We have a new baby coming at the end of June and I was wondering if any of you guys use a different laundry detergent for the baby clothes..

I didn't with Ds(was so stressed out and busy that I didn't bother).....

Ds had pretty bad excema so I did stop using bounce sheets and it seemed to help.But this time I would like to be a little more organized and nip the whole excema thing in the bud.

I remember an old boyfriend whose whole family had skin problems and they used a laundry detergent(think it was called VIP).....I hated the way it smelled and I thought it was just some gross cheap detergent.....but now I am interested in finding something like it...I have never seemed to notice Vip anywhere though....I was thinking I could buy it and maybe add some lavendaar essential oil to it so it wouldn't smell the way I remember it...

Has anyone ever made their own detergent? What about borax?

Are there any natural fabric softeners out there? Where we live(Calgary) it is very dry, the water is hard and everything gets staticky in the winter(Dh insists that he is ALLERGIC to static electricity!!LOL)

Any input would be gratefully appreciated!!


fiona

By Ladypeacek on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 07:35 am:

dreft is a good baby detergent. I used it for a few months and then went to ALL that was no perfume or dyes and such and it seemed to work. Instead of laundry sheets i used fabric softner in the wash that was also dye free.

By Fraggle on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 09:05 am:

I used Dreft, too. Probably for the first three months or so. I love the way it smells. After that I just used All (unscented). My youngest DD and I have eczema so we have to stick with unscented products.

By Amecmom on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 09:13 am:

Dreft is great. I also made sure to put the clothes through a second rinse and an extended spin to remove any excess detergent and fabric softener. I found the liquid to leave less residue on the clothes than the dryer sheets. When I used the dryer sheets, I used half of one.
All free & clear is also very good, but I didn't start using that on my son's clothes until he was a year old.
Also, spray any stains right away with Totally Toddler - available at Walmart and Toys R Us. This stuff really works to remove stains. If you pre treat before you put them in the hamper (I have a baby laundry bag right by the machine) then, when you have enough clothes, just dump them in the wash, you don't have to pre treat at that time.
I didn't bother sorting clothes, I just washed everything in cold.
Sorry this is long, but I hope it helps.
How are things with the move?
Ame

By Emily7 on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 09:16 am:

I also used Dreft for the first 4 months & now I am using All Free & Clear.

By Texannie on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 09:24 am:

Used Dreft way back when mine were babies too. Did the extra rinse cycle also. The "Shout stick" is great to pretreat with. I kept one by the changing table, would rub it over the stain and then toss it in the basket till I was ready to do laundry.
Just as an FYI, 409 is a great spot treater too.

By Mommmie on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 09:46 am:

I used anything except Tide. Tide is way too strong even for me. It gives me a rash. Can't imagine what it would do to a baby.

By Vicki on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 10:02 am:

I too used Dreft and never had any problems at all!

By Janet on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 10:30 am:

Dreft here, too! LOL

By Mommyathome on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 10:46 am:

I never used a special baby soap. Just whatever we were using at the time. Usually Tide, All, or Gain. Along with Downy softener and dryer sheets.

By Christylee on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 10:49 am:

Add another for Dreft until he was almost two because I liked the way it smelled! lol.. Now we use All free and Clear.

Also don't know if anyone knows this trick but Goop hand cleaner works WONDERS on stains, even baby spitup that sometimes is hard to get out. It can be found in the automotive section of places like walmart and is usually less than a dollar. It lasts a long time and doesn't fade the clothes or anything. You just rub a little bit on the stain and wash.

Christy

By Boxzgrl on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 10:56 am:

I thought Dreft was too expensive and wasn't strong enough to get out the spit up stains. I used whatever detergent I wanted as long as it was perfume free. I think I started with Purex but it wasnt too strong either so I moved on to a different one. Though i've been through so many by now that I cant remember which I used!!

By Babysitbarb on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 12:00 pm:

I used dreft for a while since their skin is so sensitive at first. We had some homemade laundry soap from some amish friends we have and it worked great for heavy stained stuff but, it took forever to get the soap rinsed out. I use a cycle that rinses 2 times for every load to make sure it gets rinsed out good. Sometimes I even do it a third time.

By Melanie on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 12:09 pm:

I used Dreft for DS #1.
I sometimes used Dreft for DS #2.
DD's clothes were washed in Tide with the rest of our stuff.

LOL.

By Amy~moderator on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 12:12 pm:

I have used Dreft and Ivory Snow. I believe All makes a Baby Detergent. They are gentle on baby's skin.

By Andi on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 01:39 pm:

I use any baby detergent I can find that is on sale for the first month or so. Then I wash one or two things with my clothes to see if he had a reaction to the detergent. Thank goodness he never did so I was able to was all the laundry together.

I will do the same thing this time around with baby number 2.

By Momaroze on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 03:11 pm:

We use the Costco name brand. Seems very gentle. Only my opinion though. I stay away from any fabric softners, my dh likes the stuff but I find all that stuff has way to many chemicals, to bad though, some of that stuff smells so good! I do use borax on occasion as well. We also have hard water if we don't use our water softener. If I were to go out and buy and different brand of detergent I would choose something unscented.

By Pandamamaoo4 on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:52 am:

I used Ivory Snow for all of our 4 dd. For the grandbabies our dd used Cheer free or All free.

I too use GOOP it works good on all stains. I try to get it from The Dollar store.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 11:27 am:

I tried Dreft but couldn't stand the strong perfumey smell of it. LOL! DS had eczema as a baby but it cleared up when I started using all dye and perfume free detergents. There are several brands that carry FREE versions. I liked them so much that I continued to use them through the years because the kids and I all have sensitive skin. Last year we bought a front load washer and we have to buy special HE detergent. Unfortunately no one makes a perfume/dye free HE version but the Wisk HE has a very light scent and hasn't bothered our skin.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 12:40 pm:

My middle son had very, very, very sensitive skin and broke into a rash at the drop of whatever. My then pediatrician told me to do an extra rinse with a cup of plain white vinegar in the rinse water, because it would neutralize any soap residue.

By Feona on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 10:46 am:

purex has a baby detergent and it is cheap too.

By Amecmom on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 11:02 am:

I tried purex for us and we broke out into rashes.
Ame

By Vbw1978 on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 12:18 pm:

i used Dreft with my first then switched to Tide (that is what we use on our clothes) at about 4 months - no problem with her. I dont use the kinds with the smells i just use the reg. with the last 2 i have used Tide from day one no problems at all. (i must be lucky)
The GOOP is wonderful !!! My parents used that when i was a child & I use it on the laundry hands .... it is GREAT. I have recently been using the Spray & Wash detergent tablets I personally think that they SUCK !!! Save your money ladies.
I used Purex once & it did not seem to clean my clothes as well.