Unlike regular detergents, baby detergents are gentle, refreshing formulas that allow you to wash your little one’s clothes without risking rashes and other skin irritations. Generally, you should use baby detergent for your baby’s clothes and washable diapers until they are at least six months old, but you can continue to use your favorite baby detergent for as long as you like.
However long you use it, you need to know which baby detergent to purchase for your household. But not all baby detergents are made equal. Ask yourself these questions as you determine which detergent is best for you and your baby.
What type of washing machine do you use? Some detergents are better for high-efficiency washing machines, while others are best for conventional machines.
- Do you recycle? If you do, you’ll want to make sure the detergent packaging is recyclable and made with recycled materials.
- How sensitive is your baby’s skin? Hypoallergenic detergents are best if you want to prevent your baby’s clothes from irritating their skin and causing them discomfort.
- Are the ingredients biodegradable? If you’re especially concerned with your environmental impact, make sure to read through the ingredient list.
- Are you or your baby sensitive to strong scents? Some detergents have perfumes, while others use essential oils. You may prefer a scentless detergent if you don’t enjoy strong fragrances.
- How often do you do laundry? Check the label to see how many loads of laundry each detergent bottle will cover. Then compare bottle sizes and costs.
- Do you need extra stain-fighting power? The answer is probably yes — keep in mind that some detergents have specific stain-fighting ingredients while others simply focus on cleaning.
- Do you prefer liquid or powder detergent? If you spill detergent by accident, powder detergent may take longer to clean up — or your washer may be better suited for liquid formulas.
- Do you value expert opinions? Some detergents are tested or recommended by pediatricians and dermatologists. And others are certified by environmental organizations for the safety of their ingredients.
Once you think through your needs, you’ll be better equipped to buy your ideal baby detergent. Today, let’s break down the 11 best baby detergents you can buy.
Best for Hypoallergenic Care: Dreft Pure Gentleness Liquid Baby Detergent
Dreft’s Pure Gentleness Liquid Baby Detergent is one of the best baby detergents for careful and hypoallergenic care. Its gentle, pediatrician-recommended formula is unlikely to cause any rashes or irritation.
Naturally, it’s free of phosphates, brighteners, dyes, and chlorine, and also fragrance-free — with a plant-based formula ideal for mothers and fathers who want to use only natural ingredients rather than potentially harsh chemicals when they wash baby clothes.
On top of that, it’s pretty affordable as each bottle washes 32 loads. What’s not to like?
Best for Newborn Clothes: Ivory Snow Stage 1, Hypoallergenic Liquid Baby Laundry Detergent
The Ivory Snow Stage 1: Hypoallergenic Liquid Baby Laundry Detergent is specially designed for newborns. If you recently gave birth and want to make sure that onesies don’t harm your baby’s skin, this is the baby detergent for you.
The highly concentrated formula cleans away stubborn stains, smears, and anything else that might get onto your baby’s clothes during messy feedings and diaper changes.
While you may need to switch to a different baby detergent after six months or so, that’s still an appropriate trade-off if you want to ensure total safety for your newborn. Consider using this as your baby’s first detergent.
Best for Lots of Loads: Molly’s Suds Baby Laundry Detergent Powder
Molly’s Suds Baby Laundry Detergent Powder offers excellent value for your money — one purchase of about 80 ounces of detergent cleans 120 loads of laundry. You just need to use one tablespoon of the baby laundry powder to clean and deodorize one load of clothes.
This dye-free laundry detergent is extremely gentle on newborn skin, as it’s formulated with plant-derived ingredients. It’s a hypoallergenic and hyper-efficient product with stain-fighting enzymes that dissolve spit-up, breast milk, and poop.
If your baby often makes messes, don’t worry. This is a super good choice for stain removal as well. Feel free to use this baby detergent for all kinds of washing machines, including standard, commercial, and high-efficiency ones.
Best for Travel: Ensueño Baby Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry Fabric Softener
Are your baby’s clothes feeling rough? The Ensueño Baby Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry and Fabric Softener is just what you need. That’s because this purchase gets you 12 small bottles.
Combined, those bottles will be enough for 156 loads of baby laundry. But since they come in smaller bottles, it’s easier than you think to simply pack one into your suitcase so you can do your baby’s laundry while you are visiting friends and family members.
This hypoallergenic fabric softener is available in four fragrances, and it’s safe for all types of clothing. It can even protect against color fading while softening clothes.
Best for Plant-Based Formula: Noodle & Boo Baby Laundry Essentials Ultra
Noodle & Boo’s Baby Laundry Essentials Ultra is a prime choice for eco-conscious parents and one of the best baby detergents overall, thanks to its plant-based formula that doesn’t use harsh or synthetic chemical ingredients.
It’s pediatrician and dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic — with a pleasing signature crème douce scent. As you use this, you’ll find the concentrated formula to be effective for conventional washing machine use. You don’t need to use a ton of detergent to clean a whole load of laundry.
Choose this detergent if you are wary about using optical brighteners or chemicals formulated in a lab rather than in nature.
Best for Stain Fighting: Arm & Hammer Baby
Arm & Hammer’s Baby Detergent is the go-to choice for parents who want maximum stain-fighting power. That’s because this baby detergent is tough on baby stains but remains gentle on the skin. Carrots, baby food, vegetables, fruit — this baby detergent can easily remove all these stains.
The hypoallergenic formula is EPA Safer Choice-certified, so it’s free from bleach, dyes, phosphates, GMOs, and parabens. Plus, there are no preservatives or animal-derived ingredients.
It’s perfect for use with high-efficiency laundry machines. For the best results, be sure to use it with cold water. This will help the laundry detergent thoroughly clean away stains on your baby’s clothes, diapers, blankets, and other fabric items.
Best for High-Efficiency Washing Machines: Dreft Stage 1, Newborn Baby Liquid Laundry Detergent
The Dreft Stage 1: Newborn Baby Liquid Laundry Detergent is one of the best baby detergents for households with high-efficiency washing machines. With an HE washing machine, you need a laundry detergent that can get the job done quickly and efficiently.
This unscented baby detergent is hypoallergenic and is formulated for newborn babies six months old or younger. More importantly, the brand has been trusted by mothers and fathers for over 80 years, and it comes recommended by Pampers, the long-standing maker of diapers and baby products.
With no harsh ingredients, you can rest assured the detergent can remove tough stains while remaining gentle on your baby’s skin. Just because the formula is made for HE washing machines doesn’t mean you can’t use it with standard washing machines, either, so it’s a pretty versatile solution overall.
Best for Fragrance-Free Cleaning: Babyganics 3X Baby Laundry Detergent
Babyganics’ 3X Baby Laundry Detergent might be your favorite choice if you prefer a laundry detergent without artificial fragrance. This high-quality, allergen-free detergent is made without fragrances, dyes, sulfates, chlorine, brighteners, and phthalates.
You can use this stain-fighting product for cloth diapers, baby clothes, towels, and everything in between without wrinkling your nose at a synthetic fragrance. The formula is dermatologist tested, so it’s great for babies who have sensitive skin that is prone to rashes.
Ultimately, choose this baby detergent if your little one is happier when their clothes don’t smell like something unfamiliar.
Best for Eco-Friendliness: Dreft Stage 1, Baby Laundry Detergent Liquid Soap
The Dreft Stage 1: Baby Laundry Detergent Liquid Soap is a top pick for eco-conscious parents. Right off the bat, you’ll notice its similarity to other products on this list that make it worth your money, like ultra-concentrated effectiveness and a hypoallergenic formula.
The real selling point, however, is that this has the same excellent Dreft baby detergent you may already know and love, but it comes in a box detergent package with 60% less plastic compared to traditional detergent bottles. Thanks to the compact size, it’s easy to store in your laundry room.
But by purchasing this baby detergent, you’ll also do your part for the planet. Despite being in a box, it’s easy to use due to the no-drip tap. Plus, you’ll get 30% better cleaning results per drop thanks to its concentrated formula. Pick this if you want to purchase baby detergent that doesn’t produce more plastic waste.
Best for Concentrated Cleaning: All Liquid Laundry Detergent
All Liquid’s Laundry Detergent is a great choice if you’re looking for a concentrated cleaning solution. This hypoallergenic, dye-free baby detergent is twice as concentrated as many other detergent products — perfect for removing tough stains from your baby’s clothes.
Proprietary stain lifters deliver concentrated cleaning power straight to the source, all without irritating the sensitive skin of your little one. It is lightly scented, but not so overwhelming that your baby will be bothered by it. It’s also U.S. EPA Safer Choice certified.
You can use this liquid detergent in any washing machine and with any water temperature, further adding to its ease of use. The box has enough detergent for 100 loads of laundry, helping you save money during the expensive, earliest years of your baby’s life.
Best for Fragrance Options: Seventh Generation Concentrated Baby Laundry Detergent
The Seventh Generation Concentrated Baby Laundry Detergent is an affordable and effective quadruple enzyme formula. Certified by the USDA as a 95% biobased product, this hypoallergenic detergent uses 97% plant-based ingredients.
If you want to use this laundry detergent formula for the whole family, you have plenty of options — you can choose from five scents made from essential oils and botanical ingredients.
Bottled in recyclable packaging, this baby detergent combines efficiency with personal choice. Because of this, it’s the perfect laundry detergent for selective families or little ones.
The Bottom Line
If you’re unsure which of these best baby laundry detergents is suitable for your baby’s delicate skin, consider each option’s unique elements and price points. The Arm & Hammer Baby Detergent, for example, is best if you want to double down on stain fighting. On the other hand, the Dreft Pure Gentleness Liquid Baby Detergent is perfect if your baby is prone to allergic reactions, eczema, or other skin rashes. Whatever you choose, the best detergent will help you get lots of laundry done in the coming months!
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