Varieties of detergents for washing children's clothes, composition features, useful information on the packaging, recommendations for choosing a safe powder for babies. Clothes and linen crumbs must be kept clean, and even new things are recommended to be washed before the first use. In order to protect your baby from the harmful effects of household chemicals, it is important to know which product for baby underwear can be considered safe, and which one is better to bypass.
Baby powder composition
It is the composition of the product, and not just its price, that is the main criterion for choosing the right detergent. Most baby laundry detergents contain synthetic substances. See to it that there are as few such additives as possible. Manufacturers indicate on the packaging the content of surfactants and other harmful components as a percentage, so you can easily assess the aggressiveness of baby powder. Characteristics of safe and high-quality washing powder for baby clothes:
- Phosphate compounds are absent.
- Chlorine is absent.
- Optical whiteners - absent.
- Artificial fragrances are absent.
- Surfactant content - no more than 15%.
Based on the analysis of the components that make up household chemicals, the following non-toxic, environmentally friendly children's washing products can be distinguished:
- "Our mother" … It is made from a mixture of fatty acids with sodium salts (sodium cocoate, sodium palmate and sodium tallowate), titanium dioxide (bleach), water, glycerin. The product does not contain toxic surfactants, fragrances, aggressive synthetic additives and dyes.
- "Garden Kids" … It consists of 30% natural baby soap, contains less than 5% sodium citrate, as well as silver and soda.
Enzymes are often added to detergents to effectively remove dirt. They are destroyed at temperatures over +40 degrees, so select the appropriate modes on the washing machine. Otherwise, the powder will be useless, and all the stains will remain on the fabrics.
Types of baby washing powder
Currently, there is a wide variety of washing powders for children on the household chemicals market, which differ in composition, properties and, of course, price.
Safe baby powder for newborns
Babies' diapers, bedding, toys and clothes should not be washed with regular laundry detergents. Even a double rinse does not guarantee complete cleansing of harmful additives that adult washing powders contain.
Babies need to choose products marked "0+". Instead of this designation, the phrase "From the first days of life" may be indicated on the packaging of powder for newborns. In such products, the concentration of harmful synthetic substances is minimized, so you can use them without worrying about the safety of the crumbs.
Deserved popularity among powders for baby clothes that are suitable for newborns are the following products:
- "Our mother" … It is produced on the basis of palm and coconut oil, without the addition of harmful synthetic components. It looks like crushed baby soap, not powder. Before adding to the washing machine, the product must first be diluted in hot water.
- "Amway baby" … Concentrated powder, phosphate-free. Due to its composition, it is hypoallergenic and does not have a negative effect on the skin. The product is odorless, can be washed off well with water. Washes only light stains without removing food or fruit juice stains.
- "Garden Kids" … Eco-friendly powder made from natural baby soap without the addition of aggressive synthetic substances. The powder is poured directly into the drum, the temperature for washing is at least 60 degrees. Has a bactericidal effect.
- "Burti baby" … An environmentally friendly product that contains enzymes and substances that preserve color brightness. The powder is very fine, but does not scatter in the air when placed in a car. It washes biological dirt well, makes the laundry soft.
Important! The use of a detergent of poor quality or not suitable for children can lead to the development of atopic dermatitis and a severe allergic reaction.
Hypoallergenic washing powder for children
Many mothers make the mistake of looking for the causes of allergic reactions in food, while forgetting about household chemicals. Very often skin irritation or small rashes are caused by the use of unsuitable detergents. If you notice the first signs of allergies, especially when they appear after changing clothes or bedding, discard the used baby detergent in favor of a hypoallergenic one.
The following products are popular:
- German - "Frosch", "Baby Bon", "Burti Baby";
- Russian - "Our Mom", "Garden Kids", "Mir Detstva";
- American "Amway baby".
If the packaging of your product already says "Does not cause allergic reactions", then you should change it to a product from another manufacturer, since the composition of hypoallergenic baby powders is significantly different from each other.
The following components, which are often included in products for washing baby clothes, can cause an allergy in a baby:
- Phosphate compounds - soften water, improving the detergent properties of the product.
- Aggressive fragrances, fragrances - leave a pleasant smell on the linen.
- A high concentration of surfactants (surfactants) of petrochemical production - the main components that remove pollution.
- Dyes - change the color of the powder to a more aesthetic one.
- Metal salts, lead, arsenic, chlorine - enhance the detergent properties.
- Zeolites or sodium aluminosilicates are less toxic analogs of phosphate compounds.
- Optical brighteners - add whiteness to fabrics and enhance the brightness of colored items.
Check the composition of your powder for the presence of these components and select a product without adding them.
Phosphate-free baby powder
Phosphates destroy the natural defenses that our skin contains. As a result, the body is open to attack by various viruses and bacteria. In Europe and America, their use in household chemicals has long been prohibited, unlike in Russia.
Some manufacturers have replaced the negatively perceived word "phosphates" with their counterparts, which are no less toxic and also have a negative effect on the body. Therefore, when studying the composition of baby washing powder, pay special attention to the presence of phosphate compounds. They can be referred to as phosphates, phosphorites, phosphonates. On the packaging of imported products for washing children's linen, the absence of phosphate compounds is indicated by the designation "Phospho-NOT". Products such as Nasha Mama, Burti baby, Deni Detsky, Aistenok, Umka and others do not contain phosphate compounds.
Replacing phosphates with more environmentally friendly but less effective zeolites can be accompanied by a simultaneous increase in aggressive surfactants. Therefore, analyze the entire composition of the product, and not the presence of individual components.
Children's powder washing machine
Most mothers do not hand wash their baby's clothes, but use automatic machines. Modern companies produce mainly universal products that can be hand washed and loaded into the washing machine.
The main difference between powders for hand washing and detergents for machine washing is the addition of ingredients to the composition that suppress excessive foam formation. Most often, soap is used as a foam extinguisher in children's washing powders. As a rule, such powders are not suitable for washing woolen or silk products. In addition, they contain phosphates and optical brighteners, so carefully study the composition before buying.
If the package says "Automatic", as, for example, on the products "Myth-for children" and "Tide-children", then the product contains additional ingredients that prevent the formation of limescale on the elements of the washing machine.
Do not use products for the automatic machine that are intended exclusively for washing by hand. A large amount of foam, at best, will not create the necessary friction against the drum and leave the laundry dirty, at worst it can ruin the machine mechanism.
Liquid baby powder for washing clothes
The development of technology does not stand still, and more and more often manufacturers, in addition to their favorite dry powder, produce a liquid analogue. They have become a lifesaver for asthmatics, as they do not spray when used. There are no visible differences in composition, the same basic components are used in the liquid detergent for children's underwear as in the dry powder.
The liquid detergent is completely washed out of the washing machine tray, while the dry one often remains and sticks to the walls. The undoubted advantage of liquid powders is the convenience of storage and reliable fixation of the cap. This is important if there are children in the house. The container can be safely stowed away on a high shelf, unlike a large package.
The following liquid baby powders can be found on the market: "BiMAX" for Children, "Eared Nanny", "Mir Detstva", "Milit Baby", "DenkMit".
Note! Liquid detergent can be poured into the drum itself or into the washing machine tray. In this case, there is no need to use a conditioner, since high-quality gels do not stiffen the laundry.
Rating of children's washing powders
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, when buying baby powder, you can minimize the risks by knowing the properties of the components that make up it. But whether it is right for your baby, you will know only after direct use.
The best baby powder for colored items
Clothes for children usually have bright, rich colors that you want to keep with repeated washings. Special powders marked “For colored linen” or “Color” can help with this.
The following products of this group can be distinguished:
- "The world of childhood" … It is positioned as a powder for newborns, which preserves the brightness of children's clothes and removes existing dirt with high quality. It contains no dyes and fragrances, rinses well by hand or machine wash. Suitable for all types of fabrics.
- "BiMAX" Children's Color … Does not wash out colors, while containing a minimum amount of aggressive chemicals: less than 5% phosphonates, surfactants - less than 15%, zeolites - less than 5%, enzymes, optical brightener, polycarboxylates, fragrances.
- AOS "I was born" Color … Retains the rich color of baby clothes, while cleaning fresh stains well. The product cannot cope with old and ingrained dirt. The composition of the powder is not safe, as it contains phosphonates and optical brightener. Not suitable for natural silk and wool.
- Luxus professional Color … Designed specifically for colored baby clothes, effectively retains paint and removes dirt. The powder does not contain aggressive chemical compounds and chlorine, does not spoil or thin the fabric, and prevents the formation of pellets.
Advice! For best results, remember to separate your items by color, do not overload the machine, and do not wash very dirty laundry at the same time.
What powder to wash baby clothes with strong dirt
Even the most expensive baby powders with high-quality, safe composition may not cope with stubborn stains from sauces, fruit purees or berry juice.
The composition of funds that are capable of old pollution include a greater amount of surfactants, the effect of which is enhanced by phosphates. For example, the popular Eared Nanny powder. This is the most widespread brand, which has been produced for a long time, known for its active advertising and inexpensive price.
The manufacturer indicates on the packaging that the product does not cause allergic reactions, but this is far from the case. The composition includes up to 30% sulfates and phosphates, oxygen bleaches, surfactants - up to 15%, perfume. Thanks to this composition, baby powder washes well complex dirt, berry stains, felt-tip pens and paints. But for newly born babies, its use is not recommended.
“Aistenok” copes well with ingrained spots, but the surfactants and other potent components contained in it significantly exceed the norms permissible for children.
Choosing a baby powder for washing clothes
Special substances help to preserve the whiteness of things, which prevent plaque from settling on fabrics during washing. Any baby powder can be used for white laundry, but it often turns gray after a few washes.
The following products have good whitening properties:
- "Luxus professional" … The product is free of harsh chemicals, contains less than 15% surfactants, as well as various bleaching compounds that help to whiten yellowed or grayed fabrics and preserve the original whiteness of baby clothes.
- "Sodasan" … Hypoallergenic powder that does not contain parabens, harmful optical brighteners and phosphates. Odorless.
- Refine Ecoclean … The product contains natural soap, soda, oxygen bleach and citric acid. The powder is safe for newborns, gives fabrics their original whiteness and removes dirt. Does not contain harmful synthetic compounds, phosphates and fragrances.
How to improve the effectiveness and safety of baby powder
To protect the crumb from allergies, when using the detergent, adhere to the following recommendations:
- Thoroughly rinse clothes and linen after hand wash, the last step is to keep it in clean water for 15 minutes.
- Set the extra rinse in the washing machine. For high-quality removal of chemicals from the fabric, it is recommended to run this mode twice.
- Do not work with powder in the presence of a child, especially when opening the package and pouring the product into the machine.
- Do not exceed the amount of detergent indicated on the packaging. The use of a large volume of baby washing powder will not lead to a more effective removal of all contaminants, but it can cause allergies in the baby.
Unfortunately, quite often buyers are faced with fake baby powders from well-known manufacturers. It is easy to determine a quality product: for this, it is enough to dissolve a few drops of brilliant green in a glass of water and add a detergent. If the water turns white, then you have a good, safe powder, the composition of which corresponds to the one stated on the package.
How to choose baby washing powder - watch the video:
When studying the composition of any baby washing powder, you will see chemical compounds of various aggressive effects. The washing process without them will simply be ineffective, but their presence does not give manufacturers any reason to guarantee that your child will not react to the detergent. But in any case, minimizing harmful substances and replacing them with environmentally friendly ones makes baby powders safer and hypoallergenic.
