How to Choose the Best Safe Baby-Friendly Laundry Detergent

In this guide, we'll help you navigate the complexities of common chemicals in laundry detergent and how to select one that is safe for your baby (and your whole family, too).

The Hidden Dangers of Conventional Laundry Detergents

Laundry detergents are household staples, however many conventional laundry detergents are laden with hazardous chemicals that can have adverse health effects.

Here are just a few common harmful ingredients:

• Optical Brighteners: These chemicals are added to make fabrics appear whiter and brighter but can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions.
• Chlorine Bleach: You know this one! Bleach is a strong irritant that can cause respiratory issues and skin irritation.
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats): Disinfectants that can cause skin and respiratory issues.
• Ethoxylates: Commonly used as surfactants in detergents, ethoxylates can contain harmful by-products like 1,4-Dioxane and can be toxic to aquatic life.

• 1,4-Dioxane: A contaminant found in many detergents, 1,4-Dioxane is classified as a probable human carcinogen and can cause respiratory issues. 1,4-dioxane is never listed on an ingredient list but is found in small amounts within  products (and can be problematic at any level). 
  
  Ways to identify products that might contain 1,4 dioxane.

  • Avoid PEG compounds, which are usually listed as “PEG” followed by a number on labels.
  • Skip polysorbates, ingredients that are listed on labels as “Polysorbate” followed by a number.
  • Look for and avoid chemicals that end in “oxynol” or “eth”, as this denotes ethoxylation. Examples include: ceteareth, oleth, and laureth
  • Also steer clear of terms like polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, or polyoxyethylene.

• Synthetic Fragrance: Often listed as "fragrance" or "parfum," these terms can represent hundreds of proprietary synthetic chemicals that can cause skin and respiratory issues, asthma, cancer, neurotoxicity,  endocrine disruption, and more.
• Phthalates: Found in 72% of products with "fragrance," these endocrine disruptors are linked to diabetes, obesity, asthma, neurotoxicity,  liver and breast cancer, and developmental issues.

Note: The lack of transparency in these products industry makes it difficult to determine if a product is safe. There’s a lot of greenwashing used in marketing these days. Be on the lookout for terms like "unscented", which often mean a product is fragranced with a masking fragrance, “natural” which isn’t a regulated term, and much more.

How To Find A Safe Laundry Detergent For Your Baby

Using a gentle, baby-safe laundry detergent is crucial for maintaining your little one's health. Choosing the right detergent ensures their clothes, bedding, and toys are clean without causing any irritation or allergies. Here are some important points to look for in a detergent: 

1. Gentle, Human-Safe Ingredients: This is the most important! Opt for detergents with natural, human-safe ingredients to minimize exposure to potentially harmful chemicals that could irritate your baby's delicate skin. Ensure that the detergent is free from dyes, fragrances, sulfates, chlorine bleach, quats, optical brighteners, and other potentially harmful additives to keep your baby safe as possible.

2. Hypoallergenic Formulas: Choose hypoallergenic detergents specifically designed to reduce the risk of allergic reactions and skin sensitivities.

3. Residue-Free: Double rinse to ensure the detergent rinses out completely to avoid leaving any potentially irritating residues on your baby’s clothing, bedding, etc.

The Best Baby-Safe Laundry Detergent

At Branch Basics, we have two safe and effective laundry products to choose from, each designed to cater to different needs and preferences:

1. Laundry Detergent 

Branch Basics Laundry Detergent powder is a simple, convenient option for your home. Here’s why we love it:

• Convenience: This product requires just one scoop, with no additional products needed.
• Human-safe: At Branch Basics, we have the highest industry standards. We only use ingredients rated 1 or 2 on EWG Skin Deep, "A" on EWG Healthy Cleaning, or are MADESAFE eligible. All products are free of toxic contaminants like 1,4-Dioxane and made without phosphates, sulfates, harmful VOCs, disinfectants, optical brighteners, and phthalates.
• Performance: It removes stains and odor while also being effective in cold water, making it energy-efficient and fabric-friendly.

2. Concentrate Laundry Solution

Our flagship product, the Concentrate, is also a wonderful laundry solution. When diluted properly in our Laundry Bottle, it is an effective mild liquid solution. For new babies, we do recommend doing small loads or a double rinse cycle to ensure thorough rinsing of the clothes.

• All-In-One: For those that use our Concentrate for other cleaning solutions around the house (All-Purpose, Bathroom and more), this product does it all! Independent testing revealed that it is not an eye or skin irritant. For launch, just add scoop of Branch Basics Oxygen Boost for that extra cleaning power.
• Efficiency: It’s a versatile option that provides powerful cleaning while being gentle on sensitive skin.

Both Branch Basics Laundry Detergent powder and Concentrate Laundry Solution offer unique benefits. The choice ultimately comes down to personal preference and laundry routine!

Your New Baby-Safe Laundry Routine 

Creating a healthy home starts with the products we use daily. And many times, when we bring our new babies into our homes we start to think more and more about those products. 

At Branch Basics, our Laundry Detergent powder and Concentrate Laundry Solution offer safe, effective, and environmentally-friendly options to keep your baby's clothes clean and fresh without compromising health! 

We encourage you to take this proactive step in removing harmful chemicals from your laundry routine. You’ll not only experience an excellent clean, but also a positive difference in your home’s air quality and overall well-being. Your family’s health and safety are worth it!