Natural Laundry Detergents for Sensitive Skin: What To Look For And What To Avoid

• November 17, 2025

If you live with sensitive skin, you know the feeling. You do everything “right” for your skin, switch your moisturiser, cut back on long hot showers, and even change your sheets more often. The rash still comes back.

For a lot of people, the missing piece turns out to be something that never even touches their skin directly. And that is laundry detergent.

Dermatology organisations describe detergents, soaps, and “wet work” as some of the most common everyday triggers for irritant contact dermatitis. The NHS notes that frequent exposure to soap or detergent can cause or worsen contact dermatitis, especially when someone also has atopic eczema.

Health sources that support people with eczema repeatedly highlight clothes, bedding and towels carry detergent residue, which sits on your skin all day and can keep the irritation cycle going.

So if you keep getting mysterious rashes where fabric touches your body, your detergent deserves a closer look.

In this guide, when we say “natural laundry detergent”, we mean products that lean on plant-based surfactants, low-tox ingredients, and avoid common irritants like synthetic fragrance, harsh dyes, phosphates and optical brighteners, without pretending that anything is 100% “chemical-free”.

Many of the best options are simply well-formulated, low-residue, fragrance-free detergents that happen to be plant-based.

By the end of this guide, you will know which labels to trust, which ingredients to avoid, and how to build a sensitive-skin-safe laundry routine.

If you want to skip ahead, browse our natural cleaning products and detergents for sensitive skin and come back to this guide as your checklist while you shop.

TL;DR

If you skim nothing else, use this as your shopping filter.

• Choose fragrance-free (not just “unscented”), dye-free, and optical-brightener-free
• detergents.
• Avoid detergents that have “Fragrance” / “parfum” as a catch-all, bright neon colours, heavy essential-oil scents if your skin reacts easily, harsh additives like phosphates, optical brighteners, and certain preservatives.

How Laundry Detergent Irritates Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin and eczema both involve a fragile skin barrier. The outer layer of the skin that keeps moisture in and irritants out. When the barrier is compromised, even mild irritants can cause dryness, stinging, or flare-ups.

Laundry detergents are designed to stick to oils and dirt, break them apart, and rinse away. The problem is that a small amount of surfactant, fragrance, dye, or preservative almost always remains in the fabric after a wash, especially if you:

• Use more detergent than the cap recommends
• Overload the machine so clothes cannot rinse properly
• Skip an extra rinse on heavily soiled or thick fabrics

Lab studies show that detergent residues, even at very high dilutions, can disrupt epithelial (barrier) cells and cause irritation. For people with eczema or sensitive skin, that residue is often enough to tip skin from “fine” to “itchy and inflamed”.

Common Conditions Affected (Eczema, Dermatitis, Baby Skin)

Eczema / Atopic dermatitis

Dermatology and eczema organisations consistently recommend fragrance-free, dye-free detergents and often suggest an extra rinse cycle for clothes, bedding and towels.

Some patients notice clear improvements simply by switching to a gentle, hypoallergenic detergent and simplifying their laundry routine.

Contact dermatitis and allergy-prone skin

People with a history of contact allergy often react to fragrance mixtures, dyes and certain preservatives in detergents.

Babies and children

Babies have thinner skin and a less mature barrier, so they feel irritants more. Paediatric and baby-care resources typically recommend “free & clear” detergents that are fragrance-free and dye-free, especially for eczema-prone babies.

In practice, I have seen a lot of families search for the “perfect” cream while still using a strongly scented detergent and softener combo. The biggest improvement often came when they removed fragrance, cut the detergent dose, and added an extra rinse before they changed anything else. It was rarely about chasing an expensive or exotic product; it was about stripping the routine back to something boring, fragrance-free, and low-residue.

Read Also: Why You Should Choose Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

What to Look For in a Natural Laundry Detergent for Sensitive Skin

1. Fragrance-Free, Not Just “Unscented”

“Fragrance-free” and “unscented” sound similar, but they are not the same thing.

• Fragrance-free means the product does not contain added fragrance ingredients.
• Unscented products can still include fragrance chemicals used to mask odours, even if you cannot smell anything strong.

Fragrance (or “parfum”) is a top trigger for eczema and sensitive skin because it can hide dozens of different chemicals under one word on the label.

When you read the back of the bottle, look for:

• Avoid: “fragrance”, “parfum”, “perfume”, long lists of essential oil blends if your skin is reactive.
• Prefer: explicit claims like “fragrance-free”, “no perfumes”, or formulations approved by eczema organisations.

If you want formal guidance, the National Eczema Association lists fragrance-free and dye-free as core criteria for products that receive its Seal of Acceptance.

2. Dye-Free and Optical-Brightener-Free

Dyes and optical brighteners are cosmetic, not functional, for cleaning:

• Dyes give the detergent or liquid a bright colour that looks nice in the bottle but does nothing for stain removal. Synthetic dyes can contribute to irritation and allergy in sensitive individuals.
• Optical brighteners sit on the fabric, absorbing UV light and making clothes appear whiter and brighter. They do not remove stains and they can cause irritation in some people with sensitive or eczema-prone skin.

On the ingredients list, optical brighteners may show up as:

• “Optical brighteners”
• “Fluorescent whitening agents”
• Specific chemical names, such as stilbene derivatives

If a product highlights “no dyes” and “no optical brighteners”, that is a strong plus for sensitive skin.

3. Short, Transparent, Mostly Plant-Based Ingredient Lists

Natural laundry detergents for sensitive skin tend to share a few traits.

1. Shorter ingredient lists: Fewer moving parts to trigger irritation. Eczema and allergy resources often advise choosing products with minimal, clearly declared ingredients.
2. Plant-based surfactants: Many eco brands use surfactants derived from coconut, corn or other plant sources instead of purely petroleum-based options.
3. Clear avoidance of “problem” additives: Labels or product descriptions that highlight “no phosphates”, “no synthetic fragrance”, “no optical brighteners”, “no SLS/SLES” can be helpful signposts.

My Health Food Shop, for example, offers EnviroClean Front Load Laundry Liquid 1L (a sensitive laundry liquid), which is an ultra-concentrated, plant-based, and “gentle enough for sensitive skin”, suitable for all water temperatures, and formulated without the harsh extras found in many conventional detergents.

That said, “natural” does not automatically mean “gentle”. Strong essential oils, high concentrations of certain plant extracts or overly scented “eco” formulas can still trigger itching or rashes. Sensitive skin cares more about fragrance level, residue and formulation than whether every ingredient is plant-derived.

How to Safely Test a New Laundry Detergent If You Have Sensitive Skin

Before you switch your entire household over to a new detergent, it helps to run a small, controlled test.

1. Wash a single small load. Use one towel and one T-shirt or pyjama set that will have a lot of skin contact.

2. Use half to three-quarters of the recommended dose + add an extra rinse. Skin allergy and eczema experts frequently recommend fragrance-free detergents plus an extra rinse to clear more residue.

3. Wear or sleep in those items for 24–48 hours. Choose a time when you can easily monitor your skin (for example, overnight for pyjamas and pillowcases).

4. Watch for warning signs. Increasing itch, redness, burning, or small bumps in areas where fabric touches the skin are all clues that this product might not be right for you.

5. If everything looks calm, expand slowly. If you see no reaction after 48 hours, you can gradually wash more items with the new detergent, still using a sensible dose and an extra rinse.

If you develop a significant rash, oozing, or widespread flare, stop using the product and talk with a dermatologist or allergy specialist before trying anything new again.

Natural Laundry Detergent Options at My Health Food Shop

My Health Food Shop’s wide range of natural home cleaning products is curated for people who want effective cleaning without unnecessary irritants.

Below are three examples of natural, low-tox detergents you can find at My Health Food Shop. Use them as reference points for what a sensitive-skin-friendly and gentle formula looks like.

Product	Format	Key sensitive-skin-friendly features	Best for
EnviroClean Front Load Laundry Liquid 1L	Liquid	Ultra-concentrated, plant-based formula; described as “dirt-fighting, but gentle enough for sensitive skin”. No synthetic fragrance or optical brighteners; suitable for top or front loaders in all water temperatures.	Households with front-load machines (and top loaders if desired) wanting a fragrance-free, plant-based liquid that is tough on dirt but kind to sensitive skin.
EnviroClean Top Load Laundry Liquid 2L	Liquid	Plant-based, ultra-concentrated liquid designed for top-load machines; gentle yet effective formula, free from many harsh conventional additives and suitable for everyday family loads.	Families using top-load machines who want a natural liquid detergent that cleans well without a heavy scent or unnecessary additives.
Abode Laundry Powder Eucalypts 1kg	Powder	Powder crafted with plant and mineral-based ingredients, avoiding petrochemicals, zeolites, phosphates and salt used in many traditional powders; formulated with sensitive users and environmental impact in mind.	People who prefer powder and want to avoid common environmental and skin-unfriendly builders found in standard supermarket powders.

FAQs About Natural Laundry Detergents and Sensitive Skin

Is “natural” always safer for sensitive skin?

Not always. “Natural” is a marketing term, not a guarantee of safety. A heavily scented “natural” detergent loaded with essential oils can still irritate eczema-prone skin. For sensitive skin, the key factors are 1. fragrance-free (or very lightly scented if you tolerate it), 2. dye-free and optical-brightener-free, 3. low-residue, used at the right dose, and rinsed well.

Do I need a special baby detergent if I already use a fragrance-free, dye-free one?

If you already use a fragrance-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic detergent, many paediatric and dermatology sources suggest it can be suitable for the whole family, including babies, if you run an extra rinse and avoid harsh softeners. However, if your baby has severe eczema, known allergies, or ongoing rashes, it is worth speaking to a paediatrician or dermatologist, who may recommend specific brands or additional precautions.

Can essential oils in detergents irritate sensitive skin?

Yes. Essential oils are still fragrances. Some people tolerate them; others react strongly, especially when the skin barrier is compromised. For very sensitive or eczema-prone skin, it is usually safer to start with fully fragrance-free products (no essential oils) and only introduce lightly scented options if the skin remains calm.

Conclusion

Natural, plant-based detergents can sit perfectly at the intersection of skin-friendly and eco-conscious when they are formulated with transparent ingredients, no unnecessary additives, and good rinse-off.

If you are ready to put this into practice, you can explore and shop for eco-friendly cleaning products.