bio v non bio

[taytotayto]

ive been doing some research on bio and non bio washing powders and the WHICH site says that in some countries there is no push to use non bio for sensitive skin and that the enzymes dont cause the irritants but the perfumes added to bio. i find that non bio doesnt clean as good so was thinking of using bio and continuing when db arrives in april. am i mad to use bio on baby clothes??
does anyone use bio that is not too purfumed??

I'd be interested to get some feedback on this also as we use a washing powder from Costco (their own brand, Kirkland) which has been great (for us) but I'm not sure it'd be sensitive enough for a baby. It doesn't say whether its a bio or non-bio so I'm assuming its bio.

To be honest I've always just used my normal washing powder (pregnant with DC3) and will again carry on using normal stuff. They have never had any reactions or any skin problems. X

I used non-bio for years after a getting few nasty rashes until I read that Which report, at which point I switched to Ariel bio and it was just fine, including slightly sensitive skinned DS. Not sure I'd risk it with a newborn though.

I read the Which report too. I have always reacted to Persil with bio or non bio so I tend to agree with the perfume being the irritant. Any other bio seems to be fine for me and I tend to use it for washing baby clothes to.

When I've used Bio in the past, both children have developed dry itchy skin very quickly. They have sensitive skin and I have no idea whether it's the enzymes in the powder or the perfume but we never have a problem with non-bio of any brand.

I posted a similar thread to this a few weeks ago and was unhappy with the responses since every time someone said "don't use bio" they couldn't back up their statement with any scientific evidence and it felt like an old wives tale that is just passed on and on.

I did my own research and found that they have in fact been proven not to be the cause of the skin problems and as someone else said it was the other contents that caused the reaction. Simply changing brand of bio washing powder often relieved the allergy. My mum never bought Daz or Persil because she was allergic to one and my brother was allergic to the other, the whole family was happy with bio-Surf though. I also consulted my OH on this and he (who is not English) seemed baffled by this and said he'd never heard such nonsense and put it down to being another "English" thing. I have washed all LOs stuff in bio already but to be on the safe side done an extra rinse. I'm satisfied this will be enough.

i must say i think ill buy a bio powder next time for dd and ourselves and if theres no "reaction" from dd then ill try it with db when it arrives. my mother says she never used fancy washing powders when we were babies (35 years ago) and i must admit i agree with her. thinking about it i remember when i lived in america in the 90's there was just one type of washing powder in different brands and they seem to manage, plus they add bleach to every wash or so it seemed.
does anyone know whats the least perfumed bio on the market or am i just looking for a slap now

Most washing powders make me itch, I cant use soap either, end up with patches of excema everywhere :) BUT bio is worse, Fairy bio or non bio is a nightmare.

I religiously used non bio for DD's clothes then realised it didn't actually get them clean. So had a go with our normal bio and she was fine, so used that ever since. I would say try it, if your LO reacts then stop.

Can I second Tayto's request for a recommendation of the least perfumed bio? Or at least a recommendation of ones you thought were better than others for skin?

And a recommendation for a non-bio that actually cleans.

I've found persil to harsh and fairy doesn't clean.

too even.

IME powders are more difficult to rinse completely so I'd go for a liquid/gel. Ariel works for me (and cleans well according to Which?).

I use cheap bio powders (e.g. Sainsbury's basics), it works fine and doesn't smell - I haven't looked to see if it contains perfume or not, but it certainly doesn't make washing come out with a strong smell like Fairy does which I absolutely hate.

My little boy has eczema but fairs no worse with non-bio than bio. I now just use bio as I find it cleans better. I don't buy a particular brand either, just whatever is on offer when I go shopping.