The Best Natural Laundry Detergents for Sensitive Skin and Allergies

Laundry detergent on a dairy-free website? The dairy-free lifestyle isn’t just about food. Dairy lurks in the strangest of places and many of us who can’t do dairy have skin woes. You might be dealing with hives from allergic reactions, chronic eczema, or general inflammation from dermatitis. And the real kicker: natural products can often be more irritating than the chemically-formulated “sensitive” products. But over the years, I’ve found a few options that I think are the best natural laundry detergents for those of us with touchy skin.

The Best Natural Laundry Detergents for Sensitive Skin and Allergies

All of the following natural laundry detergents are “Free and Clear” of colors and fragrances, and suitable for both Standard and HE (High-Efficiency) washers.

Dapple Baby Natural Laundry Detergent

Dapple is a fantastic brand of gentle cleaners that are sensitive enough for a baby’s touch and skin, but powerful on stains. Their product line includes a good range of dish, surface and clothing cleaners. Thus far, I’ve sampled their surface wipes, dish soap, and liquid natural laundry detergent. All are commendable, but we’re talking laundry right now…

I found Dapple Baby Laundry Detergent to be effective and the closest to “traditional” laundry detergent. It wasn’t quite as concentrated or deep cleaning as some of the other brands we tried. That said, Dapple did leave our clothes soft and fresh, and moms will like that this brand is pediatrician-approved for little ones (and adults!) with eczema. For more info visit www.dapplebaby.com.

Eco Nuts Organic Laundry Soap

Eco Nuts Soap Nuts (a.k.a. soapberries) have no added ingredients; they are just simple little shells that you place in a mini burlap bag. They are as natural and pure as it gets for laundry detergent. You use 4 to 5 soap nuts at a time, and they work for up to 10 loads. The soapberries will look dried and shriveled once their cleaning power has been exhausted.

Eco Nuts Soap Nuts are certified organic, low-sudsing and very mild. They are said to be gentle enough for those with eczema, allergies, psoriasis, or generally sensitive skin. If you prefer a more traditional option, they also have Eco Nuts Liquid Detergent. For more info visit www.econutssoap.com.

Charlie’s Soap Laundry Powder or Liquid

I haven’t tried this brand myself, but it comes highly recommended from many people with sensitive skin and dermatitis. Reports include no itching, no rashes, and no irritating fragrance.

Charlie’s Soap has a simple ingredient list of water, washing soda, and two plant-based surfactants. It’s made without common irritants like fragrance, sulfates, and methylisothiazolinone, but reportedly cleans quite well. For more info visit www.charliesoap.com.

Mainstream Top Pick?

If you’re at the grocery store with a limited selection to choose from, All Free & Clear is a reliable choice. It doesn’t fall under the “natural laundry detergent” label, but is a great option for most people with sensitive skin. Despite the fact that it’s a mainstream laundry brand, we’ve found it’s kinder to skin than most brands that are sold in the natural laundry detergent section.

I will update this post if we learn of and trial more great natural laundry detergents, so be sure to bookmark or pin this post for later reference. Also, feel free to share your favorite natural, sensitive cleaners in the comments!

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