Which Is The Best Laundry Detergent For Sensitive Skin?

Among the many ingredients used in laundry detergent, there are several potential skin irritants.

Surfactants, which loosen dirt in clothes, can cause rashes. Enzymes, preservatives, colours and fabric softeners can also cause a skin reaction.

Most people do not experience any symptoms from contact with chemicals in laundry detergents. But if you have sensitive skin or suffer from a skin condition like eczema, you have to be careful which detergent you buy.

Harsh detergents can cause allergic reactions or contact dermatitis. Symptoms usually develop after touching or wearing freshly laundered clothes.

To reduce the risk of irritation, look for laundry detergents formulated for sensitive skin. These detergents will typically be lacking in enzymes (non-bio), synthetic perfumes and dyes.

Non-irritating laundry detergent is also the best option for laundering baby clothes. Babies have sensitive skin and can develop symptoms from certain chemical ingredients in detergents.

In this buying guide, we recommend the best laundry detergent for sensitive skin.

Key Considerations

The most important thing to check is the list of ingredients. Look for substances that are likely to irritate your skin. Here’s what to keep in mind when checking the ingredients list.

A. Non-Bio

You’ll come across some laundry detergents labelled as non-bio. This means they do not contain biological enzymes. Biological enzymes are added to detergents to help remove tough stains. But they are potential irritants for people with sensitive skin, thus a non-bio detergent is unlikely to cause any issues.

B. Synthetic Perfumes and Dyes

Synthetic perfumes and colours can cause itching and rashes on sensitive skin. Fragrant fabric softeners can be especially problematic.

Look for detergents that use no synthetic performs and dyes. If you want a nice smell in your laundry, look for a fabric softener with a mild fragrance.

Alternatively, use a detergent that contains natural dyes and fragrance.

C. Preservatives

Most of the preservatives such as parabens used in laundry detergent are not harmful, at least not at the levels present in the detergent.

But if you have sensitive skin, even limited exposure can cause irritation and rashes. If you know most detergents get your skin all red and itchy, look for preservative-free detergent.

Tip: Run your loads through a second rinse cycle, if you have sensitive skin. This removes any detergent residue in the clothes, reducing the risk of irritation. Also consider completely ditching fabric softener and use dryer balls instead. They don’t add any chemicals to your clothes.

Best Laundry Detergent for Sensitive Skin: Reviews

1. Neutral 0%, White Washing Powder, 72 washes

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Neutral 0% is a company that sells skin-friendly household products. Their fabric conditioners, laundry detergent and washing powders have the Allergy UK seal of approval.

The Neutral 0% white washing powder is formulated specifically for sensitive skin. It has no colourants or perfume and is dermatologically tested to be safe for sensitive skin.

The powder is odourless, so it’s a good choice if you are sensitive to perfumes.

The Neutral 0% powder is ideal for use with both whites and coloured laundry. It does a good job removing stains, though many customer advice washing your clothes at a higher temperature (30-40C) to get the best results.

The only downside with Neutral 0% is that it doesn’t come with a scoop or ball. Either buy one separately or pour the powder directly into the detergent compartment.

The box contains enough washing powder for about 72 washes, though the exact number depends on the size of loads and how soiled clothes usually get.

I can confirm that this is the best laundry detergent for sensitive skin for my family.

What we like about it:

• Odourless and colour-free.
• Hypoallergenic – Allergy UK approved.
• Safe for white and coloured clothes.
• Excellent cleaning performance.

2. Ecover Zero Non-bio Laundry Liquid, 150 washes

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If you are looking a non-bio laundry detergent, we recommend the 5-litre Ecover Zero laundry liquid. It does not contain any biological enzymes. It also has 0% perfumes and colourants.

Ecover Zero is Allergy UK approved, so it is safe for people with allergy and skin sensitivity. Most of the ingredients used in the detergent are plant and mineral based.

Ecover Zero can be used with coloured and white clothes. Because it is in liquid form, it is much easier to pour into the detergent drawer. For average size loads and level of soiling, you should get about 142 washes from the 5-litre bottle.

Note that Ecover Zero is not suitable for delicate fabrics like silk and wool.

What we like about it:

• Non-bio formulation.
• No perfumes and colourants.
• Allergy-safe.

3. Persil 3 in 1 Non Bio Laundry Detergent Washing Capsules, 150 washes

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If you prefer the convenience of capsules, we recommend the Persil 3-in-1 laundry detergent. You’ll receive three packs, each containing 50 capsules.

Each capsule is good for one wash (put the capsule directly in the drum, not the dispenser drawer). Use two capsules when washing large loads or clothes with heavy soiling.

The capsules dissolve quickly as soon as they come into contact with water. They’ll dissolve even in lower temperature water (30C min).

Note that the Persil 3-in-1 laundry detergent contains perfumes. If you are sensitive to fragrances in laundry detergent, we don’t recommend Persil. It is only ideal for people whose skin is irritated by biological enzymes found in most detergents.

What we like about it:

• Includes three packs for a total of 150 washes – perfect for large families.
• Non-bio formulation.
• Capsules are super easy to use. No dosing or measuring required.

4. Simply Sensitive Non-Bio Soluble Powder Soft-Tabs, 48 washes

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Simply Sensitive soft tabs are another good option if you don’t want to deal with the dosing inconveniences of liquid and powder laundry detergents.

These tabs are pre-dosed; you simply place a single tab in the drawer. The sachet will dissolve in water, releasing the detergent.

The Simply Sensitive tabs have a non-bio formulation, so they are safe for people with sensitive skin including babies. They are also endorsed by the National Eczema Society – good news if you or a family member suffer from eczema.

In addition, Simply Sensitive does not contain preservative and uses mild perfumes. The tabs are also vegan and phosphate-free.

What we like about it:

• Good for sensitive skin.
• Easy to use – no dosing needed.
• Vegan.
• Phosphate-free – safer for the environment.

5. Skinnies UK Sense Laundry Detergent

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The Skinnies UK Sense Laundry Detergent ticks all the right boxes for a skin-safe and environmentally-friendly detergent.

It is non-bio, so no enzymes to irritate your skin. Other potential irritants missing from the ingredients list include preservatives, petrochemicals and synthetic perfumes.

In addition, Skinnies is phosphate free and thus safer for the environment.

Skinnies is safe for people with allergies, skin sensitivity and skin conditions like eczema.

The Skinnies UK Sense detergent comes in a 5-litre bottle that should last you about 150 washes or more depending on the average size of your laundry loads.

What we like about it:

• Safe for sensitive skin.
• Safe for the environment.
• Large 5-litre pack.