Choosing the best laundry detergent for sensitive skin involves comparing labels and ingredients, considering current brands, and determining which product version is best for you. Considering detergents that claim to be designed for sensitive skin helps, but it’s also important to learn which ingredients irritate your skin. If you’re already loyal to a certain brand, you might check to see if that company also makes a detergent for people with sensitive skin. Going further, you should even decide whether liquid or powder versions work best for you, as some powders can fail to completely dissolve and cause chemicals to land on your skin. Of course, if all else fails you might consider a DIY laundry detergent for sensitive skin.

Companies use phrases like “free and clear” and “sensitive skin” to help consumers separate the laundry detergent for sensitive skin from regular detergent. Some even sell laundry detergent for babies, most of which are considered types of safe laundry detergent. Still, it’s worth the extra few minutes to scan the ingredients to make sure the detergent is free of ingredients that can irritate your skin. As a general rule, avoid ingredients that aren’t necessary to get your clothes clean, such as fragrances, bleach, and optical brighteners. Also, you might avoid products that include dyes, chlorine, and surfactants.

Another way to choose the best laundry detergent for sensitive skin is to stick with what you know. If your favorite brand makes an alternative, gentle laundry detergent for people with sensitive skin, consider trying it. Some companies even offer guarantees and will refund your money or replace the product with another detergent of your choosing if the product doesn’t live up to its promises. Be sure to look for such guarantees in case the alternative version irritates your skin. To comply with the terms and conditions, you might need to hang on to the receipt, packaging, or both.

As you’re shopping for laundry detergent for sensitive skin, consider the differences between liquid and powder versions. Depending on the brand, these differences might not affect you. Some powder detergents, however, don’t dissolve as well as do liquid detergents. If you choose a powder detergent that claims to be for sensitive skin, but doesn’t fully dissolve in the wash, you could still experience skin irritation. Unless you know for sure the powder detergent you’re considering dissolves completely, it might be best to play it safe with a liquid version.

For some people, it might be impossible to find a laundry detergent gentle enough for their sensitive skin. In these instances, these people might consider alternatives to laundry detergent, such as making their own laundry detergent for sensitive skin. Some experts suggest doing laundry with cleaners you already know don’t irritate your skin, such as shampoo and shavings of bar soap. Others suggest alternatives to harsh chemicals, such as whitening clothes with vinegar, lemon, or baking soda instead of bleach. Fortunately, there are numerous websites and guidebooks available for figuring out the best combination of ingredients for DIY laundry detergent.