What Laundry Detergent Is Safe For Babies?
Written by Irina Webb
Did you know that babies are especially vulnerable to toxic chemicals found in common household products? Babies’ bodies, including their brains, organs, and immune systems, develop rapidly. This makes them more vulnerable to damage in the event of toxic exposure. Moreover, the organs responsible for detoxifying chemicals, such as the liver and kidneys, are not fully developed in infants. As a result, their bodies are less capable of processing and eliminating toxins, allowing these harmful substances to accumulate more readily.
For instance, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reports that the half-lives of many chemicals metabolized by infants are 3-9 times longer than those found in adults. Additionally, pound for pound, babies have more skin, breathe more air, drink more water, and eat more food than grownups do. In fact, the ratio of skin surface area to body weight in newborns is 2.3 times higher than in adults (source). This means that, overall, their exposures to environmental factors are higher than those of adults. As a consequence, chemical exposure that might not significantly impact adults can interfere with the normal development of babies, potentially leading to long-term health issues.
What Laundry Detergent Is Safe For Babies?
As you may know, babies have delicate, sensitive skin that requires special care. Specifically, the uppermost layer of their skin, the stratum corneum, is thirty percent thinner in infants than in adults (source).
Because of this, the clothes and bedding that come into contact with your baby’s skin should be as gentle as possible. If caregivers launder blankets, clothing, and other linens with regular laundry detergent, they may inadvertently irritate the baby’s skin or increase exposure to potentially toxic chemicals.
For instance, consider Tide Original Liquid Laundry Detergent. Upon reviewing its list of ingredients, I found numerous irritants and skin allergens, chemicals known to raise respiratory concerns, undisclosed fragrance ingredients (some of which are associated with hormone disruption), and chemicals that are possibly contaminated with carcinogens.
While infants do not directly handle these detergents during laundering, even the best washing machines can leave behind detergent residue on clothing. In turn, this residue comes in direct contact with the baby’s skin.
Given these concerns, choosing the right baby laundry detergent is essential. The desire to protect our children from harm is also a very natural and biological response. New mothers especially have hormones that increase their level of protectiveness (source). This is a good instinct for obvious reasons, that can also leave parents prey to false advertising or fearmongering.
What Ingredients To Avoid In Laundry Detergent For Babies
Did you know that not all products labeled as baby laundry detergents are safe? There is no regulatory body that would hold brands accountable for those claims. Today, I’m sharing what to look for in a baby laundry detergent, which ingredients to avoid, and a curated list of the best options available.
To begin, selecting the safest laundry detergent for your baby involves understanding what ingredients to avoid. To get started, here are some common ingredients found in baby laundry detergents that you should exercise caution around:
- optical brighteners and dyes
- fragrance
- sensitizers and irritants
- harsh preservatives
- stabilizers
- ethoxylated ingredients, and
- cautioned ingredients.
Optical Brighteners And Dyes
First off, optical brighteners and blue dyes are commonly used in laundry detergents to create the illusion of brighter or whiter clothing. However, make no mistake—these ingredients do not actually make the clothing cleaner but merely give that appearance. In fact, little safety data is available for optical brighteners though several are currently under assessment as toxic, bioaccumulative, and/or harmful to aquatic life (source and source).
Some common ingredients in this category to watch out for in baby laundry detergents include:
- disodium distyrylbiphenyl disulfonate
- fluorescent brightener 71, and
- polyoxyalkylene substituted chromophore (blue).
Personally, I prefer to have my clothing truly clean, rather than rely on questionable ingredients designed to mask grungy-looking fabric. Besides, there are safer and more effective ways to brighten clothing, such as using oxygen bleach (which is different from chlorine bleach). Typically, oxygen bleach combines hydrogen peroxide and washing soda, providing a powerful stain-fighting solution.
Fragrance
Next, it’s important to address the issue of undisclosed fragrances that lurk in nearly every household and beauty product despite significant health concerns associated with them. In fact, I’ve written a blog post on the safety of natural fragrance for further insight into this widespread issue.
If you feel particularly attached to having a scent in your laundry, consider opting for a laundry detergent scented with essential oils only.
Don’t forget, this guideline applies to other products used in the laundering process. In fact, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, and scent pellets – all pose similar risks.
Sensitizers And Irritants
Even in baby laundry detergents, some brands still use sensitizing and irritating ingredients. To be clear, I wouldn’t recommend these chemicals in laundry for adults, let alone for babies. Logically speaking, irritants are chemicals that can cause inflammation, redness, itchiness, and other discomfort in the areas of the body that come into contact with them.
In contrast, sensitizers often trigger similar symptoms but are created by an immune response in the body. What’s more, with repeated exposure to sensitizers, the allergic reaction can worsen over time, making future exposures even more problematic.
Common potential sensitizers and allergens found in baby laundry detergents as well as in everyday products are:
Thankfully, safe and effective alternatives exist for each of these ingredients.
Harsh Preservatives
While often seen as bad, preservatives are added to baby laundry detergents to prevent the growth of potentially harmful bacteria, yeast, and mold. Since bacteria thrive in moist environments, preservatives are especially crucial in liquid detergents to ensure product safety and longevity. In fact, I would not recommend using a liquid laundry detergent unless it contains a broad-spectrum preservative. To find out whether it does, you may need to thoroughly discuss the preservation method with the company.
That said, not all preservatives are equal in terms of safety. Some preservatives can be irritating or harmful, so it’s important to choose products that use safe, non-toxic options to prevent microbial growth. Each of the detergents I recommend today contains safer preservatives (if the formula calls for preservatives).
Concerning Stabilizers
Next, some ingredients are added to maintain the appearance, consistency, and pH balance of a product. These are often referred to as “stabilizers” or “emulsifiers.” In particular, one stabilizer to watch for is triethanolamine (TEA).
Notably, triethanolamine can cause serious eye damage. Also, the European Chemicals Agency suspects it of harming reproductive health. Additionally, many other emulsifiers, such as polysorbates, fall under the ethoxylated group of ingredient discussed next.
Ethoxylated Ingredients
Have you ever noticed “PEGs,” “polysorbates,” or ingredients ending in “-eth” on labels? These ingredients are “ethoxylated” ingredients made with carcinogenic ethylene oxide. They may contain residues of 1,4-dioxane, a known carcinogen. While the contamination levels are typically small, their presence is unnecessary and entirely avoidable. For additional information, you can refer to my post about ethoxylated ingredients, including polysorbates.
Cautioned Ingredients
I want you to have all the information needed to be confident in your choice of detergent. Therefore, before we move on, we will talk about two additional points to be mindful of:
- loose powder inhalation and
- sodium borate.
First, it is worth mentioning that many detergents, particularly powder detergents, present the concern of inhaling the fine dust that can become airborne with pouring or scooping the detergent. This concern applies to those handling or staying near the laundry detergent when it’s being handled. Enzymes, used to break down stains, are among the ingredients that may cause respiratory irritation and sensitization if their dust is regularly inhaled in large quantities. At the same time, enzymes play an important role in the performance of removing baby stains.
Second, sodium borate, often known as “borax,” can be effective in laundry but has some concerns when used in bigger quantities. Also, when consumed, it may be toxic to reproduction (learn more in my post about borax and boric acid). These scenarios are unlikely at home, but again, there are safer alternatives, so I focus on those options. For example, rather than using sodium borate to soften the water in the washing machine, many brands use washing soda, which has no reproductive toxicity concerns and is extremely effective.
10 Safe Laundry Detergents For Babies
Now that we’ve covered what ingredients to avoid, let’s dive into some of the safest laundry detergents for babies. The details of each of these detergents are included below, and rest assured, they are gentle on sensitive skin. I have included both liquid and powder options, depending on your preference. I have tried several of these, and I’ve included my favorite below.
Please note that some of these detergents contain baking soda which is widely used in laundry detergents. However, some washing machines may have special instructions about using detergents with this ingredient, so read your washing machine manufacturer’s manual carefully.
Attitude Baby Detergent
First, Attitude is a Canada-based company that is growing in popularity. The Attitude Baby Detergent in the “laundry” section of my shop has four gentle surfactants and a safe sodium benzoate preservative. Be sure to choose the unscented version.
Branch Basics Laundry Kit
Second, Branch Basics is a brand of non-toxic, fragrance-free, and biodegradable products made from mineral and plant-based ingredients. Branch Basics Laundry Kit (READ15 for 15% off) includes Branch Basic’s exceptionally versatile concentrate, a reusable laundry bottle, and Oxygen Boost. I
n fact, I have personally communicated with Branch Basics at length about their choice of ingredients and how they have safely preserved their concentrate. You need only a small amount of concentrate for each load of laundry. After years of use in my own home, I can confidently say this is an excellent choice for cleaning your home and laundry.
Branch Basics Laundry Detergent
Third, for those who are strictly looking for a baby laundry detergent rather than a general concentrate to dilute, try Branch Basics Laundry Detergent (READ15 for 15% off). This laundry detergent contains extra stain-fighting ingredients. Not only is it highly concentrated and includes several enzymes to break down baby stains, but also it brightens whites well.
Earthley Wellness Powder
Fourth, Earthly Wellness centers on natural health and well-being. The Earthley Wellness Powder uses very gentle saponified oil surfactants and washing soda to remove stains and dirt. For infants, select the unscented version. Note that you should use it in warm or hot water. You can add it to the drum of an HE washing machine after mixing it with a small amount of hot water.
Humble Suds Laundry Soap
Similarly, Humble Suds Laundry Soap (IRLFY10) uses saponified oils and washing soda but has the added benefit of baking soda and sodium percarbonate (a major ingredient in oxygen bleaches, safe for colored clothing). It is safe for use in HE washing machines. You can learn more about Humble Suds in my post Humble Suds Non-Toxic Cleaners.
Meliora Laundry Powder
Next, Meliora Laundry Powder (IREAD10) is a relatively gentle and simple detergent, utilizing washing soda and baking soda and a gentle plant-based soap. It is safe for HE washing machines, plastic-free, and even comes with refill packages to reduce environmental waste and cost. Personally, I have tried Meliora laundry powder, and my clothes came out clean and fresh. You can learn more about Meliora and its products in my blog post on Truly Amazing Non-Toxic Cleaning Products.
Molly’s Suds Powder
Further, Molly’s Suds ($10 or 10% off) is a popular brand and comes in both powder and liquid detergent options. It uses four simple ingredients: washing soda, baking soda, magnesium sulfate, and sea salt. Reviews on adult clothing are often mixed, as some feel it is insufficient to get odors out of active wear. However, it should handle the typical soils in baby clothing. As always, I would recommend the unscented version for infants.
Nellie’s Baby Laundry Soda
Interestingly, the ingredients of Nellie’s Baby Laundry Soda ($10 or 10% off) are very similar to those of Molly’s Suds. It is a powdered detergent with the added benefit of oxygen bleach to brighten clothing. The instructions specify to use it in hot water, and it is safe for HE machines.
Pure Haven Laundry Detergent – My Favorite
As you can guess, I have tried a lot of non-toxic detergents over the years of running I Read Labels For You, and my go-to detergent is Pure Haven Laundry Detergent. This highly concentrated formula contains several gentle surfactants, sodium carbonate peroxide, enzymes, and more to brighten clothing and lift stains. In my experience, it works well in both hard and cold water. To learn more about Pure Haven products, and why I consider them among the safest brand on the market, read my Pure Haven Review.
By the way, parents are always asking about the best sprays for baby stains. Consider Pure Haven Master Blaster: whether you are trying to remove odors, baby poop, or even red wine, this product will do the job.
Roots And Splendor
Lastly, Roots and Splendor Free & Clear is a new laundry detergent to me. I like the transparency and cleanliness of their ingredients. They include three surfactants to loosen dirt and five enzymes to break down baby stains. This is a liquid detergent, and their Free & Clear variety is EWG-verified. Roots and Splendor is a small business that uses eco-friendly boxes. If you try this option, let me know what you think.
Conclusion: What Laundry Detergent Is Safe For Babies?
The Safest Laundry Detergents For Babies Do Not Have Optical Brighteners, Fragrances, Sensitizers, Harsh Preservatives, or Ethoxylated Ingredients.
To sum up, choosing the right laundry detergent for your baby is crucial for keeping their skin healthy and avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals. By understanding what ingredients to avoid and selecting safe, plant-based detergents, you can protect your baby’s sensitive skin while effectively cleaning their clothes.
Consider the following options for safe baby laundry detergents:
- Attitude Baby Detergent
- Branch Basics Laundry Kit
- Branch Basics Laundry Detergent (READ15)
- Earthley Wellness Powder
- Humble Suds Laundry Soap (IRLFY10)
- Meliora Laundry Powder (IREAD10)
- Molly’s Suds ($10 or 10% off on iHerb)
- Nellie’s Baby Laundry Soda ($10 or 10% off on iHerb)
- Pure Haven Laundry Detergent
- Pure Haven Master Blaster Stain Remover
If you enjoyed this post and would like even more information on safe laundry detergents, check out my comprehensive guide to the safest laundry detergents.
If you’re ready to switch to safer laundry products, you can shop the recommendations above. Your purchase supports the continued educational content and non-toxic recommendations provided by I Read Labels For You.
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