Question About Washing Nrewborn Clothes

Another vote for Costco's Free and Clear or Environmentally Friendly both HE. I've used it since my first was born and have never had a problem. I also use vinegar occasionally. Especially for towels or peed/soiled clothes and bedding. Congrats on baby #2!

Just yesterday I saw the Dreft(he) at Walmart, but it was the Vancouver Walmart (205/Mill Plain one). I'm thinking that the other Walmarts must have it too. I remember it because I almost got it by accident.

I have washed a few of my baby's things in the Tide for sensitive skin, but have always use Dreft otherwise.

Good Luck and congratulations!

Just about all the "green" detergents out there are safe for baby & (he) washers. I know I have had a high efficiency washer for the last 7 years & have used many different kinds of "green" detergents because I am super sensitive to chemicals.

I use Costso's Ecos because it is (he) formulated & it's the cheapest "green" detergent out there I have found so far.

We had heard in our parenting class that Dreft can actually cause buildup in your washing machine if you don't regularly do a hot water rinse (because it has such fine particles in it). So...we used perfume free/dye free detergent. I believe ALL makes this for HE washer/dryers.

Congrats!

Most new mom's don't know that the perfumes and chemicals in wash products can cause allergies to surface in their children. Allergies occur when one too many substances that are mildly allergenic combine so that child sleeping on sheets washed with perfumed and heavily chemical detergent who has eaten a potatoe or other food to which it is mildly sensitized will break out.

I have used Ecover here and in Europe for 15 years. It is safe, gets stains out (even miconium) and it will not negatively effect nature. My European machine is state of the art and it works with Ecover very well.

IMO HE detergent are the biggest scam ever. HE machines use less water than regular machines, so all you need is a detergent that will dissolve properly. Most manufacturers simply sell the same detergent in a finer powder or with more filler as HE detergent to aid dissolution in less water.
You can use a green detergent like Charlie's Soap or Country Save. They dissolve more completely and rinse out better.
You can use less of your regular detergent or less of a liquid detergent if you have issues with residue.

You can make your own by using 1/2 borax and 1/2 baking soda - some people add a bit of bar soap to it, but I found that unneccessary. This is what I use on my cloth diapers alternating with oxyclean.

Run an extra rinse to be sure to remove any detergent residue.

you can buy Dreft at Babies R Us. Also, any frangrance free and dye free soap is safe for your baby. YOu should be able to find several options at most stores like Target or even the grocery store. Just look for the HE on the label. If you can't find the HE then just use less soap.

The places that I've seen Dreft at is Toys R Us, and also at Safeway. I know that I've seen it at other stores I just don't know if I've seen the (he) one but I hope this helps a little. Also another good soap that I really like for stains is the Oxyclean for babies which you can also find that at Toys R Us.

I use Seventh Generation from New Seasons- I'm pretty sure they would offer HE safe Detergent there. Or you can go to Whole foods and see what they have. They carry Det. that is hypo allergenic, phos free and non-toxic.
L

We use Tide (he)Free. Its in a white bottle. It has no dyes or perfumes. I havent been able to find the Dreft (he) either, but this one has worked just fine for my little guy!

Hello. I've seen Dreft sold at Babies R Us. I used Seventh Generation detergent, good for your clothes and the environment.

I used Ivory Snow Flakes or Powder.
<<'-)
C.
Elfie Creations at
http://www.themeshack.net/

We use Costco's Kirkland Signature Environmentally Friendly HE detergent. It smells great, leaves no residue, is cheaper than any other type I've used, and of the three of us with dermatitis issues no one breaks out anymore! For those icky, stinky loads of laundry, I put my HE washer on prewash, hot/cold, whites, extra rinse, with 1/4 cup white vinegar in the cup where the bleach is supposed to go (Obviously your settings may be different, due to your washer). Works great- clothes don't get the musty smell, washer stays mildew-free due to the vinegar rinse, clothes smell like the detergent (which is an awesome light ("manly" husband doesn't mind it)lilac-like smell).

I get my washer and dryer checked every year and one time I got a chatty technician :).

He said that you can use any detergent in an he washer, just use less of it (WAY less--remember that 60% less water thing? yeah). If you have suds at the bottom of the window-door at the end of the cycle, you've used too much soap (whatever type).

He also said Dreft's whole dealio (I was using Dreft at the time) is that it is less likely to irriate the skin than regular detergents ... so when it (like all the others) doesn't rinse out, you are less likely to notice, and your baby is less likely to get reaction rashes/be itchy. That is apparently why it is for-babies, regular machine or he machine.

All that said, I use one of the natural-type-brands: powder for whites and lights, liquid for dark (they seem to fade really fast with the powder detergent) ... I use 2 or 3 brands depending on my mood and what's on sale.

I also keep BioKleen BacOut on hand for urine issues (I wash my own diapers--most of the time the regular detergents do fine, but if I open the washer and it didn't get rid of the smell, I run it again with some BacOut added).

Dreft is great, but pretty much any natural laundry detergent works fine. I have very sensitive skin as do all of my children and we use Arm 'n Hammer. Just be sure it is dye and fragrance fee.

You can actually use normal washing liquid in your washer - just use a smaller amount. That might help.
However, i found a 'all natural, safe' washing liquid the was HE in our normal grocery store (and i'm positive that Whole Foods would have it). It wasn't dreft, but i can't remember the name.
At any rate, you dont' actually need to be very worried about this - just look for something allergen free.

I don't believe Dreft makes a HE type detergent, but I do believe you can adjust the amount of detergent used and it will work fine. Dreft can be found at Fred Meyer stores, Safeway, Albertson's, QFC.... I would suggest, as this worked like a charm for me and my three kids.... rinse your clothes twice, and in the first rinse cycle add a 1/4 cup of white vinegar. This actually cuts any residual soap scum and crud that floats in the water and clings to your clothes. It works really well on flame retardant sleepers, etc. Some soaps render the retardant useless as the soap scum builds up and can burn when exposed to flame. It keeps things really clean without having to bleach. I used Biz as an additive with the Dreft for every wash and Biz was what I used to soak diapers or food stained clothes in prior to washing. Happy babies!!!

drugstore.com has it for 13.99. I don't know where else you can get it. Hope that helps a little.

you can find from Walmart. There is also Dreft (he) now.

I haven't seen Dreft on the shelf in stores for a long time but I believe that if you are really worried about harsh detergent just rinse them twice and that should do the trick. I am very allergic to most soaps and detergents out there and so I have to rinse everything I wash twice.

You can buy Dreft HE at drugstore.com. I think it is about $14 for 50 ounces. Another thing that might work also, is to double rince the baby clothes.

We have never used dreft for our babies. We do look for a liquid det that is dye and perfume free like All. Liquid over powder to know it is dissolved. I know that he det is supposedly better for front loaders, but we were using a front loader we just used reg det. and it was fine.

I used Dreft. It was recommended by prenatal nurses. No perfumes and chemicals. There maybe some new stuff out now, but Dreft has been around for ever so it must be doing something right.

I have an HE Washer and I just use regular Dreft, but only half of the recommended amount. It works fine for me.

I used Dreft and later 7th Generation detergents when my children were young. It was not as harsh as Tide, but the soap didn't completely dissolve in the wash. Even though I was careful to measure the soap and not use too much, there were granules of soap on the clothes at the end of the cycle that didn't rinse out. I never understood why. Later I figured out that it was from the filler they put in the soaps.

Eventually I switched to scent free MelaPower, from Melaleuca and loved it. No more irritated skin. After years of trying different "safe" soaps, I finally found one that is both environmentally safe and cleans better than anything else I have ever used. There is barely any lint from the clothes dryer because it doesn't burn the fibers out of the clothes to clean them. And it costs me less than what I used to spend on laundry detergents purchased in bulk. It comes 6x concentrated in both regular and (he) versions.

I only ever used Seventh Generation Baby formula for both my daughters. It's made for he washers and it didn't irritate my youngest daughter's skin like many other detergents.

I used to use Dreft for my children. I bought it at Babies R Us or Baby Depot. I don't know if those stores are in Portland, but there may be something similar in the area. Since my children are a bit older now, I used any Free and Clear detergent I can find. I also don't use liquid fabric softener and only use Oxy Clean Baby powder if there are stains that are difficult to get out. In the dryer, I use Free and Clear fabric softener sheets. I don't have a HE washer or dryer, so I don't know if these would be okay to use in them or not.

Good luck to you!

If you have a Babies R Us or Toys R Us anywhere near you, they carry Dreft. Otherwise, you can find it at Safeway, Albertson's, Fred Meyer or pretty much any other chain grocery store. We still use Dreft and my kids are 5 and 2 1/2. It's the best stuff I have found and my kids both have eczema issues. We use Biz with it to keep the clothes looking newer and keep stains out.

Hi K. - congrats on your upcoming newborn! I use a detergent for my whole family, including my senstive-skinned son, that is gentle enough for newborns: no phosphates, no ammonia, no formaldahyde, etc. I order it online along with tons of other great products for my home and family; I'm not a distributer and I don't sell it (!!) but if you want more information I do refer customers to this company often! I love it and it's cheaper than Tide.
You can email me at ____@____.com if you'd like.

K.,

Have you checked Target and Walmart? Costco may have Dreft too.

On the other hand, we have always used Tide with bleach alternative in our house and had no problems. My kids are now 5 and 2. I think there is a big stink (no pun intended) raised about baby safe this, that and the other for no reason. I grew up with my dad using powdered Tide for all our laundry.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

Have you looked at Babies R Us, and New Seasons?

Also, you can usually contact the mfr and ask who sells in your area.

I found that putting vinegar in the final rinse is good for rinsing out residue from detergents, if you don't find the dreft you want.

You know, if you have a double rinse option, I don't see why you couldn't use your regular detergent. I double rinse anything my baby will come in contact with for any period of time (his clothes & blankets, cloth diapers, bed sheets, etc). I don't have a HE washer, though, so I don't know how yours would work. I use a hypoallergenic detergent for washing all the above-mentioned things and a home-made detergent for our clothes.

I totally agree with the other posts about finding a soap that rinses completely clean. Charlie's Soap (availble online and at natural food stores) and Country Save are both HE friendly, AND they rinse completely clean. Dreft uses marketing to convince people that it's a "baby" detergent, but it has LOTS of fragrance added and does not rinse completely clean. Our pediatrican told us to avoid it.

Not only are clean rinsing soaps better for your baby's skin and clothing, they are better for your machine in the long run. I have a friend who switched from Tide dye free/fragrance free because she couldn't figure out why her HE washer was getting mildewy... it was because the detergent does leave a film that in turn builds up and allows mildew and bacteria to grow on it.

I us Costco's Free and Clear brand, that is for high efficiency washers. It's what my baby's doctor told me to use for her. It's worked great so far!

We also have an he washer and I got for my newborn the free and clear he liquid. I researched on whether or not you could use dreft and I found that you shouldn't for these type of washers. I think I found my answer on the dreft website actually. I miss the smell of the dreft detergent but oh well.

Hi K., welcome to the PDX area I live here in Vancouver its across the bridge some but do lots over there. For the dreft item they sell it in most all larger retail stores, but you do not look for it in the same place as the powdered soaps, as its a more special kind so do look more to the top shelves a little down from the regular detergents and congrads to you three for the new one one the way, hope this helps some. And its in a pink boxso look high and over. S.,

Dreft is one of those older detergents that is trying to reinvent itself. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) You mostly find it in stores that cater to seniors.

Any of the free & clear (aka no dyes, perfumes, etc.) high efficiency detergents are great for baby clothes.

Also...if your machine is like mine...you can also have it do a 2nd rinse.

I have repairmen in my family. My first he front loader last just 5 years or so. I didn't use he detergent. I was told that the machine would've lasted longer if I had. I'm using he now. Even with he detergent we do not usually need to use the amount given on the package. I experiemented with amounts to find the amount that worked best for me and my clothes.

I also use the second rinse just to be sure the detergent is all out. If your clothes feel just a little bit slippery the detergent has not all been washed out. If the whites get dingy it's probably because the detergent hasn't been washing out or you've washed them with darkly colored clothes.

I used Dreft as well and found it in Safeway and Target. Not sure what other brands are out there as I'm not from the States, but if you have Ivory here, then that's a good one, too.

Tide is perfectly fine for baby clothes. I never used Dreft for my babies. Some babies are sensitive to regular detergent, but it is rare. I would use what you have. However, if you are set on using Dreft you should be able to find it anywhere (Walmart) if not in the detergent aisle, then maybe in the baby section. Good luck!

Babies-R-Us has a HE Seventh Generation specifically for babies.

When my daughter was a baby, I used snowy, but I don't think they make it any more. I think Tide might be too harsh on baby's skin. My friend sells Melaleuca, and it has no chemicals of phosphates. Melaleuca has an HE (high efficiency) version, and it's concentrated so you only need a little bit. Here's my e-mail address if you want additional information: ____@____.com

babies r us has it. but i've used ALL FREE and TIDE FREE they work just as good and are less expensive.

Hi K.,
I don't live in Portland, but up here in Seattle they carry Dreft at Target (in the baby section, not the detergent section). They also carry it at Babies R Us. Hope one of these are near you!
C.

I use Seventh Generation laundry detergent which they now make for he. My baby is five months old and never had any problems with it...and it doesn't have the nasty chemicals found in regular detergent, including Dreft. I just use Seventh Generation for my whole family, which is nice since I don't have to worry about washing baby's stuff separately.

I was recommended to use any of the free and clear soaps for baby. Most brands make it also for high effency washers.

Also i was told by sears that you can use any soap, not just the ones that say HE, its just whats recommned and will not hurt washer when we bought our new washer and dryer.

Welcome to Portland! Target carries Dreft (as well as their own store/generic brand which is exactly the same as Dreft, just a little cheaper---it was in the detergent section). I also saw it at Babies R US just this weekend.

I had my husband pick up some at walmart and was surprised that he had actually found the (he) formula. Also all you need to use is any detergent that is dye and fragrance free. I have only used dreft because it smells so good (like baby)

We use the high efficiency environmentally friendly stuff from Costco. We've used EcoVer, but the costco stuff is cheaper. It works really well even for poopy cloth diapers! It's safe for kids clothing, but also meant for HD machines.

My son is five months old and I have always used method laundry soup but only for his stuff (otherwise it is to expensive) it works great and i love it...you can find it in target stores

Most doctors will recommend dye and scent-free detergents for babies because their skin is so sensitive. Just an FYI: Dreft is so highly scented it almost makes me gag. I can always tell when I'm around a baby whose mom uses Dreft because I can smell them from several feet away. Ugh! I don't know why they advertise as a baby-safe detergent when they're so loaded with perfumes. Please look around to find an environmentally safe, scent- and dye-free detergent. Costco sells a good one.

I always used Arm and Hammer Free. My mother recommends Ivory Snow. Use products that are Free on Scent and Colors. I would also stay away from softeners. My kids are horribly allergic to softeners. The rash can be scary.

if tide(he) is scent and dye free, it should be just fine to use for your baby's clothes...detergent is detergent...

You can get Dreft (he) at Rite Aid or you can go to www.dreft.com and order it online.

Dear K.,
My name is T.. I don't know where you can get Dreft. But I have used Purex that is free of dyes and fragrances that could be hard on babies skin. Also there is an organic detergent I think called Seventh Generation that is really good too. Good luck!

Hey Katya!

I'm also a Bay Area transplant. :) We use Biokleen's free and clear detergent for our stuff and our baby's. I once asked our midwife who said that it's all about not having a lot of perfume and soap, so any of those perfume-free etc. detergents should do the trick.

Good luck,
L.