When shouId We Switch from Baby Laundry Detergent..

Updated on January 30, 2011
A.J. asks from Portland, OR
26 answers

Hi mama's!

At what age is it alright to stop using baby detergent? We use environmentally friendly detergent from Costco but want to make sure our 1 year old has safe detergent. We are still using Dreft but weren't sure how long to use it and what we should use that is best once we do stop using Dreft.

Any recommendations greatly appreciated!

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So What Happened?

Thanks mama's! I think I now realize I have been brainwashed about baby detergent! Time to break those marketing chains for sure. I greatly appreciate the suggestions and will greatly appreciate the savings as well:)

Featured Answers

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J.W.

answers from Detroit on

I never used it, av fora bottle someone gave me as a gift. I used dye and perfume free. The baby stuff seemed to have a stronger scent which I felt would be more irritating for the baby if he/she was sensitive!

2 moms found this helpful

B.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

Dreft fades clothes and has more perfumes and dyes than regular Tide. Its super harsh because of all the perfumes and dyes.

Never used Dreft, its too expensive and fades clothes! Switch, seriously it doesn't matter.

1 mom found this helpful

L.L.

answers from Rochester on

I never used it...I use Gain for everything. For some reason I wash baby clothes separately...but using the same soap!

1 mom found this helpful

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E.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I'd try washing one item of baby's with your costco detergent and see how baby agrees with it. Dreft is pretty much a regular detergent with a nice baby smell to it, so it's highly unlikely that they'll have a reaction to a detergent that's labeled environmentally friendly. If you are concerned about the environment and chemicals, a really effective and truly natural product is soapnuts. Great info at www.soapnuts.pro. I've used it for over a year on baby stuff, including cloth diapers, and it's far superior to all other detergents in my opinion. The liquid version makes it really user friendly. Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful
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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

Never used baby detergent. We always used Tide Free.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

we use dye free, fragrance free and have my daughter's whole life with no problem. Tide Free is our brand.

2 moms found this helpful

T.J.

answers from Modesto on

Dreft smells pretty and like a baby, BUT after my first box I found it much easier just to wash the babyclothes with ours. Save yourself the hassle and just wash the baby clothes with yours... laundry is not a fun job and no reason to make it worse and more expensive by separating baby clothes from yours and using another washing detergent just because of its aroma.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.W.

answers from St. Cloud on

We NEVER used baby detergent....... (We do use organic/natural detergent for ALL our clothes though.)

2 moms found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from New York on

Unless your child has overly sensitive skin, you really don't need the baby detergent. I used Dreft until the first bottle ran out, then I used All Free and Clear which is what I use since most detergents like Tide and Gain make me break out in a rash that looks like chicken pox.

2 moms found this helpful
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L.G.

answers from Detroit on

I only used one bottle of Dreft. I slowly started washing things of hers in with ours and she had no reaction, so we just switched over when the Dreft ran out. I think the purpose of "baby" detergent is because it's less likely to irritate sensitive skin. If your baby has no problem, you don't need special detergent.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Raleigh on

I never used baby detergent. Both my babies have/had sensitive skin- my first has an allergy to perfumes (which are in baby detergent). I am a product loyal All Free and Clear buyer. I also only use fragrance free dryer sheets. I am sure any free and clear detergent would work just as well.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Portland on

Our pediatrician told us not to use dreft. He says babies do not need a special detergent unless they show signs of allergy or sensitivity and even then we should get a free and clear version of something. Dreft was just made to play on the heart of every new mommy that wants the best for her baby so dreft can make a ton of money. It is a marketing scam that babies need dreft.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.K.

answers from Kansas City on

I never used it, so in all honesty, I think it would be okay whenever you decide you want to stop paying for it. Just start slow, one or two outfits in with your laundry to make sure there isn't a reaction to your soap.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

I use ALL Free (for babies,kids,adults) I like it will not switch to anything that has perfume init our skin isn't itchy anymore

1 mom found this helpful

L.M.

answers from Dover on

I used Dreft w/ my oldest and also for my youngest at first (because it was given to us) but it is really not necessary. We use Mela Power 6 which is a safer, non-toxic, non-caustic, environmentally friendly alternative....safer for the whole family as it does not contain the cancer causing agent that most others do.

1 mom found this helpful

M.S.

answers from Columbus on

I used Dreft with my first, but unless your baby seems sensitive to other things, like bath wash, lotions, powders, etc. I'd say switch anytime. After our first, I never used it. I have four kids and the amount of laundry I have is un-freaking-believable. So, no, I don't do a seperate load for the baby/toddler. They all are fine. Of course, if you notice a rash or any sort of sensitivity, go back to Dreft. But, if you are using a mild detergent, you shouldn't have any trouble.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.L.

answers from Washington DC on

Never used it! I can't stand Dreft! I used All Free& Clear or the Up & Up Free (target brand) whichever I could get for less.

I also never washed my son's clothes separate from ours - wasn't going to create more work for myself.

L.G.

answers from Eugene on

If you want safe detergent without perfumes and additives use Planet, Ecover,
or Bio Kleen.
Get away from the ones made by Lever and Proctor and G. Theirs are toxic.

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A.R.

answers from Yakima on

I was suckered into using Dreft with our first child, lol. Since then, I've used homemade laundry detergent on all our clothes. It's gentle enough for the baby's clothes, yet tough enough to clean our dirty ranchwear. I also don't use fabric softener, instead I use white vinegar which leaves our clothes super-soft (yet has no vinegar smell). One batch of detergent costs $2.41 to make and lasts 10 months!!!!!!

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K.A.

answers from Little Rock on

Never used Dreft! I use Arm and Hammer powder detergent.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

I realize i am very rare.... i loved the smell of dreft. I used it with all four. I loved doing the baby laundry. To each their own :)

I buy a bottle for every shower or sprinkle i go to. Maybe i should rethink that...lol!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.W.

answers from Seattle on

After my son turned 1 we stopped using Dreft but switched to the free and clear version to make sure he wasnt allergic to perfume.. Free and Clear is the same price as the perfume version but i never felt that my clothes were clean enough since there was no "clean smell" - so we switch to the perfume version and as long as he doesnt have an allergic reaction (or me since I have ezcema) we continue using it

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.P.

answers from Seattle on

Switch now. We use Costco's free and clear laundry soap and son's laundry seperately from ours (his load gets a double-rinse).

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.O.

answers from Atlanta on

I've never used baby detergent. HUGE waste of money.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.D.

answers from Portland on

Try using this website to vet all your products for you kids. It's very enlightening:

www.cosmeticdatabase.com

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.P.

answers from Cleveland on

i used all free and clear on my daughters clothes since she was born when we went to her dads and dreft at my moms but then after a few months just washed her clothes with ours in the same detergent we used

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