Daily chores like laundry can trigger skin irritation for people with sensitive skin, especially when detergents contain allergens. That’s because some laundry detergents contain irritants that can make it hard for people with sensitive skin conditions. However, there are plenty of tips to help reduce skin flare-ups caused by doing the laundry so that this “chore” doesn’t have to feel like one.
How To Wash Clothes if You Have Sensitive Skin? 8 Tips
1. Use Unscented Products
Freshly smelling clothes are always attractive; after all, who doesn’t want a pleasant odor of vanilla or lavender floating through the house after a wash? However, if you'd like to minimize the risk of a reaction to an allergen, opting for a fragrance-free detergent or softener will be a wiser move.
While it won’t produce lavender-scented clothing, choosing an unscented product might reduce adverse reactions if you have sensitive skin.
2. Maintain Your Washer
How can a washing machine affect your skin? People often forget that washing machines need a good clean, too, to ensure any mold or residue buildup is removed. If you don’t clean your washing machine, mold or mildew can leave allergens in your washing load. A dirty washing machine can also lead to unpleasant-smelling clothes, so it’s essential to maintain your washer for the sake of both your skin and your nose.
To do this, ensure that you use an appropriate cleaning detergent for your washing machine and give the machine an extra rinse to ensure it’s ready for your next load. Remember that cleaning your machine every 30 washes could make all the difference.
3. Check the Ingredients
You might already know some of the triggers if you have sensitive skin. However, with 10% of the population suffering from a kind of eczema, it’s entirely possible you don’t know what these triggers are. Certain fragrances or parabens might trigger a bad reaction, so always check the ingredients before you buy a new detergent.
4. Use The Right Detergent
Using a dermatologist-tested detergent is essential when protecting your skin from allergens. It's important to choose a detergent that's been tested for skin compatibility, especially if you're managing sensitivity.
Clinically tested for skin irritation, Freddie laundry detergent sheets are a great alternative to some traditional detergents, formulated without harsh additives and designed with low-waste packaging. That's why Freddie offers fragrance-free sheets if you want to add an extra layer of protection for your sensitive skin. Those with sensitive skin may need added care during winter, when already dry skin could be prone to more reactions.
5. Use The Right Fabric Softener
Choosing skin-compatible softeners reduces the risk of introducing new irritants. If you have sensitive skin and want to use fabric softener during your loads, that’s extra chemicals you’re adding into the mix. Adding a softener shouldn’t cause harm as long as you check the ingredients and ensure you use the right softener for your skin condition.
However, if you’re still figuring out which detergent works best for your skin, it’s best to focus on that first. Then, once you’re happy that your detergent has no allergens, move on to the softener.
6. Consider An Extra Rinse Cycle
Extra rinse cycles remove leftover detergent residue that can aggravate sensitive skin. While for some people using a skin-friendly product is enough, for others, an extra rinse cycle can wash away any additional dirt, detergent, or allergens still in the washing load. This added step can make all the difference and leave your skin irritation-free.
7. Reduce The Static
Minimizing static reduces fabric cling, which can worsen skin irritation. Static electricity isn’t necessarily bad for your skin in and of itself; however, the static build-up in a tumble dryer can mean that your clothes cling to your skin more easily. In doing this, your skin can become more easily irritated and potentially cause more reactions.
8. Dry Clothes Indoors
One way to battle static buildup is to air dry your clothes. This reduces static electricity and means your clothes should sit nicely on your skin, with more breathing room. However, to avoid unwanted allergens, it’s best to air dry your clothes inside rather than outside.
Drying and Storing: Best Practices
- Air-dry your clothes indoors to avoid static buildup and unwanted allergens.
- If using a dryer, use a low heat setting
- Avoid overloading your dryer with clothes
- Store clothes in clean and dry spaces
- Where possible, use containers or bags to store clothes
- Avoid over-packing clothes in your cabinets or wardrobes
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Make My Laundry Smell Good if I Have Sensitive Skin?
Since it’s best to avoid fragranced detergents if you have sensitive skin, you’ll have to get a little creative. If you’re unwilling to forgo lovely-smelling clothes, consider adding a few drops of essential oil to your next laundry load and see how your skin responds.
Why Is My Skin So Sensitive to Laundry Detergent?
Determining what allergen makes your skin sensitive to detergents is tricky. Still, it’s essential to check the ingredients of your detergent and then ensure that you’re using a dermatologist-tested detergent. It might simply be the fragrance or the detergent as a whole.
What Is the Best Laundry Detergent for Sensitive Skin?
The best laundry detergent for sensitive skin is often tried and tested and free of whatever allergen your skin most disagrees with. What is okay for one person can be different for someone else. However, a rule of thumb is to use a fragrance-free detergent.
Smart Laundry Choices Help Minimize Skin Reactions
Doing the laundry can be enough of a chore without worrying about the effect cleaning your clothes will have on your skin. That’s why opting for a detergent with sensitive skin in mind is also best. Freddie laundry sheets are dermatologist-tested and packaged without plastic jugs, offering a thoughtful choice for skin-conscious laundry routines. So why not check out Freddie detergent sheets today?
