The Best Baby Detergents: Gentle, Effective Formulas Safe Enough for Delicate Skin

You've managed to master a diaper-changing routine that keeps your baby rash-free. Your laundry routine deserves the same careful approach, and it all starts with the type of detergent you're using. The best baby detergent is one that natural ingredients to create a formula gentle enough for the most delicate skin. An infant's skin is actually about 20 percent thinner than an adult's, and babies are more prone to dermatological allergies like eczema. The harsh chemicals, fragrances, and dyes commonly found in traditional laundry detergent are simply a no-go for little ones.

Best sheets: ECOS Laundry Detergent Sheets, 50 ct. ($15)

Best pods: Dropps Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent Pods, 64 ct. ($26)

Best liquid: Molly's Suds Laundry Detergent, 50 oz. ($43)

Best powder: Rockin' Green Dirty Diaper Laundry Detergent, 90 oz. ($25)

Best concentrated: Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent (Concentrated), 16 oz. ($20)

Gentle yet effective plant-based detergents are out there, and many have been tested by doctors for safety. These hypoallergenic laundry cleansers are available in whatever form you prefer, too, including sheets, liquids, powders, and pods. The baby detergents below not only protect skin, but they maintain that snuggly softness baby clothes and linens are known for. Ready to give these all-natural, cruelty-free (and some zero-waste) options a spin? They're actually not just for babies — these detergents are a nontoxic laundry solution the whole family will tumble for.

The hypoallergenic, fragrance-free ECOS Laundry Detergent Sheets gently clean without irritating sensitive skin. They're made from plant-based ingredients and enzymes equipped the tackle those stubborn milk and juice stains. Fully biodegradable, these are septic-safe choice that works in both regular and high-efficiency machines. One box is good for 50 loads.

"Our family is trying to use less plastic and I'm not interested in buying any more plastic jugs of detergent or pods that put micro plastics in our water. These are perfect. They clean the laundry well, they come in a neat little package just the right size and the packaging is minimal," wrote a shopper.

These are not your average laundry detergent pods. Dropps Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent Pods are fully plant-based and biodegradable, so they're gentle on baby skin and on the planet. These unscented, hypoallergenic pods are free from dyes, enzymes, and harsh chemicals, so drop 'em into your washer fearlessly. The packaging is fully recyclable cardboard, too.

"I love this product so much! Started using it right after my baby was diagnosed with eczema. She hasn't had a flare up in years and I believe it’s because of the detergent!" a parent wrote.

Here have it: the fragrance-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic liquid baby detergent of your dreams. Molly's Suds Laundry Detergent — specifically the Baby Unscented or Sweet Baby Shea versions — have only natural, skin-friendly ingredients, including shea butter and vitamin E. The products are totally vegan, aren't test on animals, and come in packaged in recyclable materials. The small bottle is good for 100 loads, and it comes in a 200-load option, too.

"Gentle scent and helped get out old spit up stain from hand me down clothes," one family confirmed. (Yes, it gets out poop, breast milk, and other organic stains, too.)

It's no surprise why this baby detergent has more than 14,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. The powder-based Rockin' Green Dirty Diaper detergent kind of has it all: it's vegan, nontoxic, biodegradable, and dermatologist-tested to be safe on delicate skin. This formula is specifically designed for cleaning cloth diapers, to give you an idea of its effectiveness. Even the packaging is recyclable.

"I’ve been following cloth diaper groups and studying the best way to clean them doing all kinds of borax and extra tide and double washing….just two tablespoons of this and diapers are clean with no residual smell. AMAZING," wrote a fan.

It comes in a small bottle, but you only need two pumps of Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent to get the job done, as it's a concentrated formula. It uses plant enzymes to tackle baby stains and odors, and the Free & Clear version is completely fragrance-free, toxin-free, and hypoallergenic. You can hang onto the bottle and buy refills — in fact, you can subscribe and enjoy refills delivered right to you.