The Best Detergents that Actually Clean Baby Clothes

Tide has been a household name for nearly 80 years, so it makes sense that their Free & Clear formula is trusted and well loved by parents. Unlike Tide’s regular formula, this one is entirely free of dyes, perfumes, phthalates and phosphates, so even though it’s not specifically labeled as being a “baby detergent,” it’s still a great option for your little one.

“Babies have highly sensitive skin, especially since their skin and immune system are not fully mature. Their skin can react to various chemicals present in detergents,” says Dr. Zain Husain, founder of New Jersey Dermatology and Aesthetics Center. But Tide Free & Clear promises no skin reactions and no irritation—it’s even been recognized by both the National Eczema Association and the National Psoriasis Foundation as being safe for ultra-sensitive skin, and it’s recommended by many pediatricians.

This hypoallergenic detergent is also one of the most popular picks for cloth-diapering families. It’s got great stain-fighting capabilities (it can easily battle even the grossest breastfed newborn blowouts) and is a safe choice for anyone in the family with sensitive skin. One reviewer said they “use it for all our clothes, including baby’s clothes.”

Personally, this is my backup detergent (I’m more of a laundry sheet person; see my top pick for that below), but when I do use it, it never disappoints. Whether it’s a load of delicates or trying to wash out my toddler’s latest potty training accident, this stuff is somehow both gentle and tough, and it’s never aggravated my kiddo’s eczema-prone skin.

Tide Free & Clear comes in several different container sizes, but keep in mind that the largest size is prone to leaks because of the downward-facing spout.

Dreft has also been around for a long time, and it’s always been a favorite for baby-specific detergent—there’s a good chance your parents washed your baby clothes in it. The hypoallergenic stage one formula is designed specifically for newborns’ delicate clothes and skin. 

It’s an EPA-certified “safer product,” which means it won’t cause skin or eye irritation and it’s gentle on the environment. And just because it’s a “baby detergent” doesn’t mean the other people in your household can’t use it too. It’s effective enough to “use it for the entire family,” as one parent said in their review, while another parent called it their “trusted brand” for their extra-sensitive twin babies.

Dreft is definitely a little more expensive than most detergent brands since it’s marketed specifically for babies. And while classic Dreft has a distinct scent, this unscented version masks any fragrance. But there’s a difference between unscented and fragrance-free (more on that later), so you might consider another option if you’re particularly sensitive to fragrance-causing ingredients.

If you’re looking for a powerful eco-friendly detergent that’s also budget-friendly, then ECOS is a top choice. This plant-based laundry soap can handle dirt and stains better than others in the same category. As one reviewer put it, “I didn't think natural detergent [could] clean my clothes so well, but this one does.”

While many eco-friendly products can be on the pricier side, ECOS is actually the least expensive detergent on this list by estimated load count—lots of reviews called it “a good value.” Just keep in mind that this formula is ultra-concentrated, so it only takes a small amount of liquid per load of laundry. Even better for getting your money’s worth!

It’s made without dyes, brighteners, parabens, phosphates or phthalates, and its hypoallergenic formula is safe for sensitive skin. It’s also EPA-approved because it’s biodegradable and made in a carbon-neutral factory using 100% renewable energy. 

But like other plant-based detergents, it’s not the best for really tough, set-in stains. It’ll work well on fresh spitup, but if a mess has sat for more than a couple days, you’ll need to pre-treat the clothes with a stain remover (which we have a pick for below, too).

Sometimes you’re able to do laundry right away, in which case this baby-specific detergent from Dapple will wipe any mess away without a trace. But other times, the stains will sit for a little while, and most detergents will make you pre-treat with a special stain remover, but not Dapple—just apply an extra layer of this detergent directly onto older stains to spot treat and throw it in like usual. No additional products necessary!

Babylist parents say it works great for cleaning cloth diapers, and the plant-based ingredients are biodegradable and won’t leave any residues behind.

Keep in mind: Dapple is available in both plastic jug packaging and a more eco-friendly bag option, but the bag packaging has a bit of a learning curve. Many parents said the bag is prone to spills and leaks, so the jug might be a better option.

As someone trying to limit my plastic usage, I personally use detergent sheets (also called laundry sheets, but not to be confused with dryer sheets), and Tru Earth is my favorite because of how effective they are at cleaning all types of gunk off my kids’ clothes and for how readily available they are.

If you’re new to laundry sheets, here’s the lowdown: they're pre-measured, dehydrated sheets of detergent that fully dissolve in your washing machine. Since the packaging is typically just a small envelope made of recyclable paper or cardboard, they save space and are a more eco-friendly choice than bulky plastic jugs that take hundreds of years to decompose. 

I will concede that Tru Earth doesn’t work as well on stains as liquid laundry detergent, so you’ll need a good, baby-safe stain treatment like the one below. And if you put in more sheets than necessary (these sheets easily tear in half if you have a smaller load), they can leave a bit of residue behind on your clothes (which is treatable by running them through another wash cycle, but still annoying).

Another detergent sheet brand I love is Hey Sunday, but unfortunately they’re only available from the brand’s website. Tru Earth, on the other hand, can be found in nearly every major grocery store chain across the US, including Safeway, Albertsons, Publix and more.

Sometimes extra dirty laundry needs a little bit of help, but most stain removers are full of harsh chemicals and optical brighteners that aren’t kind to sensitive skin. The plant-based formula in Puracy is free of lots of those things (fragrances, brighteners, phosphates, allergens and more), and according to lots of parents, it still performs well on tough baby and kid stains. “I’ve even used it for small spot treatments on fabric baby diapers and it worked!” one reviewer said. 

This stain remover takes about 15 minutes to dissolve fresh stains, and even if stains have been there for a long time—maybe you got some secondhand baby clothes with a few years-old stains—Puracy can tackle them. One parent said Puracy lifted “old, ground-in stains” and their baby’s clothes “were as good as new.” You’ll need to leave the spot treatment on for longer (around eight hours). 

It’s also quite a bit more expensive than your average stain remover like Shout or Oxi Clean, but it might be worth it to get stains out without harsh ingredients.