My daughter contracted eczema when she was 16 months old. The doctor confirmed her condition the same week I planned to stop buying Dreft laundry detergent. For those of you who don’t know, Dreft has been around for nearly 80 years. What’s more, it has held the honor of being the most recommended baby laundry detergent in the world, for almost as long as it has been on store shelves. Dreft is gentler than traditional laundry soaps and is especially efficient in cleaning baby items. However, it is also more expensive than most traditional laundry detergents.
Needless to say, with the diagnosis of my daughter’s eczema, I was forced to pay extra for Dreft for much longer than I had planned. Then, about a year or so ago, a friend of mine recommended All Free Clear. The laundry soap, made by Unilever, is free of dyes, perfumes and preservatives. It’s said to be the perfect laundry detergent for people with sensitive skin. What’s more, insiders say All Free Clear was designed to take a bite out of Dreft’s market, and given that it is priced substantially lower than Dreft, I would not be surprised if it did put a dent in Dreft’s success.
After finding a coupon for All Free Clear online, I gave it a try. The price was much lower than I had expected, but I bought Dreft like I owned the company, so take that for what it’s worth. The liquid soap comes in a white bottle, which I assume signifies its pure contents. The detergent has a light appearance and comes highly recommended by dermatologists and allergists for people with sensitive skin.
My main concern was that it would not clean as effectively as traditional detergents, but it got out the chocolate stains from my daughter’s shirt in a single wash, and I didn’t pre-treat the soiled area. All claims that its Free Clear brand contains the same stainlifters featured in its original formula, so it’s “tough on stains yet gentle enough for the whole family.”
I wouldn’t insist that you switch brands if you are a die-hard Dreft fan. I didn’t notice that the All Free Clear got my daughter’s clothes cleaner than Dreft. However, if price is a major factor, then you might consider giving All a try.