Is it safe to use scented laundry detergent for baby clothes?
Based on 2 peer-reviewed studiesbaby
Verdict: Avoid
No. Fragrance chemicals stay on fabric and irritate baby skin and airways.
What's actually in it
Scented laundry detergents use synthetic fragrance, often with phthalates as fragrance carriers. The scent is designed to stay on fabric after washing, which means it touches baby skin all day and releases VOCs into the nursery air.
What the research says
A 2025 screening study in Environ Sci Technol mapped fragrance and phthalates across laundry products. A 2025 study linked phthalates to slower infant neurodevelopment.
Use unscented, fragrance-free baby detergent with no masking fragrance. A double-rinse cycle helps remove more residue.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical signatures for household consumer products. | Environ Sci Technol | 2025 |
| Impact of prenatal phthalate exposure on newborn metabolome. | Nat Commun | 2025 |
What to use instead
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