Laundry Detergent...

For the past few years I have been using Seventh Generation Free & Clear and Method Free & Clear exclusively. And I am very satisfied with both laundry detergents. However, I am on the hunt for one laundry detergent that is safe for baby and works great for all of our family needs (especially for Josh's uniforms and other items that need to be cleaned really good).

Although I would continue to use Seventh Generation and Method detergent, I want something more human friendly for us and baby without Enzymes, Brighteners, Dyes, Fragrances, Softeners or Bleach and something that doesn't leave detergent residue. The detergents I am currently using have some enzymes and brighteners....which is okay for our not so sensitive skin but probably not good for baby.

Why Avoid these Ingredients?
Enzymes: Enzymes attack organic matter and help dissolve stains when activated with water or moisture. Sweat, urine, and feces are all organic matter so there is a risk that these substances that are lingering on baby's skin will be a target for these enzymes. In particularly sensitive children, these enzymes can cause blistering, bleeding, sores and rashes.
Fragrances and Dyes: These are harsh and unnecessary chemicals for a baby's laundry. It is best to avoid them. Artificial fragrances are often made from petroleum. Many do not degrade in the environment, and may have toxic effects on both fish and mammals. They can cause allergies, asthma and skin or eye irritation.
Optical Brighteners: These are actually tiny particles that stick to the surface of your clothes after washing. These particles make colors appear to be brighter by absorbing invisible ultraviolet light and re-emitting it as blue light. Although these optical brighteners may make your clothes appear brighter, they are chemical residues that are intentionally left behind on your clothes and may cause skin irritation or other allergic reactions.
Fabric Softeners: Fabric softener, either in liquid or sheet form – leaves a water-repelling residue on your laundry. When left on clothes, cloth diapers (and towels), this residue makes them less absorbent and useful in the very purpose that they serve.

Dryer Balls also help soften laundry. A new product is The Static Eliminator Re-Usable Dryer Sheets. These sheets contain no chemicals and are hypoallergenic. In addition, they don't affect the flame resistance of clothing (which is very important to us, especially for Josh's uniforms as well as baby clothes).

What Is Detergent Residue?
Detergent Residue is a film that is left behind on clothing (or on my cloth diapers). Why is this a problem? Detergent build-up and residue can lead to repelling or beading of liquid; leaks and wicking; skin rashes and irritation; dulling of colors in fabric. Residue problems are usually caused by additives in your detergent such as brighteners, fabric softeners, natural additives like citrus extract or grapeseed extract, soaps, and stain guards.

Here is a list of some of the leading detergents for comparison:

Image	Detergent	Enz- ymes	Bright- eners	Dyes	Frag- rances	Soft- eners
	*Mountain Green Baby Detergent A PETA acceptable product	No	No	No	Yes	No
	*Mountain Green Free and Clear	No	No	No	No	No
	20 Mule Team Borax	No	No	No	No	No
	All Free and Clear	No	Yes	No	No	No
	All Baby Care Plus	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
	All Small and Mighty	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
	Arm & Hammer FabriCare	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
	Arm & Hammer FabriCare Free	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Arm & Hammer Essentials Free Note: The Mountain Rain edition has fragrance and dyes	No	No	No	No	No
	Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin	No	Yes	No	No	No
	Bio-O-Kleen Laundry Powder	No	No	No	No	No
	Bio-O-Kleen Premium Plus Laundry Powder	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Charlie's Soap Charlie's Soap Caution: Some burns and rashes have been reported by users of this detergent. Note: see “Do Detergents Disinfect?” at bottom of page	No	No	No	No	No
	Charlie's Soap Charlie's Soap Caution: Some burns and rashes have been reported by users of this detergent. Note: see “Do Detergents Disinfect?” at bottom of page	?	No	No	No	No
	Cheer Cheer	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
	Cheer Free and Gentle	Yes	No	No	No	?
	Country Save Country Save Liquid	No	No	No	No	No
	Country Save Country Save Powdered Detergent	No	No	No	No	No
	Dreft Dreft	Yes	Yes	No	No	?
	Earth Friendly Products Baby Hypoallergenic Laundry Soap Vegetable & Coconut Based Soap...may not be strong enough to launder cloth diapers	No	No	No	No	Yes
	Ecos Free and Clear Liquid	No	No	No	No	No
	Ecos Powdered Laundry Deteregent	No	No	No	No	Yes
	Ecover Non Bio Laundry Vegan Approved	No	No	No	Yes	No
	GAIN GAIN	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
	GAIN GAIN HE Powder	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
	Ivory Snow may not be strong enough to launder cloth diapers	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Kirkland's Kirkland's Signature (Costco brand) This product is nearly identical to Tide	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
	Kirkland's Signature Environmentally Friendly contains vegetable based surfactants including those derived from coconuts	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
	Maggie's Soap Nuts Maggie's Soap Nuts Note: 100% natural - Grows on Trees!!!	No	No	No	No	No
	Method HE Laundry Detergent	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
	Method Baby Laundry Detergent	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Method Free and Clear	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
	Mountain Green Original Citrus A PETA acceptable product	No	No	No	Yes	No
	Nature Clean All Natural Laundry Liquid	No	No	No	No	No
	Nellie's Nellie's Laundry Soda contains coconut oil based ingredients.	No	No	No	No	No
	OXY-PRIME OXY-PRIME Powder	No	No	No	No	No
	Penguin Sport-Wash Restores factory applied waterproofing (DWR). Contains biodegradable vegetable surfactants	No	No	No	No	No
	Planet Ultra Powder	No	No	No	No	No
	Purex Purex	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	Purex Baby	No	Yes	?	Yes	No
	Purex Free and Clear Note: Many moms have expressed satisfaction with this detergent.	No	Yes	No	No	No
	SensiClean SensiClean Note: Some burns and rashes have been reported by users of this detergent.	No	No	No	No	?
	Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Baby	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
	Seventh Generation Free and Clear contains vegetable based surfactants and enzymes including those derived from coconuts	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
	Seventh Generation Natural Laundry	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
	Sun Free Note: Many moms have expressed satisfaction with this detergent.	No	Yes	No	No	No
	Sunlight Ultra Sensitive Skin	No	Yes	No	No	No
	Sunlight Ultra Sensitive Skin HE	No	Yes	No	No	No
	Surf Surf	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
	Surf Aloha Splash	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
	Tide Tide	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?
	Tide Free	Yes	Yes	No	No	?
	Tide HE	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	?
	Trader Joe's Cleanliness is Next to Godliness	No	No	No	No	No
	Wisk Free Clear Ultra	Yes	Yes	No	No	No

I was leaning towards Mountain Green Free & Clear for all our laundering needs...but then I stumbled on what looks to be an amazing product created by a WAHM (Work AT Home Mom) ROCKIN GREEN DETERGENT. I've read nothing but great reviews all over the internet and it is reasonably priced.

My only concern was the "scents" she offers are made from synthetic oils...not natural oils. I emailed my concern and she said that the NEW all natural scents line is replacing the old line and should be available in a few weeks!! Great timing, right!

Rockin’ Green is:

• Dye free
• Comes in several yummy scents (& an unscented version for sensitive skin)
  
• No fillers
  
• No enzymes or optical brighteners
  
• 100% Phosphate free
• Vegan
• Great for sensitive skin
• Easy rinsing formula
• Approved for military use
  
• Perfect for cloth diapers
• HE compatible
• Reusable packaging
• Great for all water types
• Economical at .13 cents a load!

I am going to order my Rockin Green Detergent in a few weeks. I can't wait!!!!