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Best Hypoallergenic Detergents

Candace Osmond

It’s a fact that we all need to wash our clothes. Stinky and soiled clothes aren’t good for anyone, which is why the billion dollar detergent industry exists. Cleaning clothes no longer requires a washboard and consequently a sore or injured back, as the process is now automated and controlled. You can determine the texture and odor of your freshly cleaned clothes with relative ease. However, not everyone can use the standard detergents many of us depend on to make our clothes clean and smelling fresh again. Some people have allergies that make it impossible to use the common detergents on the market. Thankfully, there’s a solution for this.

There are hypoallergenic detergents to ensure those of us with the most sensitive skin can enjoy the pleasures of freshly-washed laundry. The only question is, which detergent is best for you and your skin? As we’ve mentioned, there are many options out there today, and laundry detergent for sensitive skin is certainly not one-size-fits-all. You now have the luxury of choice to compare and contrast which product will be best suited to your skin’s needs.

That’s where our experts come in, The Sleep Judge is here to help. We’ve tried all of the finest hypoallergenic detergents on the market and have put together a guide to find the very best for you.

You’ll find a collection of our favorite hypoallergenic detergents below, as well as a guide to tell you everything you could possibly want to know about hypoallergenic detergents. By the time you’ve read through our top picks, you’ll be an expert in hypoallergenic detergents and will be well-prepared to find the product you need.

1. Persil ProClean Power-Liquid Laundry Detergent For Sensitive Skin – Editor's Choice

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  • 100% dye and perfume free.
  • Powerful enough to clear out deep stains.
  • One bottle should cover up to 64 loads with ease.

2. Tide Free And Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent

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  • Dye, perfume, and phosphate free.
  • Will work with regular and high efficiency washing machines.
  • specially effective for anyone who suffers from eczema and psoriasis.
  • One bottle should cover up to 64 loads with ease.

3. Earth Friendly Products ECOS 2X Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry Detergent

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  • Made from 100% natural products.
  • Naturally lavender scented.
  • Natural fabric softener.
  • One bottle should cover up to 100 loads with ease.

4. Newborn Hypoallergenic Baby Laundry Detergent

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  • 1 Pediatrician Recommended Baby Detergent.
  • Specially formulated for newborns.
  • Stain-busting power for those tough stains.
  • One bottle should cover up to 32 loads with ease.
all-liquid-laundry-detergent-hypoallergenic

5. all Liquid Laundry Detergent Hypoallergenic

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  • Best value for money as one bottle washes 84 loads.
  • #1 Recommended by Dermatologists.
  • Concentrated formula gives you 2x the cleaning power in every load.

Best Hypoallergenic Detergents

1. Persil ProClean Power-Liquid Laundry Detergent For Sensitive Skin – Editor's Choice

Highlights

  • 100% dye and perfume free.
  • Powerful enough to clear out deep stains.
  • One bottle should cover up to 64 loads with ease.

Pros

  • 100% dye and perfume free.
  • Powerful enough to clear out deep stains.
  • One bottle should cover up to 64 loads with ease.

Cons

  • One bottle should cover up to 64 loads with ease.
  • Some have complained that the bottle is weak and leaks during shipment.

Not only does this detergent boast that it’s the “pro” for cleaning, it just might be the best option for anyone looking for crisp and clean clothes that won’t irritate their skin. This detergent is indeed 100% free of perfumes and dyes, ensuring that any clothes washed will be gentle on sensitive skin.

It’s still packed with deep cleaning technology that makes it strong enough to pull even deep and dark stains out of clothes, which isn’t always the case for hypoallergenic detergents. Best of all, despite being powerful and sensitive, the detergent is budget-friendly and long-lasting. You can expect to get a full 64 loads out of this one bottle, which isn’t often the case with most hypoallergenic detergents. Considering that it’s long-lasting, powerful and sensitive, we can’t even consider putting any other detergent at the top of this list.

2. Tide Free And Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent

Highlights

  • Dye, perfume, and phosphate free.
  • Will work with regular and high efficiency washing machines.
  • specially effective for anyone who suffers from eczema and psoriasis.
  • One bottle should cover up to 64 loads with ease.

Pros

  • Dye, perfume, and phosphate free.
  • Will work with regular and high efficiency washing machines.
  • Especially effective for anyone who suffers from eczema and psoriasis.
  • One bottle should cover up to 64 loads with ease.

Cons

  • Many have complained that the packaging is far from spill proof.
  • Some have complained that the smell is a little unpleasant.

If you have spent much time researching laundry detergent or even wandering down the laundry aisle at the grocery store, then you’ve likely heard of Tide. This brand has been a laundry industry leader for generations, and the company continues to do keep their name on top.

It should come as no surprise that they’ve developed a hypoallergenic option to add to their seemingly endless range of Tide products. Tide Free And Gentle is guaranteed to be free of dyes, perfumes and phosphates. In fact, their detergent is so effective that it’s been recommended by both the National Eczema Association and the National Psoriasis Foundation. If you’ve been struggling with the effects that traditional Tide products have on your skin, keep an eye out for this product.

3. Earth Friendly Products ECOS 2X Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry Detergent

Highlights

  • Made from 100% natural products.
  • Naturally lavender scented.
  • Natural fabric softener.
  • One bottle should cover up to 100 loads with ease.

Pros

  • Made from 100% natural products.
  • Naturally lavender scented.
  • Natural fabric softener.
  • One bottle should cover up to 100 loads with ease.

If it’s just as important to you that your laundry detergent is gentle on the planet as it is to your skin, then the ECOS Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry Detergent from Earth Friendly should leap to the top of your list. It’s made entirely from plant-centric ingredients and is 100% biodegradable, ensuring that every load of laundry is as eco-friendly as possible.

This detergent was also tested by dermatologists to ensure it’s gentle and safe on the skin with a carefully balanced pH level. It will brighten whites and fight stains, while offering a built-in fabric softener and natural lavender scent that leaves your laundry smelling like freshly picked flowers. In other words, this is a very unique detergent worthy of your attention.

4. Newborn Hypoallergenic Baby Laundry Detergent

Highlights

  • 1 Pediatrician Recommended Baby Detergent.
  • Specially formulated for newborns.
  • Stain-busting power for those tough stains.
  • One bottle should cover up to 32 loads with ease.

Pros

  • 1 Pediatrician Recommended Baby Detergent.
  • Specially formulated for newborns.
  • Stain-busting power for those tough stains.
  • One bottle should cover up to 32 loads with ease.

Cons

  • Some users have noted that pre-treating may be necessary for strong stains.
  • Only sold in 2 packs.

Are you specifically looking for a laundry detergent that is safe and suitable for your baby? If so, then the Dreft Baby Laundry Detergent is the choice for you. Infants are of course extra sensitive to all stimuli. So it only makes sense that they need a special detergent for their special skin.

The Dreft Baby Laundry Detergent is non-allergenic and fragrance free, guaranteed to wash your laundry gently enough to treat your baby’s skin like a soft snuggle. The #1 recommended baby detergent by pediatricians, this formula is specifically for newborns and can remove those tough stains on your baby’s clothes including onesies, booties, socks and bibs – the list goes on. You may find that pre-treating particularly stubborn stains might be necessary, but otherwise this is a dependable product destined to treat your baby’s skin right.

5. all Liquid Laundry Detergent Hypoallergenic

all-liquid-laundry-detergent-hypoallergenic

Highlights

  • Best value for money as one bottle washes 84 loads.
  • #1 Recommended by Dermatologists.
  • Concentrated formula gives you 2x the cleaning power in every load.

Pros

  • Best value for money as one bottle washes 84 loads.
  • #1 Recommended by Dermatologists
  • Concentrated formula gives you 2x the cleaning power in every load.

Cons

  • May cause mild skin irritation for those with extra-sensitive skin or eczema/psoriasis.

Last but not least, all’s Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry Detergent is another great alternative to your typical laundry detergent if your skin is more sensitive. This great value bottle will wash 84 loads in comparison to the average 64 for most bottles. It also has 2x the cleaning power to remove hard-to-get stains with its concentrated formula, meaning that you won’t need a full cap for each load.

While advertised as being gentle on sensitive skin, there have still been some claims of mild skin irritation or itchiness after using this detergent, so be sure to check the ingredients to see if any may be harmful to your skin personally. Similarly to our top four mentioned products, this detergent is 100% free of perfumes and dyes and should be the perfect companion to leave your clothes looking and feeling fresh.

Things To Look Out For

Here are some things to consider when choosing which laundry detergent for sensitive skin is right for you:

Ingredients

As a general rule, it tends to be the dyes and artificial fragrances in detergents that cause skin reactions. To be certain that you won’t accidentally buy a detergent that will irritate your skin, look at the ingredients and make sure they don’t include any of the following: dyes, fragrances, parabens, surfactants, thickeners and moisturizers. Being vigilant will pay off when you’re looking for a laundry detergent for sensitive skin.

What’s the formula?

There’s a wide variety of hypoallergenic detergents that come in every form available. This means you can find specially formulated laundry detergents for sensitive skin in powder form, liquid and pods. In general, which one you choose comes down to personal preference. However, it’s worth noting that liquid and pod detergents tend to break down faster. Powder detergents can often take an extra step in the wash process, so this is worth keeping in mind. Some also claim that liquid and pod detergents make your clothes more gentle on the skin, so if yours is easily irritated it’s important to note which form will be best suited to you.

Eco-friendly is also skin friendly

Most eco-friendly detergents tend to be hypoallergenic and work well for those with sensitive skin. The all-natural ingredients will be devoid of the harsh chemicals, scents, and dyes that tend to cause problems for people with sensitive skin. In general, seeking out an eco-friendly detergent is a wise idea and it also is beneficial to our planet. For many of us, laundry detergent and fabric softener go hand in hand, and there are many great options on the market for hypoallergenic laundry softeners to suit your sensitive skin.

Cleaning power

It’s worth noting that most hypoallergenic detergents tend to remove the harsher cleaning chemicals that really dig into clothes and remove stains. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but in general you should assume that hypoallergenic detergents will be on the lighter end when it comes to cleaning power. You may need to pre-treat or hand wash any particularly soiled clothes before sending them through the washing machine. This is clearly frustrating to incorporate an extra step, but ultimately worth it for those with sensitive skin.

High efficiency washing machines

The bulk of hypoallergenic detergents will not be compatible with high efficiency washing machines. They were initially designed to work with more abrasive and powerful detergents and won’t mix well with more gentle hypoallergenic detergents. While this is unfortunate, you’ll be able to compensate by pre-cleaning stains or with multiple wash cycles for every load, but this is clearly a far from ideal solution.

Conclusion

After weighing up a number of laundry detergents for sensitive skin, our top pick overall for the best hypoallergenic laundry detergent is the Persil ProClean Power for Sensitive Skin. This liquid detergent is powerful enough to clean deep stains, contains no dye or perfume (the nasties we suggested you should stay away from!) and since most hypoallergenic detergents won’t give you as many as 64 loads in a bottle, this was undoubtedly our number one choice. When it’s time for you to make your purchase, take into account our suggestions for the key factors to look out for, particularly any ingredients/chemicals that may irritate your sensitive skin, and you’ll be well-informed to choose the best laundry detergent for you.

Recent Updates

June 7, 2021: Our fourth product by Babyganics has been replaced by the Dreft Stage 1: Newborn Hypoallergenic Baby Laundry Detergent due to increasing popularity. A fifth product, the all Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry Detergent has been included to round out our list of top 5 picks. Conclusion, Recent Updates and Additional Resources sections have each been added.

Additional Resources