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Best Hypoallergenic Laundry Softener

Candace Osmond

People with sensitive skin should take special care with the fabrics that come into direct contact with their skin. If this sensitivity applies to you, this means you must take caution with the products you use to care for your clothes, as they can often cause an adverse reaction with your skin. That’s why laundry products loaded with dyes, perfumes, fragrances, and harsh detergents may irritate those who have sensitive skin, are prone to allergies or have skin conditions such as eczema.

For many it’s these harsh chemicals left behind on fabric that causes skin reactions. Almost any brand of detergent that’s free of dyes and fragrances may be adequate, but be sure that your laundry is rinsed thoroughly. Some people have specific skin allergies, so even a detergent without dyes and perfumes could still be problematic. This may take a bit of trial and error to find what works for you. Hypoallergenic products are formulated for sensitive skin and are a great place to start. Using a liquid product as opposed to a powder is a good choice, too, because liquids leaves less residue on fabric that could cause irritations. Studies have shown that a good hypoallergenic fabric softener can truly benefit people who have sensitive skin. Take a look at our top six recommendations below for the best hypoallergenic laundry softeners money can buy, and we hope you’ll find one to perfectly suit to your skin and be a great addition to your washing and drying routine.

1. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Fabric Softener – Editor's Choice

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  • Product Dimensions: 3.7 x 3.7 x 9.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
  • Number of loads: 32
snuggle-liquid-fabric-softener

2. Snuggle Liquid Fabric Softener

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  • Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.14 x 11.37 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.54 pounds
  • Number of loads: 200

3. Friendsheep Dryer Balls

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  • Set of six balls included with cotton carrying pouch
  • Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 3 x 6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
  • Number of loads: 1000

4. Purecosheet – Reusable Dryer Sheets

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  • 2 sheets per pack
  • Product Dimensions: 7 x 2 x 5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3.99 ounces
  • Use for a year of laundry

5. Hex Performance Wet Dryer Sheets

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  • Two packs 120 sheets each
  • Product Dimensions: 8.62 x 8.31 x 4.21 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.54 pounds

6. Downy Ultra Plus Free & Gentle Liquid Fabric Conditioner

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  • 152 loads
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.25 x 13 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.25 pounds

Best Hypoallergenic Laundry Softeners

1. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Fabric Softener – Editor's Choice

Highlights

  • Product Dimensions: 3.7 x 3.7 x 9.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
  • Number of loads: 32

Pros

  • 32 loads
  • Great fragrances from essential oils
  • Company gives back
  • Cruelly free
  • Parabens, phthalates free
  • Leaping Bunny Certified
  • Recycled plastic bottle

Cons

  • If you’re sensitive to smells, opt for a fragrance free choice

If you prefer liquid softeners but want to avoid questionable chemicals, Mrs. Meyer’s is our top pick for you. This fabric softener is made without parabens, phthalates or animal-derived ingredients. Parabens and phthalates are often used with cosmetics and household items as a preservative. Mrs. Meyers has been given the Leaping Bunny Cruelty Free Certificate as none of their products are tested on animals. The softening agents are from plant-derived sources, other thoughtfully chosen ingredients and, of course, those important essential oils.

Just because you have sensitive skin, it doesn’t mean you have to forego all nice smelling things. Mrs. Meyers uses essential oils to create their heavenly scents and have many options to choose from like basil, lavender, lemon verbena, geranium and honeysuckle, making your clothing, bedding or towels smelling fresh after every wash. Just add half a capful of this biodegradable liquid into your rinse cycle, and your clothes will come out smelling fresh, feeling fluffy and soft for 32 loads! It will also reduce static cling and make ironing easier. As a bonus, the company is involved in various corporate responsibility campaigns regarding the environment.

2. Runner Up – Snuggle Liquid Fabric Softener

snuggle-liquid-fabric-softener

Highlights

  • Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.14 x 11.37 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.54 pounds
  • Number of loads: 200

Pros

  • 200 loads
  • Great value 2-pack
  • Fresh scent
  • Ideal for sensitive skin
  • Dermatologist tested

Cons

  • Not a lot of static control

This hypoallergenic liquid softener is perfect for those with sensitive skin who might find that strong scented fabric softeners aggravate their skin, causing discomfort when wearing freshly-washed clothes. Snuggle offers you a dermatologically-tested, snuggly-soft alternative to allergenic softeners, and it’s ideal to use when washing your soiled baby’s clothing. The one bottle will give you approximately 200 loads as you only need to use a small amount with this concentrated formula. While it doesn’t have much static control, purchasing some dryer sheets like the ones we’ll review below will make a great combination for those with easily-irritated skin. This fabric softener is extremely affordable and a top-rated product on Amazon, so it’s easy to see why it’s made it as the runner-up of our six recommendations.

3. Best Balls – Friendsheep Dryer Balls

Highlights

  • Set of six balls included with cotton carrying pouch
  • Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 3 x 6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
  • Number of loads: 1000

Pros

  • 1000 loads
  • Compostable packaging
  • Certified Fair Trade and Cruelty-Free
  • Can be used scented or unscented
  • Reduced drying time and energy use

Cons

  • Slightly noisy in dryer

The Friendsheep dryer balls tick every box for those with sensitive skin and sensitive hearts. Not only are they made of 100% pure New Zealand wool, organic, chemical free, fragrance free and hypoallergenic, but they’re ethically made. These balls are needle felted by hand in ethical working conditions by women in Nepal of underprivileged communities. The women are paid fair wages and the product cares for the environment. The packaging and dryer balls themselves are adorable, which makes them a great idea for a fun gift. These organic dryer balls will last you for several years and have almost no impact on the environment. They’re sure to leave your laundry soft, while reducing wrinkles and static. These balls help reduce your drying time by 20-40%, will remove moisture in your dryer by absorbing up to 30% of their weight in water, and their movement helps to separate your clothes, allowing air and heat to circulate. The dryer balls help to evenly redistribute humidity in the dryer, which eliminates wrinkles and reduces static cling while softening your fabrics.

4. Best Reusable – Purecosheet Reusable Dryer Sheets

Highlights

  • 2 sheets per pack
  • Product Dimensions: 7 x 2 x 5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3.99 Ounces
  • Use for a year of laundry

Pros

  • Lasts for a full year of laundry usage
  • Will help reduce energy costs
  • Will not spot or stain even the most delicate clothing
  • Can be used scented or unscented
  • Safe for eczema and allergy sufferers
  • Ecofriendly
  • Perfume and dye free

Cons

  • Costly

These reusable dryer sheets from Purecosheet eliminates static and will keep all of your fabrics fresh and soft, without leaving a chemical residue behind. Purecosheets are 100% hypoallergenic and perfume, dye and chemical free. It’s even safe for allergy, eczema sufferers and for your baby’s sensitive skin. This product is chemical free so it won’t ever spot or stain, and it’s safe for athletic wear and cloth diapers. Rather than using chemicals to soften and reduce static which leave a residue on your clothes and machine, Purecosheets act like antennas and remove any potential static charge in your load. These sheets are woven with a conductive fiber in a patented process that’s been used in the industry for forty years. They’re are machine washable and should be cleaned after the first three or four uses to remove any residue left behind in your machine prior to making the switch. After this, you should aim to wash them every four months. While they’re a little more on the costly side, the sheets should last for hundreds of loads, which equals about a year worth of laundry for most families.

5. Best Biodegradable – Hex Performance Wet Dryer Sheets

Highlights

  • Two packs 120 sheets each
  • Product Dimensions: 8.62 x 8.31 x 4.21 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.54 pounds

Pros

  • 240 loads of laundry
  • Will help reduce energy costs
  • Made for delicate clothing
  • Removes static
  • Biodegradable
  • Perfume and dye free
  • Voted “Runner’s World” gear of the year

Cons

  • Costly

Hex Performance Wet Dryer sheets are not just fabric softener sheets that are safe for your active wear and workout clothes, they actually protect and preserve their stretch and sweat wickability in the dryer.

Working in all machines and at all water temperatures, these sheets use a wet-to-dry technology that keeps things clean, by starting out wet in order to bond with fabrics instead of clogging them. They can even prevents odors through wet-to-dry technology with their biodegradable, fragrance free and eco-friendly formula. Free of parabens and SLS, vegan-friendly and made for sensitive skin, your purchase will include two packs of 120 biodegradable, disposable dryer sheets to last you for around 240 washing loads.

6. Honorable Mention – Downy Ultra Plus Free & Gentle Liquid Fabric Conditioner

Highlights

  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.25 x 13 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.25 pounds
  • Number of loads: 152

Pros

  • 152 loads of laundry
  • Inexpensive
  • Perfume and dye free
  • Certificated from Eczema and Psoriasis Associations

Cons

  • Not as concerned with ecological footprint
  • Not chemical free
  • Contains benzisothiazolinone

Each bottle of the Downy fabric softener promises up to 76 loads, and as the purchase is a two-pack, your order will last you for up to 152 loads of fresh and soft laundry. This Downy product is free from perfumes, dyes, has been tested by dermatologists and has received a seal of approval from the eczema and psoriasis associations. You’ll enjoy the great features from your regular Downy products that prevent your clothes from stretching, fading and fuzz, and now with this formula for sensitive skin, you can truly enjoy the results of this reputable, tried and trusted brand.

How To Care For Your Laundry

When caring for your laundry, make sure that you wash all new fabrics before using them, as many clothes and fabrics have a finish which helps boost their appearance in the store. This can often trigger allergies and a reaction to those with sensitive skin, but washing prior to use will rinse off this finish.

Follow the measurements accurately on the packaging to ensure you’re using the proper amount of detergent. You should also always read the labels of your fabrics carefully and follow the directions regarding washing temperature and cycles, as this will help combat unwanted residue. Use a gentle, mild detergent and put your wash through an extra rinse cycle, as this will make sure there isn’t anything to trigger a skin reaction from your clothing. Finally, a fragrance and dye-free dryer sheet will help repel pet hair, dander and dust from your fabrics after washing.

Fabric Softener Choices

  • Liquid fabric softeners: A liquid hypoallergenic fabric softener won’t leave a grainy residue on your clothes and will still protect them from fading and extend their lifespan. They usually require that you regularly clean your washing machine’s dispenser to prevent build up of the liquid softener.
  • Dryer sheets: Dryer sheets are an extremely portable way to add a fabric softener to your load, especially if you’re using a laundromat. They’re often less expensive than dryer balls, but aren’t as eco-friendly.
  • Dryer balls: If you’re looking for an eco-friendly, economical option, consider reusable dryer balls. These are a great non-toxic approach to fabric, help to keep filled items fluffy and can even reduce your drying time.
  • Dryer cloths: These reusable dryer cloths are also nontoxic and fairly eco-friendly. They’re quieter than dryer balls and also easier on your machine.

Conclusion

If you have sensitive skin, the good news is that more companies are recognizing your needs. You have many options to choose from as companies realize many people want quality products that don’t cause them health problems from unwanted scents and dyes. From a low carbon footprint to plain and simple dye and fragrance free options, you can find a product that fits your exact needs. The Editor’s Choice among our top six products is Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Fabric Softener. This product is highly rated on Amazon, has absolutely no nasties that could potentially aggravate your skin, offers a variety of organic, essential-oil scents and will always leave your washing smelling fresh after every wash.

Recent Updates

June 28, 2021: Our #2 product recommendation, the Seventh Generation Fabric Softener has been replaced by the Snuggle Liquid Fabric Softener due to product unavailability and popularity of the Snuggle brand among Amazon reviewers. A FAQ section has also been added to address popular consumer queries.