https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:44:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-407175 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 03:16:19 +0000 sarac 407175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Total scam. I've never used anything but the usual stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-407163 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 02:01:27 +0000 red_seattle 407163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@photojane: You were asking how long you need to use the special stuff... I don't think there's a magic time period, and I think some babies are just more sensitive than others-- but some aren't at all, so you have to wait and see. You can experiment by throwing LO's clothes in with yours every once in a while to see what happens. </p> <p>FWIW, we never used any special detergent, but then we've always used the dye-free, fragrance-free stuff from Costco since it's the cheapest they carry. And we've never used dryer sheets or fabric softeners either, so using or not using those wasn't an issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-407150 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 01:07:17 +0000 sera_87 407150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use regular Tide (but fragrance/perfume free) for all our washing. I did stop using dryer sheets though, and if I ever go back (I honestly don't notice a huge difference) I would never put one in a load of baby clothes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-407133 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:06:00 +0000 lemondrop 407133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use free and clear detergents for ourselves and have never used anything different for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-407129 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:03:13 +0000 mrsjyw 407129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got an economy size of dreft to use.the firstmonth. Rockin green for our cds. We'll be switching to an all clear detergent for clothes ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-407096 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 22:53:37 +0000 cvbee 407096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use Rockin Green for all of our stuff. Got it for the cloth diapers and I just like the simplicity of one thing.</p> <p>Do you need baby-safe detergent: maybe. My guy got dressed up in a friend's kid's baby play clothes that had been washed in regular stuff and he only had it on for 5 minutes and got a rash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406919 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:26:04 +0000 erwoo 406919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just use All Free for the entire family. Deft isn't worth the price, IMO. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406915 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:23:57 +0000 JerricaBenton 406915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coacheswife123: I use basically the same recipe, but I use Kirk's Castille Soap and no OxyCLean. I just use 1 scoop per load (I think it's 2 tbsps) and I made it last Feb and am still going strong! Detergent is so expensive so it is an awesome thing to spend less that $12/year!</p> <p>I like to use fragrance/dye free for us so I'll continue to do that for baby. I'll probably just use a regular liquid brand because I don't think you can use baking soda on cloth diapers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406861 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 19:47:29 +0000 photojane 406861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i've always used the cheapy bulk walmart stuff for the hubs and i, but he picked up some generic all free and clear this afternoon. i'll probably still buy the cheapy stuff for loads of just our clothes. how long do y'all think i need to use special detergent for lo's clothes? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406688 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:06:37 +0000 MrsRcCar 406688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We wash DS's clothes in Dreft because that is what my mom bought for us. I prefer ALL free and clear to Dreft but I will use what we have first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406683 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:04:01 +0000 Bao 406683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got a dye free detergent but honestly don't think its necessary! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406660 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:57:20 +0000 shopaholic 406660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use ALL free &amp; clear or Tide Free &amp; Clear for everything (I've got super-sensitive skin). I've read it's fine for baby stuff too, so that's what I've been washing things in. And the Bounce Free &amp; Sensitive for dryer sheets when I use them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406648 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:53:26 +0000 MegWag 406648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use Soap Nuts for all our laundry and really love them! All natural and very inexpensive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406637 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:48:10 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 406637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Free and clear for the whole family!!!</p> <p>Dreft doesn't even work, IMHO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406568 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:21:34 +0000 Bluebonnet 406568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use Tide Free and Clear and use that for LO too. Dreft smelled like bad perfume to me and I couldn't figure out how that was better for baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406426 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:19:18 +0000 Minnie_Girl 406426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: Love it! There's an obvious difference in our clothes. They look and smell cleaner, and feel softer. I didn't think switching from "normal" products would make that much of a difference (we were using free-and-clear, dryer sheets, etc.), but I was pleasantly surprised!</p> <p>Personally I'm OK with the surfactant so long as it's washing out, which is what should happen with this detergent if it's working with your machine and water correctly. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406341 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:49:12 +0000 jedeve 406341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I make mine...ivory soap, borax, and washing soda. Will probably do the same for baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406337 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:46:10 +0000 banana 406337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ACK! I just looked up detergents on the EWG website and found that Tide, Dreft and Charlie's soap were given D/F ratings! I'm getting some Seventh Generation detergent today (A rating!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406310 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:38:42 +0000 mamabolt 406310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use All free and clear for everything - makes it much easier to not have to separate our LOs clothes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406306 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:37:35 +0000 chopsuey 406306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started off using baby detergent. Now I use Tide for all of our laundry. :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406303 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:37:18 +0000 mrsjazz 406303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coacheswife123: Thanks! I love that this stuff lasts for so long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406302 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:37:05 +0000 wheres_c 406302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bought all free and clear too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406293 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:33:50 +0000 banana 406293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Minnie_Girl: Perfect timing! I was looking at buying Charlie's Soap because my son has eczema and I really want to eliminate any harsh chemicals from our detergent. How do you like it? Does it work well? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406287 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:31:37 +0000 Minnie_Girl 406287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Baby detergents and free-and-clear detergents are essentially the same thing, and neither is necessarily safe for baby. After doing some research, I actually switched out all of our laundry products!</p> <p>Now I'm using Charlie's Soap for detergent, vinegar for fabric softener/rinse aid, and wool dryer balls in place of dryer sheets. It works MUCH better than the usual stuff, it's cheaper, it's safe (no residues/buildup), and it's still easy (I'm not quite inspired enough to make my own detergent, haha). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406254 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:18:11 +0000 pl0508 406254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: Here's the post that was linked on Pinterest <a href="http://beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com/2010/11/homemade-laundry-soap.html#comments" rel="nofollow">http://beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com/2010/11/homemade-laundry-soap.html#comments</a></p> <p>My tips: grate the soap smaller than that so it doesn't have a problem dissolving. I bought a small cheese grater (the kind with a crank that turns) to do this and it makes it easier to grate! A full batch lasts me about 10 months and it costs 20.00 to make :) </p> <p>Oh, and I bought a large plastic cereal dispenser with a pour spout from walmart to put mine in and use one small scoop (the one that came in the oxyclean) per load. Now I make it in half batches because its easier (less volume to mix and less soap to grate) and am on our 3rd batch! My mom makes this now, too, after trying a little bit of mine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406252 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:17:14 +0000 mediagirl 406252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use All Free and Clear. It's the cheapest detergent at our Walmart and well, it's free and clear. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406243 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:14:48 +0000 Mrsbells 406243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>when the baby came we switched to seventh generation, prior to that we were using arm &amp; hammer </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406242 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:14:33 +0000 LivsMama 406242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use Dreft because its worked since Day 1, and it doesnt cost any more than regular Free &amp; Clear detergent here (especially when BrU does buy one get one half off or whatever.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406241 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:14:14 +0000 Honeybee 406241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We also use All Free and Clear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-detergent-is-it-necessary#post-406240 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:13:18 +0000 mrsjazz 406240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coacheswife123: Can you share the recipe?</p> <p>@photojane: We don't use a special detergent, we use Seventh Generation. </p>