergent is safe for babies? Here is our recommended listing of the best baby laundry detergent brands. Their safe ingredients and ability to effectively clean your baby’s laundry make them both a favorite of moms and babies, alike.

Molly’s Sud’s All Natural Laundry Powder

Molly’s Suds was developed by a pediatric nurse and mother who started a mission to rid her home of toxic cleaning products. Her quest led her to create Molly’s Suds All Natural Laundry Powder.  Molly’s Suds earned an honorable “A”  safety rating with the Environmental Working Group.  Leaping Bunny certified.  Parents can count on Molly’s Suds to be a safe baby laundry detergent that handles all the messes of babyhood and beyond.  Molly’s is also very economical.  One package cleans 128 loads of laundry. Baby’s laundry detergent just might become a family favorite.

Allens Naturally

Long before being “green” was hip, Allens Naturally laundry products were focused on natural cleaning solutions. The company was founded in 1979.  Allens Naturally provides consumers with laundry care products that are free of dyes, perfumes and fragrances. A Clean rinsing laundry formula that leaves no residue, and just delivers soft and clean laundry. Allens Naturally is highly recommended by many cloth diaper manufacturers. Leaping Bunny certified. Available in either powder or liquid. Cost effective at about 10 cents a load. Allens also makes a great laundry additive called Stink Out, which is designed to remove odors from cloth diapers, towels and sports wear.

Puretergent Gentle

Puretergent Gentle is a high performance, botanical based liquid laundry detergent. All natural. It is designed to deliver extra softness to a variety of delicates, cashmere, towels and especially baby clothes!  Your little one’s clothing will be clean, super soft, scent-free, and residue-free.  Puretergent Gentle eliminates the need for dryer sheets and fabric softeners. One eco-friendly package cares for 50 loads of laundry.

 

7th Generation Free & Clear: 2X Natural Baby Laundry Liquid

We like the entire line of 7th Generation Products.
Free & Clear 2x Natural Baby Laundry Liquid by 7th Generation exemplifies the company’s long standing commitment to effective green cleaning.
This baby detergent is designed for use in both standard and High Efficiency (HE) washing machines. It is formulated with enzymes that conquer stubborn baby stains. The product is free of optical brighteners, dyes, and synthetic fragrances. The detergent is also biodegradable. It’s hypoallergenic formula was designed to be gentle to baby’s skin.
An added plus, is that many groceries chains stock this baby laundry detergent, making repurchases a simple task . However, Amazon.com offers very competitive prices on their Subscribe & Save Program home delivery program. This makes the detergent both ecologically and economically, attractive.

ECOS Disney Baby / Earth Friendly Products Baby Laundry Detergent

In March 2012, Earth Friendly Products launched a new line of baby and toddler laundry products co-branded with Disney. This Disney Baby Ecos line is adorned with time favorite disney characters of the  Winnie the Pooh and Tigger.  While the branding is new, the Earth Friendly Products Ecos~Earth Friendly Baby Laundry Detergent
has been a trusted green baby product for many years.
Don’t let it’s short and sweet ingredient list deter you, this baby laundry detergent is a gentle giant on the cleaning front. It’s non-toxic, hypoallergenic,and plant based formulation is safe both to baby and the environment she will inherit. You might just be tempted to use this baby laundry soap for your fine hand washable garments,too.
The detergent is also available in a naturally scented version with the essential oils of chamomile and lavender, for those that desire a fragrance in their detergent. There is a free and clear version formula available, too.
Earth Friendly Products website  states ” our products are readily biodegradable, non-toxic, free of phosphates, and have a neutral pH. Because they are plant-based and petroleum-free, our surfactants do not bio-accumulate or mimic human hormones.” The company is highly committed to manufacturing products that are safe both to their users and the environment. Their published listing, “Our Freedom Code”, contains detailed information on over 50 chemical ingredients that they refuse to use in their products. Commendably, they were the first manufacturer to stop using 1,4 Dioxane, salt and Formaldehyde in their product line. We like this company’s ethics!
The detergent is available in both 50 ounce and a 5 gallon sizes.The product is available at Amazon (priced competitively), online and at retailers such as Costco.

Charlie’s Soap Powder

While boasting that their products clean everything from “Diesel Engines to False Teeth” this family recipe —sold round the world —is a soap powder that is truly gentle to baby.

Charlie’s Soap Powder
affords an opportunity for mom and dad to purchase a detergent that is safe, economical, and ecological for baby.  In fact,many parent’s soon find it becomes the Family’s new laundry detergent. A 2.64 container, nicely priced at Amazon for $15.53, washes a whopping 80 loads. Amazon customers who utilize the no obligation Subscribe & Save Program can buy the detergent for as low as $14.75.
This standard and HE safe detergent is so effective at removing dirt and odors, that it only requires ONE tablespoon per each large load. It is formulated to deliver laundry that is soft and fresh without the use of costly softeners. Yet, the genius of Charlie’s is that is both non-toxic and biodegradable without the use of: dyes, clays, phosphates, ultraviolet brighteners or perfume.
Cloth diapering moms are also big fans of charlies…as it leaves cloth diapers clean, odor-free and cleanly rinsed.  Charlie’s also does not remove the flame retardants still found on some articles of baby and children’s clothing.
Charlies Soap Powder’s slogan is “Charlie’s Soap is: Green. Clean. Guaranteed. ” Can’t beat that!

Rockin Green Bare Naked Babies -Classic Rock 45/90 Loads Remix

Rockin’ Green Classic Rock Bare Naked Babies
is truly a Rock Star detergent with a legion of laundry groupies— to prove it. The brand was recently awarded the About.com 2012 Readers’ Choice award for best overall laundry detergent. Rockin Green has also been awarded honors from the PTPAMedia (Parent Tested Parent Approved Media) and from MACT (Mother Approved and Child Tested) in the Non-Toxic and Safe Product’s category and in the Green Product,Production and Packaging category
Kimberly Webb, a former cloth diapering mom, is the founder and CEO of the company. The company was formed out of Webb’s frustration at the lack of safe, yet tough, detergents on the market. She and her father began to tinker in the “family lab” for a solution and Rockin Green was born.  “It’s tough finding a product that is safe for your kids but tough on stains and cleans perfectly, but you shouldn’t have to settle,” says Webb. “I am so unbelievably grateful that Rockin’ Green helps moms and babies because that is exactly what I set out to do!”
Eco-friendly Rockin’ Green Bare Naked Babies – Classic Rock laundry detergent (as are all detergents in the product line)is free of dyes, fillers, optical brighteners and enzymes and phosphates. It is gentle, leaves near-to-zero detergent residue, and removes water deposits. This laundry detergent is also vegan. This particular detergent product is unscented, but others in the line are scented with organic essential oils.
A unique feature of the green detergent line is that it offers products (Hard Rock, Soft Rock, and Classic Rock) tailored to your regions water conditions.The detergent is also super sensitive to a baby’s skin or anyone with skin sensitivities. It has a low PH, in comparison to other detergents, which provides a gentle cleaning medium for cloth diapers and fabrics.
Rocking Green Bare Naked Babies laundry detergent is available at Amazon.com, online and natural living stores.

 Eco Baby Soap Nuts Organic Baby Detergent

If you are looking for a truly green clean —it doesn’t get any more natural than with Eco Nuts Organic Fragrance Free Hypoallergenic Laundry Soap, 100 Loads. Ecos Soap nuts, are actually little berries (no,need to worry about nut allergies) organically harvested from the Himalayas that contain Mother Natures’ natural cleaning agent,Saponin.
You may be asking” But does it really clean?” Testimonials on the company website affirm the toughness of this detergent. There is no compromise when it comes to tackling dirt, grime and odors.
Ecos Nuts believes that what is good for the baby, is also good for the entire family. They are convinced that parents might just covet their baby’s detergent and start to use it for the entire family. In fact, they were a PTPAMedia (Parent Tested Parent Approved Media) winner.
This detergent is economical. A box of medium soap nuts is reasonably priced at just $11.99, and is designed to treat a 100 loads of laundry. That’s just 11cents a load! And since soap nuts are naturally soft and gentle to fabrics— leaving little detergent residue, there will be no need costly fabric softeners.
Ecos Nuts is formulated without SLS ,dyes, fragrance, or optical brighteners,is certified USDA organic and is pasteurized and sterilized.
Cloth Diapers are especially suited to Eco Baby Soap Nuts. The saponin, in soap nuts helps to gently lift fibers in the drying process. This keeps the diapers soft and fluffed—  allowing more surface area for absorbancy, Eco Nuts has a great info about cloth diapering on their website.
This is literally a safe baby detergent that we are nuts for ! And for a limited time — Take  5% off of your order at the Eco Nuts Website

 Honest Company Baby Safe Laundry Detergent
The Honest Company was founded by celeb mom and mother of two, Jessica Alba.  Besides the Honest Laundry Detergent, the company also sells safe and ecological diapers, wipes, bath and body products and cleaning items for baby.
The company states that Honest Laundry Detergent is ” Honestly FREE of: SLS, synthetic perfume, glycol, enzymes, dyes, phosphates, 1,4-dioxane, chlorine, DEA, formaldehyde, petrochemicals, caustics, and optical brighteners. The products are also cruelty free to animals and are vegan.
This grime fighter is clean rinsing with a low PH. And, it comes with a guarantee of satisfaction.
Honest products are available to order directly on the company’s website.

 Mrs Meyer’s Baby Blossom Laundry Detergent
This detergent was dermatologist tested to be sensitive to baby’s sensitive skin. The brand attests that 97% of Baby Blossom Laundry detergent’s ingredients are naturally derived.
This biodegradable detergent is free of ammonia, chlorine bleach,and is paraben and phosphate-free.  Baby Blossom is scented with organic oils.
The unique experience of the Mrs. Myers line of cleaning products is the promise of an aromatherapeutic cleaning adventure. Their Baby Blossom’s laundry detergent evokes a scent of ” The blossoms of spring wildflowers, butterfly violets and honeysuckle with a teeny bit of apple, lemon and mint.”
For those sensitive to scents a fragrance free formula is also available.
This infant detergent can be purchased at Amazon, online and select retailers.

 BabyGanics Loads Of Love

Founded by Kevin and Keith, two self-described clean freak fathers, BabyGanics features an entire line of baby care and cleaning products with a dedicated focus on using non-toxic materials.
BabyGanics Loads of Love 3X Laundry Detergent
and other BabyGanics products feature the BabyGanics Guarantee “Try BabyGanics products and if BabyGanics doesn’t work as well as the leading toxic chemicals, we will pay for your next purchase of toxic chemicals.” That’s hard to beat!
This laundry detergent is harsh on stains and smells — but gentle to your baby. Their 3x concentrated detergent (in comparison to standard brands) is free of chemicals and toxins. The detergent has also been demonstrated to be safe to flame retardant sleepwear.
The product is widely available at Amazon, online, ToyRus and other retailers.

Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild Liquid Soap
60 years of making natural soaps makes this entry a trusted choice. products are USDA Organic. This unscented soap contains coconut, hemp and jojoba oils.
We love this detergent for it’s multi-purpose capabilities. This is a great baby soap for your little one.  And it can also double for cleaning toys, play surfaces, baby gadgets and laundry.  Which makes it handy to place in your diaper bag for travel. Small bottles are available.
This product is Fair Trade, USDA Organic and is not tested on animals.
For laundry use Dr. Bronner’s recommends using: 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup for one regular load; adjust as needed depending on the hardness of your water. Adding a dash of baking soda makes it even better.”

The soap/detergent is available at Amazon, online, Whole Foods and at other retailers.

Congratulations on your new baby and happy safe laundering!