When my first child was born, I had not used any laundry detergents for babies back then. I will tell you why! As a new mom, you are constantly under the pressure of following the free advice you are given from all over. One of the pieces of advice given to me was to never wash my baby’s clothes in the washing machine because the baby will get ‘twisted’ like the clothes do while they are being washed. I did not know how to react to this!

Those of you who are close to me will know that I did not follow any of this and only did what my own heart felt was right. So, while I was busy revolting against the world, to wash my baby’s clothes in the washing machine, baby washing liquids did not even cross my mind.

But, the second time around, I was the experienced mother no one dared to mess with. When we found that my son had extremely dry and sensitive skin, we researched and found out about the laundry detergents available for babies. As some of our newborns have extremely soft and delicate skin, we need to keep harsh chemicals away from them. I got to know that the best baby detergents are made with the least chemicals to avoid allergic reactions and skin irritations. You can use these baby laundry detergents for your baby’s clothing, towels, cloth bibs, blankets, nappies, sheets and covers.

Here are the 5 favourite detergents used within our family for a few years now.

MOTHER SPARSH PLANT POWERED LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR BABIES

It costs Rs. 649/- for 1 Litre while the refill pack costs only Rs. 349/- per 500ml.  You can find it on the Mother Sparsh website, or other online stores like Amazon, Flipkart, Firstcry, etc. Off late, we have been using this laundry detergent for the babies because: *Easily available on various portals as mentioned above.

*Made with botanical herbs and natural ingredients like Aloe Vera, Neem and Eucalyptus Oil. These ingredients help reduce the risk of skin irritation and prevent the growth of bacteria; thereby removing the microbes and germs which emerge from food spills, sweat and dirt.
*The bio enzyme enriched liquid helps remove stubborn stains, residue, dirt and bad odours.
*It is dermatologically tested and does not contain any harmful toxins or harsh chemicals such as SLS/SLES, dyes, phosphates, foam booster, bleach or parabens.
*It is formulated especially for newborns with its allergen-free fragrance and essential oils.

It is an extremely good option for those with sensitive skin. We have been using this for a while now and are very happy with the fresh feel of the clothes after wash. It also has a pleasant fragrance that works miracles by eliminating baby smells on the fabrics. If you’re hand washing, you can soak the fabrics in water and 5ml of the liquid before washing. The same amount can be used during machine wash, too.

CHICCO BABY LAUNDRY DETERGENT

My cousin used this for a while and loved that it was unscented. The combination of surfactants, soap and enzymes helps to effectively remove the food stains without being aggressive on the fabric. It is dermatologically tested, so, it does not irritate the skin while washing or wearing. It costs Rs. 749/- for 1.5 Litres. It contains the goodness of Aloe Vera and the clothes remain delicately scented.

HIMALAYA GENTLE BABY LAUNDRY WASH

Tough on germs, tough on stains, gentle on skin. We normally use the 1 Litre pouch which costs Rs. 425/- only. This laundry detergent includes ingredients such as Neem, Soapnut, Lemon and Geranium which helps remove stains and keep the clothes smelling fresh.

MEE MEE MILD LAUNDRY DETERGENT

This detergent costs Rs. 749/- for 1.5 Litres but is currently available at a discount on Amazon. If you already have the bottle, you can only buy the refill pack for Rs. 549/-. Some of us also use this for washing clothes of the elderly at home. This mild detergent is fortified with triple enzymes and fights even the toughest of stains. It contains no harsh chemicals or artificial colouring therefore is soft on our hands and hypoallergenic. So, even if the grandparents insist on washing their clothes, it is safe to let them.

JOHNSON’S ULTRA GENTLE CLEAN BABY LAUNDRY DETERGENT

As you know, this is a brand that is trusted for generations. So, we started with this one. It costs Rs. 495/- for 1 Litre. Johnson’s baby Ultra Gentle Clean baby laundry detergent is designed with silk protein softeners and is free of harsh chemicals like phosphate, bleach and colourants. It has been developed with the help of dermatologists for our baby’s delicate skin. It is unscented. We had also used the ‘active clean’ for a while. It contains the goodness of green tea. But, these were not available for some of us and both seem to be off all the common online portals now.

We have used these detergents only until our kids were 2 or 2.5 years old. But, you are free to use them even for your clothes. If a product is safe for use, removes tough stains and gives your clothes a fresh and lovely fragrance after wash, these laundry detergents are extremely good for everyone in the family, don’t you agree?

What detergent do you use for your baby’s fabrics?