Newborns and babies up to 12 months of age have extra sensitive skin that is prone to allergies, so washing your baby's clothes using a laundry detergent that's specifically made for them can give you peace of mind. This assures that your baby's clothes won't bring any harm to their skin. To make your search easier, we asked a dermatologist, Dr. Barbara Marcelo, for some of her comments and tips regarding laundry detergents for babies.
A laundry detergent for baby clothes & linens should be mild, hypoallergenic, and free of harsh fragrances, dyes, and brighteners that can irritate the skin, eyes, and nose. In this article, we prepared a guide and our top 10 recommended laundry detergents for baby clothes that you can purchase online.
Dr. Barbara Ellen T. Marcelo is a board-certified dermatologist who is passionate about helping parents nurture their children’s skin. Her advocacies include teaching about sun protection, treating patients with eczema, and promoting skin and body positivity. You can follow her on her Instagram page: @mybabyderm to learn more about caring for children’s skin.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
The products and services listed are ranked independently by the editorial team based on the points mentioned in our thoroughly researched buying guide (as of 01-16-2023).
Table of Contents
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Regular detergents contain chemicals such as phenols, optical brighteners, fragrances, artificial pigments, softeners, and bleach that linger in fabrics and can irritate your baby’s skin. Meanwhile, laundry detergents that are specifically made for baby clothes have milder formulations, to avoid eczema or breakouts, itchy skin, and rashes.
Go for products that are made with natural ingredients and are hypoallergenic. The best example would be plant-based laundry detergents with coconut and corn-based ingredients. Aloe Vera, Lavender, Tea Tree extracts are also commonly used as well as Decyl glucoside, which is a natural cleaning agent.
Some laundry detergents contain chemicals that can trigger contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis can be an allergic or irritant reaction of the skin that manifests as itchiness, redness, rashes, and even blisters.
Newborn babies with immature skin and children with eczema with their impaired skin barrier may be more likely to develop contact dermatitis and are particularly sensitive to chemicals in detergents, especially dyes, fragrances, and bleach.
Powder detergents are highly effective in removing everyday stains and typically are easier to measure and budget-friendly. On the other hand, liquid laundry detergents are much more convenient when it comes to quickly dissolving in both cold and hot water.
It is also effective as a spot treatment tool for water-based stains such as spit-ups and milk stains. Moreover, it is easier to rinse and is less likely to leave soap residue on your baby's clothes.
In terms of packaging, most liquid detergents come in plastic bottles that are durable enough for multiple refills. This way, you can save more money on your next purchase.
The choice of using a powder or liquid detergent depends on your needs and preferences. Powder detergents, in general, are more cost-effective but can leave more residue because they may not dissolve completely.
In addition, detergent residue may be irritating or cause allergic reactions on your child's skin, so an extra rinse cycle may be needed. Liquid detergents can be easily used to pre-treat stains or pre-soak cloth diapers but may be more expensive in the long run.
Since fragrances can cause skin irritations, some parents prefer getting a fragrance-free laundry detergent to be on the safer side. Fragrance-free detergents mean that they are formulated without the use of synthetic fragrances, which mask the "chemical" scent of the product.
If you prefer a more fragrant laundry detergent, you can slowly introduce mildly-scented laundry detergents that contain essential oils or other natural ingredients instead.
Fragrances, whether from synthetic or natural sources, are common allergens that can trigger allergic reactions in the skin of sensitive individuals. Recent research has also found that fragrances are combined with phthalates which are chemicals that can disrupt hormones and fertility.
Babies, with their immature skin, can absorb more chemicals and toxins through their skin. Look at the label and choose fragrance-free over unscented (which can contain a masking fragrance) detergents.
Speaking of making the most out of your budget, look for bundles or buy 1, take 1 deals where you can purchase the original bottle packaging plus 1 or more refill packs at a discounted price. You’ll certainly save on the shipping fee and the total payment amount.
Buying multiple products at once means that you're laundry supplies at home will be well-stocked. Having extra baby laundry detergent on standby is an advantage since your baby will go through so many clothes, lampin, and blankets in a week’s time.
Before buying laundry detergent in bulk, purchase a smaller container first and use it to wash your baby's clothing for a few weeks to check for any skin reactions. Remember that skin reactions from detergents may not appear until after several uses. If no skin reactions occur in areas usually covered by clothing, you can proceed to purchase in bulk or take advantage of sales to stock up on detergent.
From ₱339.75
This baby liquid detergent is fragrance and colorant free, moreover, it is made with Decyl glucoside, a natural cleanser to remove milk stains effectively. It is also easy to rinse, made possible by its natural, coconut-based componentsーno harmful residue will irritate your baby’s skin. It is free from SLS and SLES as well as bleach and optical brighteners.
The liquid detergent comes in a 950ml bottle and Human Nature offers refilling stations located at their Flagship Store in Commonwealth, The Block in SM North EDSA, and SM Megamall. Just make sure to bring empty, dry, and clean Human Nature bottles.
To spot-treat your baby’s clothes and blankets, rub a small amount of the liquid detergent directly onto the stain. Allow the fibers to absorb the detergent for a few minutes then proceed to your usual washing and rinsing.
From ₱399
This liquid laundry wash is made with natural cleaning agents and coconut-based ingredients, perfect for a newborn’s delicate skin. Its biodegradable components leave no chemical residues on the fabric. It is also gentle on your hands so it’s safe to use for hand-washing baby clothes, a method commonly preferred by moms.
Aside from the tie-sides, onesies, blankets, mittens, and socks, you can also use it for washing cloth diapers. It has a color-safe formula and is easy to rinse offーsaving you time, water, and effort.
When your little one grows out of his/her newborn clothes, you can still use this liquid detergent for toddler clothes to safeguard them from skin irritation. For your first purchase, you can invest in its easy-to-pour 1.5-liter bottle and then get the 850ml refill packs on your next purchase.
From ₱119
This powder detergent is hypoallergenic, paraben-free, and recommended by pediatricians. It has an ultra-mild and anti-bacterial formula, best for the sensitive skin of newborns and even toddlers up to 3 years of age.
It doesn’t contain harsh chemicals, enzymes, dyes, and phosphates to prevent irritation and dryness. The powder variant is equipped with powerful stain lifters like regular detergents for everyday stains and dirt.
When washing, separate your baby’s white clothes from the colored ones. If there are tough stains, you can soak the clothes for 30 minutes, then proceed to your preferred method. This detergent is suitable for both hand and machine washing.
Smart Steps also offers a liquid laundry detergent and a laundry bar variant, which is useful for spot cleaning of stains and quick washing of bibs and towelettes.
From ₱279
This powder laundry detergent is clinically-proven hypoallergenic by the SGS Group, a certification company and industry leader in testing of consumer goods. It contains biodegradable and glucose-based surfactants and a coconut-based foaming agent.
It has no fabric softeners, optical brighteners, bleach, dyes, and enzymes and is clear from SLS and SLES, which are surfactants that can irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs. It is also recommended by pediatricians – mild and safe on baby’s skin.
For stained clothes, soak the fabric for 30 minutes. If the stain is quite tough, Cycles also offers a Stain Soaker, a mild yet effective pre-washing tool in removing hard-to-treat stains such as diaper leaks and dirt from playing in the backyard.
From ₱399
This laundry detergent is allergen-free and is composed of natural ingredients. It is made of lavender and tea tree extract to prevent irritation. It is formulated especially for baby clothes and linens such as blankets and crib sheets.
It promotes true natural, deep cleansing – it doesn’t have phosphates, fluorescent brighteners, and artificial pigments. To use, simply add and dilute the liquid detergent into the water and mix well. Soak the clothes for 5-10 minutes and then proceed to hand-washing the clothes or using the washing machine. The detergent rinses thoroughly and easily.
It comes in a 1050ml container and is also available in 500ml refill packs. You can also choose among its other variants – Grapefruit and Orange. You can also check Little Tree’s EC site for more options, including its Laundry Soap, which is also naturally gentle.
From ₱279
Nature to Nurture is a homegrown brand that utilizes plant-based ingredients in their baby, household, and personal care products. With their effective and reliable offerings, it aims to create a safe living space for children by preventing toxic chemicals from lingering in the household.
Their Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent can deeply clean dirt & food stains and naturally soften the fabric, at the same time, it is safe for babies and is fragrance-free. It doesn’t leave any soap residue as tested by SGS Philippines Inc. as well.
It is also cruelty-free and vegan, machine & handwashing-safe, and is suitable for all types of laundry including your little one’s cloth diapers. Its plant-based formulation also contains baking soda to neutralize odors – so the clothes will remain smelling fresh even when soaked overnight.
From ₱229.75
This liquid detergent features a unique formulation called the Trap, Lift, Clean technology. It traps and lifts the dirt such as fruit & food stains and diaper leaks, and then rinses the fabric without damaging your baby’s clothes.
It has anti-bacterial properties and is safe to use in newborn clothes since it is phosphate, fluorescent, and colorant-free. The detergent also passed global Japanese standards for product quality including safety tests on soap residue as well as allergy and skin irritation testing.
Its concentrated formula goes a long way – only a small amount is needed for each wash. It has less foam, which means it is easy to rinse. It comes in a 500ml container, which you can refill by purchasing the 450ml or 50ml pouch. The Pigeon EC site offers holiday gift bundles so you can save on the shipping fee.
From ₱360
This liquid laundry detergent contains a natural base surfactant and is naturally derived from corn origin – suitable for newborn clothes. It also has a power dispensing agent, which can effectively remove milk stains.
It contains cotton seed extract and a gold silk protein that results to clothes that are soft to touch and comfortable. It comes in a 1000ml container and is available in 700ml pouches in case you need to refill.
From ₱135
This laundry detergent is pure and natural - made with a plant-based formulation, hypoallergenic, and most of all, soft and gentle on your baby’s delicate skin. It contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E and is capable of killing 99.9% of bacteria in your little one’s laundry.
It comes in a pouch pack with a spout and twist cap to secure the liquid detergent when not in use. It is safe to use both for hand-washing and washing machines.
From ₱168
This liquid detergent comes in a form of a concentrated gel, which can deep clean your little one’s clothes, removing 99% of germs. It can also penetrate the fabric to remove stains and dirt such as food oil, pollutants, sweat, and diaper leaks.
It doesn’t contain bleach, brighteners, and enzymes. It is color-safe and also has a lemongrass scent. It is recommended by leading washing machine makers such as Sharp, Panasonic, and Samsung.
However, this is best to use for clothes and linens of older babies, for example, those who are eating solid food, and are crawling and walking already. Plant-based detergents are more suitable for newborn clothes.
Get this liquid detergent in its 900-gram container that comes with a unique bottle cap, which also serves as a measuring cup.
Remember to wash cloth diapers separately from other baby clothing. Remove stool particles completely from cloth diapers before pre-soaking in detergent and adding an extra warm cycle.
For both cloth diapers and baby clothes, add an extra rinse cycle or two (for powder detergents) to ensure that little to no detergent residue remains on clothing. Check the label of your baby's clothing or cloth diapers if they should be air-dried or can be placed in the dryer.
Whether you're a new or an experienced parent, you never stop learning new things about parenthood. Here is what Dr. Barbara Marcelo had to say when asked about the frequently asked questions online.
Baby skin is not fully developed until after the first year of life. Babies' skin is thinner, produces less natural moisturizing factors, and has smaller keratinocytes (skin cells). Thus, their skin is prone to dryness, and chemicals/toxins can easily cause irritation once in contact with their skin.
Commonly-used laundry detergents usually contain fragrances, dyes, or optical brighteners, which may be too irritating to baby skin. Fabric conditioners and bleach, in particular, may also cause irritant or allergic reactions in the skin. Therefore, for the first year of life, it may be best to stick to baby detergents in the meantime.
There is no exact time on when to stop using a baby detergent for your child's clothing. If your family history is positive for eczema or allergic diseases, it might be best to continue using baby detergent. Also, if your child has dry or sensitive skin that reacts to changes in weather or commonly used skincare products, it may be a good idea to continue using baby detergent.
Rashes on your baby's skin can have multiple causes aside from your detergent. To check if detergent may possibly be causing irritation on your baby's skin, observe if the rashes are on areas usually covered by clothing.
For example, collars, armholes, and waistbands are common areas where detergent residue can accumulate and cause rashes. Check with your dermatologist or pediatrician if your child has rashes.
Skin rashes in children may be caused by viral/bacterial infections, changes in temperature/humidity, or reactions from skin products, food, clothing material, medicines, etc. Most rashes look alike, and it may be difficult to distinguish one from another, and it can be challenging to determine the exact cause.
Avoid giving or applying over-the-counter products to your child because these may worsen the skin rashes instead of healing them. For persistent rashes, consult your child's dermatologist or pediatrician for appropriate diagnosis and correct treatment.
Aside from baby clothes, it is also exciting to shop for baby accessories. However, one may wonder which products are really worth the time and budget. Click the article links below to see our recommended baby items such as swaddles, baby carriers, and baby bouncers that will surely keep your little one calm and happy.
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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