Question

In need of some suggestions. Due to my daughter having eczema, we have to use dye free and fragrant free laundry detergent. I cannot stand the smell of my towels after one use. Is there any detergents that can make your clothes and towels smell fresh that is senstive? I tried baking soda pods and that didn't help. any suggestions?  

Answer 1

We switched from gain to this because my daughter has very sensitive skin. I like it a lot. It has a scent but not like other laundry detergents. It’s a really soft scent. We use our towels more than once before washing and never had an issue with smell.  

Answer 2

Same for my daughter and we recently switched to plant based lavender tide and Downey. They smell amazing and so far cause no irritation.  

Answer 3

Ecos or NBD

Answer 4

I love All free and clear.  

Answer 5

Vinegar in the wash or wash on the sanitize cycle if they’re smelling moldy.  

Answer 6

The NEA only recommends All Free and Clear. You can use a little bleach or color safe bleach to rid the smell. I would not buy Tide or Dreft. Any detergent with scents are terrible for kids with eczema.  

Comments

Just checked! They added some more. Here’s the link. .  
https://nationaleczema.org/eczema-p...ucts/

Answer 7

We use Arm and Hammer sensitive skin because some of the kids have eczema.  

Answer 8

Vinegar helps keep the towels smelling fresh!  

Answer 9

We use seventh generation unscented (I can't stand when my clothes have a fragrance) and I use vinegar in place of fabric softener. We use a Downy ball instead of the dispenser, so I just follow the guidelines on there for how much to use

Answer 10

I have the same issue here and I've tried all the detergents nothing makes them smell good that doesn't give at least a little irritation. So it left me with 2 options 1. Wash kids towels, sheets and clothes together and accept it doesn't smell amazing and then wash the adult stuff separate. 2. Wash everything with safe detergent then put a few drops of oil on dryer balls and it gives most things a wonderful scent. Frankly I do most things with option 2 and reserve option 1 for my sheets, coats and handwash.  

Comments

@eleanor - I use option #2 also! And I use laundry grade, 100% natural essential oils! Love the smell and safe for my 7mon old! Hope this helps you Sharon

Answer 11

I use tide free and clear because I’m sensitive to a lot of things. I use bleach with the towels because I dont like how they smell when they get wet after the shower if I only wash with detergent.  

Answer 12

I use ecos. No fragrance but def don’t have issues with towels or anything after 1 use

Answer 13

I have the same issue here. I put Essential oils in with the detergent. It helps. I love orange, but lemon is good too.  

Answer 14

We bleach out towels to eliminate any odor & bacteria.  

Answer 15

Vinegar always does the trick

Answer 16

If it's a mildew problem, vinegar in the washer is my go to.  

Answer 17

Yep, towels only in Baking soda and vinegar.  

Answer 18

Check out Norwex laundry detergent.  

Answer 19

Fill the fabric softener spot with distilled white vinegar

Comments

@myosin4 yes! was going on here to tell her that! I literally use only about 2 Tablespoons.  

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@balfour I probably do close to 1/4 cup. I stared adding this about a month ago thinking it was a hoax. Gradually kept adding more expecting clothes to smell like vinegar but it doesn’t! Clothes are so much cleaner, softer and fluffier! It’s amazing!  

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@myosin4 Right?!?!? I love it! No more musty towels or anything still stinky for that matter! Do you feel that 1/4 cup is better? You said you kept adding more.  

Answer 20

Go for the soap nuts or soap ppl nuts liquid form det., 100% natural, chemical free, we can't have any scented products, these are fantastic for any problems with skin.  

Answer 21

I second the vinegar!  

Answer 22

I swear I don’t sell it but the Norwex laundry detergent is the best I have ever used!  

Answer 23

Rinse cycle with vinegar

Answer 24

Baking soda in the wash and white vinegar in the fabric softener spot

Answer 25

We use the arm and hammer detergent. Doesn’t really smell like anything.  

Answer 26

I got rid of all my colored towels and bought all white because I can bleach them. I could never find anything to get rid of the smell.  

Answer 27

We use All free and clear and we sanitize the washer regularly. Works great.  

Answer 28

Wool dryer balls and put a drop or two of essential oil, if she can tolerate that. Most people who are sensitive to fragrances can handle lavender essential oil

Answer 29

I like Purex free and clear

Answer 30

Arm and Hammer

Answer 31

Puracy is a great brand!  

Answer 32

Same struggle here. We use the ECOS brand. If you need something even gentler, try draft, since it is made for babies

Answer 33

Add 1 full cup of distilled white vinegar to the wash with your detergent. It smells awful going in, but you won’t smell anything after clothes are washed and dried. This is also a good trick to prevent colors from transferring, so you can wash whites and colors in the same load!  

Answer 34

I use Thieves laundry detergent and wool dryer balls with YL essential oils in the dryer. I also love using Seedlings baby wipes and dryer sheets.  

Answer 35

My younger 2 have eczema, they do well with Scentsy laundry products.