There is a moment when you go to dress your child
and you see them start scratching
before the clothes are even fully on.
Sometimes it’s the detergent.
Sometimes it’s the fragrance.
Sometimes it’s the residue left on the fabric.
Sometimes it’s all three working together.
Most parents never suspect the laundry products.
They look at food, weather, allergies, soaps.
But what sits closest to your child’s skin
24 hours a day
is the fabric
and what is inside that fabric.
Laundry detergents can be one of the biggest hidden triggers of skin irritation.
Especially for babies, toddlers and sensitive skin.
Once you understand how laundry products affect the skin
you’ll never see that bottle the same way again.
The Problem Most Parents Don’t Know About
Laundry detergents today contain dozens of chemicals.
Some are harmless.
Some are not.
Especially for thin, absorbent, reactive children’s skin.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) and pediatric dermatologists warn about several common irritants.
Here is what they highlight:
1. Fragrances
These are the biggest culprits.
Artificial fragrances contain hundreds of undisclosed chemicals.
They cling to fabric and sit directly on the skin.
Children often react with:
- redness
- itching
- dryness
- eczema flare ups
2. Optical brighteners
These make clothes look whiter
but remain on the fabric
and can irritate the skin long-term.
3. Harsh detergents and surfactants
These lift dirt
but strip natural moisture from the skin
and leave residue.
4. Softeners
Fabric softeners contain quats (quaternary ammonium compounds)
which are known irritants
especially for eczema-prone children.
5. Too much detergent
Even “safe” detergent becomes irritating if too much is used.
Residue remains trapped in clothing fibres.
Your child’s skin is not reacting randomly.
It is responding to chemical load.
The Insight: What Touches the Fabric Touches the Skin
Children have thinner skin than adults.
Their skin absorbs more
reacts faster
and becomes inflamed more easily.
If a laundry chemical stays on clothing
it stays on your child.
This means:
✔ the detergent you choose
✔ the amount you use
✔ the rinse cycle
✔ the type of fragrance
✔ the softness agents
✔ the fabric itself
all directly affect your child’s comfort and skin health.
Natural fabrics help.
But they cannot undo harsh chemical residue.
Healthy skin requires healthy laundry habits.
The Solution: Create a Skin-Safe Laundry Routine
You don’t need to overhaul everything.
Just refine your routine with a few small, powerful changes.
1. Choose fragrance free detergent
Fragrance is the number one irritant.
EWG consistently recommends fragrance free over “baby scented.”
2. Use half the recommended amount
Most parents overuse detergent.
Less detergent means less residue.
3. Add an extra rinse cycle
This removes leftover chemicals from the fibres.
4. Avoid fabric softeners
They leave a chemical film that irritates skin.
Use wool dryer balls instead.
5. Wash new clothes before wearing
New fabrics often contain finishing chemicals, dyes and residues.
6. Choose natural fabrics when possible
Natural fibres release detergent more easily than synthetics.
7. Pay attention to reaction patterns
If your child scratches more after laundry day
you have your answer.
Small changes make a big difference for sensitive skin.
Small Steps You Can Start Today
Pick one.
Just one.
- Switch to fragrance free detergent.
- Reduce detergent by half.
- Add an extra rinse cycle.
- Remove fabric softener from your routine.
- Pre-wash new clothes before your child wears them.
You don’t need a complicated laundry system.
You just need simpler, safer choices
that respect your child’s skin.
A Gentle Closing Thought
Your child’s skin should feel comfortable.
Soft.
Calm.
Unbothered.
If they are itching
scratching
or restless
their skin is talking.
Laundry products are a small part of the home
but a big part of your child’s everyday environment.
When you choose gentler products
and kinder routines
you give your child more comfort
more ease
and more peace in their own skin.
Sources include Environmental Working Group (EWG), National Eczema Association and pediatric dermatology research.
