What washing powder to you use for baby?

[CalaLilly]

I am about to embark upon a massive washing mission and am keen to find out what washing powder you use/ are planning on uing for baby? Prevsiouly I would always have gone for sensitive non-bio but I've read a lot that says that research bshows that Bio isn't as dangerous for sensotive skin as previsulsy thought anhd can actually be the preffered option for baby clothes/ real nappies, providing your machine rinses well. So now I'm left confused as to what to use as I wonder if Bio will make things brighter? Also, do you use softner for all your baby stuff? If so what one?

I use only Fairy non-bio.

Non-bio is gentle on skin and does not cause allergies. I am allergic to all bio washing powders and badly so. Its a nightmare to be honest, when wanting to go on hols and away for weekends, as I have to ensure hotels will do special laundry for me to prevent an allergic reaction.

Bio washing powders/liquids will lift stains out more easily however they are not kind to skin. I was an avid user of all thing biological in the laundry department for many years which is how I ended up eventually developing an allergy.

GP told me that they see more and more people who develop these allergies as everyone seem to be obssessed with washing on lowest poss temperature and therefore use very strong bio detergents which, when used over a long time, can/will cause allergies, as a small residue of it is always left of the laundry and then released as you wear the clothes and your skin becomes damp. Particularly bed linen and towels.

Anyway, I would go for a non-bio for these reasons.

persil small and mighty non-bio.

cold wash, all clean for normal stuff.

40 or 60 for nappies depending on my whim, and some staining but clean.

Bio powders make me itch.

I make my own [smug hippy emoticon]. Cheap and environmentally friendly. Grated vegetable soap, washing crystals and a bit of salt, and vinegar for softness. Baby not here till July but my partner had allergies from everything till I started doing this.

I use(d) ecover bio for the whole family. non bio ust doesn't shift the dirt.

It's interesting you should say that skandi1 because I have awful eczema and have obly ever used non-bios for the reason you state... but recent research has shown that's not the case and my own my soap powder survey has shown that I'm just as likely to react to some non-bios as bios! That's why I'm asking, because I don't just want to keep using non-bio if it's not as good on stains etc if I could be using bio just as safely. Washing with Bio doesn't sit well with me as I'm so ingrained to use non-bio for sensitive skin and baby stuff.... but I don't want to cling to that information if it's out of date! Hence why I'm interested to know what Bios people find kind to baby skin or non-bios are good for cleaning well

CalaLilly,

I should have clarified that I can only use the Fairy Non-bio. Persil and Ariel non-bio are as bad as a fully laden bio for me. I tried Ecover but my eyes started weeping and my nose running constantly.

I know you can get special allergy laundry soaps in boots etc and they would be what I would try myself if I ever started to have an issue with Fairy.

I have myself been confused as to why Ariel and Persil are such a nightmare for me even their non-bios. I have not found any answers. I did ask a dermatologist (who confirmed the GPs bio-allergy diagnosis) and she said she wasn't clear why even some non-bios were reactive in certain people. She was the one who recommended Fairy non-bio and told me to never ever use fabric softener either.

Since then I have been rash free using Fairy. We stayed at a relatives house last summer and they had very kindly used Bold non-bio and within 24hrs I needed hospital treatment (antihistamine by injection), it was that bad. I was covered in the red rash and my eyes and face was swollen - yuk.

Lulu, I am very interested to hear more about your homemade detergent! What kind of vegetable soap?? And how much etc.

I plan to wash all babies stuff in surcare

no artificial colourings and fragrence added.... just the parts that actually clean the clothes.

One of my charges had severe eczma and this was the only thing that she didnt react to.

wondering about ecover biological for the cloth nappies?

It is different for everyone, my sister with severe eczema can only use ecover, fairy ok if well rinsed but DS can only use fairy, same for DD. Use whatever works for you it is the one that will most likely be okay.

Skandi - I use any nice vegetable soap I can get my hands on. You don't need a lot. I went to Turkey recently and came back with about 2kg of olive oil and lemongrass soap - that will do me for months.

There are recipes all over the internet but I usually use one similar to this without the borax:

www.ehow.com/how_2208743_own-washing-powder.html

You only need to use a tiny bit - two tablespoons usually does an average wash. We'll see what happens when the baby arrives though.

Have always used fairy non bio for my littleys.

Recently DD3 (2yo) wore clothes washed in Daz (blessed mother in law) and she had the most awful reaction, she was literally clawing at her skin and crying. When I undressed her she was covered in a rash. Immediately re washed everything in fairy and has never happened again.

She has mild facial eczema so not sure if this is a factor but even my older DDs seem to react to bio products. If I'm worried about staining I use my trusty vanish and ensure it's fully rinsed out.

Good luck deciding!!

We use Fairy Non-Bio. I used to use Ecover, but when DS was tiny he had bad eczema. GP recommended Fairy Non-Bio and his eczema got a lot better very quickly (in fairness she changed his prescribed moisturiser at the same time so we don't really know what helped the most).

DS is in cloth nappies as well so I always feel I wouldn't 'risk' another brand now. Fairy works for us.

i use non bio, mostly fairy but will get generic brand sometimes if on offer. I soak soiled stuff in napisan before washing, and always do an extra rinse cycle so theres no gumf left in it. I dont know if the brand makes a difference but i really like the smell of fairy.

i nearly always do a 30 wash as well, i dont see the need for really high temperatures.

ecover atm but only because i can get them refilled locally now. before that i could only use supermarket own brand no bio (everything else too perfumed and irritant - persil powder was the worst offender) i was quite fond of asda non bio but co op and aldo non bio powders were also ok.

dd's skin seems to be less sensitive than mine though.

i did inititally use eco balls when i had dd but they just dont get any dirt/smells out! (i still have them though and any tips to make them work gratefully recieived because i really wanted to use them all the time!)

Persil non bio, have excema and allergies but I'm fine with it. Agree that different people suit different formulations.