The Parents on Our Team Agree: These Baby Detergents Get Rid of Spit Up and Diaper Blowouts in No Time (2024)

Babies are born with delicate skin, so it’s important to wash their clothing and bedding with laundry detergent that is hypoallergenic and dye and fragrance free. This will not only protect their skin from irritation, but also limit their exposure to harsh chemicals.

"Newborn skin is sensitive and less resistant to irritants,” says Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD. “That’s why it’s important to use a hypoallergenic detergent and ensure clothing gets a thorough rinse, whether that's through a rinse cycle or a manual rinse."

Babies are also known for being messy (and having the occasional diaper blowout), so using a detergent that effectively removes stains is important, too. You might also consider if a detergent keeps your baby’s clothes feeling soft, how many loads it can accommodate, and how expensive it is.

To determine the best laundry detergents for babies, we consulted with two board-certified dermatologists and surveyed 29 parents about what matters most in a laundry detergent, what makes a detergent effective, and how various detergents perform over time. We also tested 29 top-rated detergents and noted each product’s effectiveness, scent, ease of use, value, and whether it left items feeling soft and wrinkle free.

At What Age Can You Wash Baby Clothes in Regular Detergent?

Many parents wash their baby’s clothes along with their own. However, pediatricians typically recommend 6 months of age as an appropriate time to make the switch from baby to regular detergent, advises Brendan Camp, MD. This is because a baby’s skin is very fragile and absorbent, and it’s not uncommon that they may develop eczema, baby acne, or irritant contact dermatitis. In fact, it’s not until a baby is close to 2 years old that their skin begins to resemble an adult’s, so it’s important to use a detergent that’s gentle yet effective while they’re still young.

Our Favorite Baby Detergents

• Best Overall: Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Detergent
• Best for Newborns: Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent
• Best for Sensitive Skin: Honest Hypoallergenic Baby Laundry Detergent
• Best for Eczema: All Free Clear Detergent
• Best Budget: Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent
• Best Detergent Sheet: Ecos Plastic-Free Laundry Detergent Sheets
• Best Detergent Pacs: Amazon Basics Laundry Detergent Pacs
• Best Organic: Whole Foods Market 365 Organic Laundry Detergent
  

Best Overall: Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Detergent

Why We Like It

According to parents who have used this detergent for years, Seventh Generation Free and Clear is great for baby clothes (and the rest of the family’s) because it's gentle, hypoallergenic, and fragrance and dye free. It’s packed with plant-based enzymes—good bacteria that help speed up the stain-removal process—which made it effective at removing wine and chocolate stains during our testing process.

Since this detergent pours smoothly and has fill lines in the cap to indicate how much to use, we found it to be very easy to dispense. After using it, our clothes felt soft and fluffy and didn’t wrinkle when we scrunched the fabric in our hands. All in all, a family will get about 53 medium loads out of this bottle, which averages out to cost $0.28 per load.

We also like that this detergent is eco-friendly and bears the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safer Choice Label, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Product Label, and is Leaping Bunny Certified, which guarantees that it’s not tested on animals.

But Take Note

While this detergent removed a majority of the stains, it didn’t remove certain ones, like foundation and jojoba oil. If your baby’s clothing has a particularly concentrated stain, we recommend treating it first with a stain remover, like Seventh Generation Laundry Stain Remover.

The Details:

• Type: Liquid
• Fragrance free: Yes
• Dye free: Yes

Best for Newborns: Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent

Why We Like It

This detergent is recommended for newborns by Dr. Murphy-Rose because it contains no fragrances or dyes and is safe for sensitive skin. Also, parents who participated in our survey and have tried several other detergents that are made for sensitive skin prefer Tide Free & Gentle. They also say that it has the same cleaning power as regular Tide, but without the scent and ingredients that may irritate a baby’s skin.

Tide Free & Gentle is accepted by the National Eczema Association and recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation, which confirms its safety for sensitive skin. One bottle provides enough detergent for up to 64 medium loads and costs about $0.20 per load.

But Take Note

Although Tide Free & Gentle is a good choice for newborns, we aren’t thrilled that it contains sodium borate (borax). This mineral is considered a type of pesticide and helps whiten clothes, remove dirt, and prevent mildew, but when exposed in high doses can be toxic to the eyes and skin.

Despite this, we still recommend this detergent because it’s generally recognized as safe when used in cleaning products—as long as you keep it away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. You should also wash your hands if it touches your skin and make sure your clothes are thoroughly rinsed before drying them.

The Details:

• Type: Liquid
• Fragrance free: Yes
• Dye free: Yes

Best for Sensitive Skin: Honest Hypoallergenic Baby Laundry Detergent

Why We Like It

Honest is known for its clean, sustainable products, and this baby detergent is no exception. Dr. Camp recommends it because it’s “hypoallergenic, made with sensitive skin in mind, and contains four unique enzymes to remove stains,” while the parents we surveyed like that their "babies' skin is happy when [they] use this detergent.”

Personally, we love that this Honest detergent is cruelty free and contains no fragrances, dyes, phthalates, brighteners, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and formaldehyde donors. When it comes to the stain-fighting enzymes that Dr. Camp mentioned, it has several that are known for removing stains from bodily fluids, starches, fats and oils, and chocolate, to name a few. We also like that it’s accepted by the National Eczema Association, is USDA Certified Biobased and is Safer Choice certified by the EPA.

But Take Note

As much as we like this detergent—and love supporting mom-owned businesses—we would prefer that it would be effective enough to spot-treat our clothes on its own without having to buy a separate stain remover.

The Details:

• Type: Liquid
• Fragrance free: Yes
• Dye free: Yes

Best for Eczema: All Free Clear Detergent

Why We Like It

Dr. Murphy-Rose frequently recommends All Free Clear to her patients with eczema, and for good reason. In addition to being hypoallergenic with no fragrances or dyes, it has the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association, U.S. EPA Safer Choice label, and removes 99% of the top everyday allergens.

All Free Clear was a favorite among parents we surveyed, and the best we’ve seen at fighting stains. It completely removed our chocolate and wine stains and significantly reduced those from mud, oil, foundation, and chlorophyll. It also left our fabrics feeling soft and pliable, and the parents we surveyed loved its odor-fighting power.

But Take Note

When purchasing a jug of all free clear, you should check the ingredients to make sure it doesn’t contain bronopol, an organic chemical that’s used as a preservative and is a formaldehyde releaser, which means it slowly releases formaldehyde (a flammable gas) into the detergent over time to prevent the buildup of bacteria. According to Erica Cooper, Director of External Communications for the brand, bronopol was removed from All Free Clear a few years ago. However, it has not yet been removed from All Free Clear PLUS+, so make sure to check that you’re purchasing the right product.

The Details:

• Type: Liquid
• Fragrance free: Yes
• Dye free: Yes

Best Budget: Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent

Why We Like It

Raising our little ones is rewarding, but can also be quite expensive. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) estimates that parents spend around $1,000 per year for diapers, so using Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin detergent is a great way for families to save money. At just $0.09 per load, it’s a fraction of the cost of some of our other detergent picks and has the potential to last more than three months—even if you do one load of laundry per day.

In addition to being affordable, this detergent is also a good choice for babies who have sensitive skin. It bears the SkinSafe 100 certification, which means it’s free of SkinSafe’s topmost considered skin allergens. We also like that it’s Leaping Bunny certified and the package is recyclable.

But Take Note

Although this detergent removed our chocolate stain, it didn’t remove the foundation and chlorophyll (a pigment that gives grass its green color) stains. However, we didn’t pre-treat the stains with the detergent as instructed on the bottle, which could have improved its overall performance.

The Details:

• Type: Liquid
• Fragrance free: Yes
• Dye free: Yes

Best Detergent Sheet: Ecos Plastic-Free Laundry Detergent Sheets

Why We Like It

If convenience and sustainability are important to you, these handy hypoallergenic detergent sheets are a great choice. The plant-based formula is free from fragrances, dyes, phthalates, and formaldehyde, and they are safe to use in HE washing machines. Plus, these sheets are an easy and efficient way to wash clothes while traveling.

Since no measuring was involved, we found it pretty easy to use the Ecos Laundry Sheets. We simply placed one sheet into the washing machine and let it dissolve. After the wash, our clothes felt soft and smelled clean. We also like that the sheets come in a lightweight cardboard box that’s easy to store (versus a heavy plastic jug), which ultimately helps reduce carbon emissions and earned it the Compact by Design certification from Amazon.

But Take Note

Upon opening the box, we had trouble keeping the sheets intact when removing them. And while they did a good job at removing a chocolate stain, they weren’t as effective at removing foundation, chlorophyll, wine, and jojoba oil.

The Details:

• Type: Sheet
• Fragrance free: Yes
• Dye free: Yes

Best Detergent Pacs: Amazon Basics Laundry Detergent Pacs

Why We Like It

Similar to laundry sheets, the Amazon Basics Laundry Detergent Pacs make it convenient for parents to do laundry. One pac is enough for a medium-sized load, and the container comes with 120 pacs. There is no measuring involved, and you simply toss a pac in the washing machine drum before adding your clothes.

These hypoallergenic pacs are gentle on skin and are free of perfumes and dyes. They dissolve easily—even in cold water—and are safe to use in both standard and HE washing machines.

But Take Note

Since these pacs dissolve in water, it’s important to wash and dry your hands before and after handling one to make sure the detergent doesn’t seep into your skin. Also, their soft, squishy texture may be tempting for little ones to hold, so be sure to keep them out of your baby’s reach.

The Details:

• Type: Pac
• Fragrance free: Yes
• Dye free: Yes

Best Organic: Whole Foods Market 365 Organic Laundry Detergent

Why We Like It

If your family prefers organic products, add Whole Foods Market 365 Organic Laundry Detergent to your next grocery haul. It contains at least 95% organic material and bears the USDA Organic badge. It’s also Leaping Bunny certified, comes in a recyclable jug, and is free of phosphates, phthalates, and chlorine.

This detergent is hypoallergenic and safe to use in both standard and HE washing machines. We love that the back label has a clearly printed chart that tells us exactly how much detergent to use based on the size and type of load, and are surprisingly impressed with the Whole Foods price—$0.23 per HE wash—given that it’s an organic product.

But Take Note

Unless you live near a Whole Foods Market, your only option is to buy this detergent on Amazon. This will increase the price of the detergent, so be sure to sign up for an Amazon Prime account to guarantee your free shipping.

The Details:

• Type: Liquid
• Fragrance free: Yes
• Dye free: Yes

Best Concentrated: Method 4x Concentrated Laundry Detergent

Why We Like It

The benefit of using this Method 4X Concentrated Laundry Detergent is that it contains less water and nonessential ingredients than standard detergents. It comes in a smaller bottle than other brands (which means it takes up less space), but you still get enough detergent to wash 66 loads of laundry. Plus, the bottle itself (minus the lid) is made from 100% recycled plastic, so you can feel good about purchasing it.

In addition to being hypoallergenic, this detergent is biodegradable and free of dyes, fragrances, parabens, and phthalates. It’s also cruelty free and contains a variety of plant-based enzymes to help treat and lift stains.

But Take Note

Although marketed as hypoallergenic, this detergent contains coconut fatty acids—which may worry you if your baby is allergic to coconut. However, coconut fatty acid receives an “A” rating by the EWG, which means it has a low hazard concern and a low risk for skin allergies and irritation. If you’re concerned about your child’s exposure to coconut byproducts, talk to your pediatrician.

The Details:

• Type: Liquid
• Fragrance free: Yes
• Dye free: Yes

Our Review and Testing Process

After speaking with the experts, our editors tested 29 different detergents that met our strict criteria for baby-safe products to determine how well each would remove stains on a cotton t-shirt, terry cloth towel, linen napkin, and an athletic polyester t-shirt. Then, we evaluated each detergent on the following:

• Ease of dispensing: Before opening a detergent, we read the instructions to determine how clear it was to portion out per load, depending on the load size or washing machine type. Then, using either the cap (for liquid detergent) or scoop (for powder), we dispensed the recommended dosage into a Dixie cup. For sheets, pods, and discs, we took out the recommended number of units for one load.
• Cleanliness: Each clothing item was pre-stained with jojoba oil, foundation, chlorophyll, mud, chocolate, wine, and spaghetti sauce. After washing with cold water and air drying, we examined the items to determine if they were clean enough to wear or use or if we would need to put them back into the wash.
• Scent post washing: While closing our eyes, we held each item close to our nose to smell their post-wash scent. We paid close attention to if the items smelled clean or if we could still smell remnants from the stains.
• Texture: After the items were dry, we evaluated their texture and checked to see if there were any wrinkles. While closing our eyes, we ran the fabric between our hands, gathered and released the fabric, then folded and manipulated it to determine how it felt.
• Stain examination: Lastly, we examined the stained areas of the items and compared them with parts that were never stained. We did this so we could see how well the stains faded in the wash and if there was any indication of a prior stain.

Our Experts

To determine what parents should look for in a safe and effective baby detergent, we spoke to the following experts:

• Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York
• Brendan Camp, MD, a dermatologist in New York who is double board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology
• 29 parents who use baby detergent with their own little ones' clothing

Factors to Consider When Buying Detergent for Baby Clothes

• Hypoallergenic formulas: Surprisingly, there are no federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the word "hypoallergenic." While the actual definition states that a product is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction, Dr. Murphy-Rose still advises parents to look for a hypoallergenic laundry detergent since newborn skin is “sensitive” and “less resistant” to irritants.
• Irritants to avoid: Fragrances are the most common contact allergen (after nickel) because they contain chemicals that stay on the skin longer and are potent enough to cause sensitization or allergic contact dermatitis. Dyes can also cause these reactions, so it’s best to avoid both in baby detergent.
• Liquid vs. powder detergents: While power detergents can be more sustainable and cost-effective, Dr. Camp suggests that parents use a liquid detergent instead. “Liquid detergents rinse out more easily than powders,” Dr. Camp says.
• Effectiveness: Ultimately, you want to find a detergent that removes stains from daily spit up, messy meals, and unexpected blowouts. While we were hard-pressed to find a detergent that removed every stain, most removed or lightened most stains. In particular, the chocolate stain seemed to be the easiest to come out.

Tips for Washing Baby Clothes

All babies have delicate skin, but every baby’s skin is different. Therefore, we recommend testing out a laundry detergent on a few items of your baby’s clothing to make sure their skin doesn’t have a reaction. If it turns out that your baby reacts to a detergent, you can always use the detergent for another family member’s clothing or pass it along to a friend. And while it may be tempting to dress up your little one in a brand new outfit, the AAP recommends washing the clothing before use. This will not only eliminate debris from the shopping process, it will also make the clothing soft and more comfortable for your baby to wear.

When it comes to removing stains, try to rinse off the substance while it’s fresh. After doing so, you can soak the item in a bowl of cold water and detergent before washing. This isn’t always easy or convenient to do, so the AAP suggests investing in a good stain remover and designating a place for soaking stained or soiled clothing.

It’s also important to remember that laundry detergent has an expiration date. Be sure to check the date printed on your detergent container, but in general, you can assume that unopened detergent is good for 12–18 months when stored at normal temperatures. On the other hand, liquid detergent that has been opened is good for up to six months when stored at normal temperatures, while single-dose laundry detergent (think pods or sheets) should be used within six months from the date of purchase.

Who We Are

Laura Lu, MS, is a mom of two and a commerce and parenting writer at Parents. As the primary laundry doer in her household, she has tested a variety of detergents to find one that removes stains and doesn’t irritate her kids’ skin. She also believes in the importance of choosing eco-friendly products when possible, which is why her family now happily uses single-use laundry detergent sheets.