The common skin irritants you can find in laundry detergents include: fragrances, dyes, surfactants, and preservatives. Gentle detergents are formulated to avoid these common skin irritants, but it is also recommended by the National Eczema Association to make use of an extra rinse cycle, just to be sure that all irritants are washed and drained away. Now, when selecting a detergent, you’ll need to keep in mind that some formulas are made of plant-based ingredients and very eco-friendly, and others are specially designed with newborns or little ones in mind. Some come in the form of liquid, while others are pods or powder pods. Consider how you like to do laundry, as well as the members of your household, before clicking “add to cart.” In addition, know your clothes, bedding, and towels will not be any less clean, fluffy, or fresh after using most gentle formulas. Here, the best laundry detergents for sensitive skin, backed by our testing and thorough research. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Laundry Detergent is our top pick for those with sensitive skin. The formula is made up of plant-derived ingredients, including stain-fighting enzymes that effectively remove spots and stains from your fabrics. It’s biodegradable, and features a light, lavender scent, courtesy of essential oils. (Other scent options are also available, like honeysuckle and rosemary, if you’d prefer something different.) When testing this product, our tester was particularly impressed with how this detergent was able to tackle grass stains that weren’t even pre-treated. In addition, this product is safe for use with high-efficiency washing machines and septic tanks. It’s free of dyes, dermatologist-tested, and concentrated. This means a little bit of this detergent goes a long way. It’s recommended to use a half capful for regularly-sized loads of laundry. Considering this laundry detergent’s more expensive than others, that’s a real bonus. Price at time of publish: $20 To start, it’s not great a fighting stains, since it doesn’t have as many stain-fighting enzymes in its formula. It also leaves clothes feeling rather stiff and smelling rather bland. If you don’t mind missing out on fluffy shirts and towels, then this pick will be suitable for you. It’s also probably best used for basic laundry loads, since it can’t fight an oil or grass stain well. Price at time of publish: $14 Our tester noted that this detergent doesn’t really leave your clothes with any scent, which can be both good and bad. On one hand, it means the formula is free of fragrances. On the other, you’ll miss out on the scent of fresh laundry. However, our tester did find that the formula was effective at tackling most common stains like grass or tomato sauce. Price at time of publish: $15 The EPA Safer Choice program, which helps identify products and ingredients that are safer for humans and the planet, approves the formula. Plus, the packaging is recyclable and compostable. You will also enjoy how clean it is to use these pods. You don’t have to worry about the detergent spilling on your laundry machine. It is just in your best interest to keep the box of pods in a place where they can’t get knocked or wet. It’s not as durable as a plastic container of detergent. Price at time of publish: $16 Now, there are a few “downsides” to this product. If one of the pods breaks, the powder sprinkles everywhere in both the packaging and likely your laundry room. You may also find that the powder doesn’t always dissolve as it should, or will leave a bit of residue on your clothes. Price at time of publish: $27 Best of all, it’s easy on the skin, yet still just as powerful at cleaning your clothes as the original formula. Also, this detergent is made at a zero-waste manufacturing site that uses electricity from 100 percent renewable wind power. So, you can feel confident that your purchase is helping you, your household, and the planet. It does have fragrance in it, so buyer beware. However, it’s another USDA Certified Biobased Product. Price at time of publish: $27 Now, this product does contain fragrances. It’s also not suitable for cloth diapers. However, you can use it to hand wash items in your bathroom sink, and you can load it into a regular or high-efficiency washer. It’s also free of dyes and the scent will leave your newborn’s clothes smelling very clean. Price at time of publish: $24 You can count on it to remove odors and stains while preserving the integrity of your clothes and linens. The concentrated formula also allows you to use less with every load. This is an essential with this product, as it’s pricier than others on shelves and online. Price at time of publish: $18 Notably, it’s also a very affordable option. You can purchase it in a container that’s suitable for 107 loads or for 140 loads. There are other products in the line you can also purchase that are designed for sensitive skin, like detergent pods. Your only negative review will be that the product may not have shipped well. You might want to consider buying it in stores, for that reason. Price at time of publish: $18 You’ll likely pick up on the fact that this detergent rinses clean and well. It’s also another affordable option for households who want to treat their sensitive skin right and load up their laundry room with effective, reliable products. The cap may not withstand shipping and handling, but you can always find it in a store to avoid any potential leaks. Price at time of publish: $14
Ingredients
It’s essential to pay attention to the ingredient list of a laundry detergent if you or someone in your household has sensitive skin. The ingredient list will alert you to any irritants that might be in the formula. Common irritants include: fragrances (otherwise known as perfumes), surfactants, dyes, and preservatives. The word “hypoallergenic” in a detergent’s label may mean that it contains fewer triggering ingredients. However, it’s always best to read through the ingredient list yourself. Some detergents for sensitive skin are made of purely plant-based ingredients, and disregard the chemicals that may irritate your skin easily all together. These formulas are also typically much better for the environment. Optical brighteners are a common detergent ingredient that help keep clothes looking fresh and new, but can contaminate aquatic life. So, if you’re looking to make your laundry room more gentle on the planet, this is also an ingredient to avoid.
Testing and Certifications
When finding the right detergent for your sensitive skin, it’s always best to see what dermatologists, pediatricians, and national organizations think of the product. Some products for sensitive skin are tested by medical professionals, and will have a label telling you so. Others may be a USDA Certified Biobased Product—so at least 97 percent of its plant-based ingredients are biologically renewable—or a part of the EPA Safer Choice program. This program helps identify products and ingredients that are safer for humans and the planet, and may be an important consideration for a household that is looking to make their laundry routine more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This roundup was written by Theresa Holland, a Portland-based toddler mom and professional writer with inherently sensitive skin and substantial experience researching, reviewing, and writing about household products. When researching product picks for this roundup, she considered affordability, scent, effectiveness, and firsthand feedback from our product testers.
