We use Charlie's Soap and love it. It works for our cloth diapers, and all of our family's clothes, including baby's. We buy it in a local store in Chicago, but I think it's also available online. They make liquid or powder- we use the powder, and 1 little bag works for 80 loads I think. It is pretty much scent-less, so if you want your laundry to smell like flowers, or springtime, or rain, or whatever the scent of the day is, then this brand won't be for you.

I'd have to say Charlies Soap too. The stuff is great for cleaning baby's stuff as well as Mom and Dad's clothing too!

We use ours on our cloth diapers as well as our regular laundry. You use one tablespoon per load (even in a non-HE machine!) and the stuff is pretty cost-effective, especially for an earth friendly detergent.

We go the old-school route and use borax washing soda. You can find them both at the supermarket (which doesn't carry Seventh Generation or Method) so we save a trip to a specialty store. And a box of each keeps the whole family clean for about two months -- including our very sensitive little baby. The only drawback is that you can't use it on wool, so we keep a bottle of Seventh Gen around for those winter sweaters.

For the first 6 weeks, you are supposed to avoid all scented products.

We use SportWash (same thing as Sensi-Clean), which is available online:

http://www.atsko.com/products/laundry-care/

I make my own detergent using this recipe:
http://modcottage.com/?p=117

I cannot speak to the "safety" of it for babies, however. I only recently made the switch to it but my 4-year old has never had a problem with it.

I had used BioKleen or Country Save for years before I found out that it's also great to use on the babe's clothes and diapers. BioKleen also has a really good stain remover treatment called BacOut that's safe to use on the little one's diapers.

We used seventh gen. free and clear since it had no scent or dyes. Now we have switched to the lavender seventh gen. and it smells very nice.

So, what is a good detergent to use for the first six weeks, and to wash all the clothes for the first time? I'm due in September.

bp090499--my great-grandmother used to make her own laundry soap. It was solid and then she'd melt a chunk for use. I don't really remember but my mom says it was the best laundry soap ever, everything was soft, whites were sparkling, and no one got any irritation. Perfect for diapers--not that it stopped my mom from putting me in Pampers when they were first introduced!

We use Sears' brand high-efficiency, fragrance - and dye-free. Cheap and very high quality.

And I use white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. Faboo!

Another vote for Charlie's!

Nothing with dye or fragrance-that's what's best for baby. Ecos is our family's fave and it's great for HE machines and it lasts and lasts and is excellent on our cloth diapers. All those special "baby" detergents are a complete waste of money.

Caldrea Sweet Pea is the best! I used All Free & Clear for the first few weeks, and then switched to Caldrea Sweet Pea once I started selling it in my own store. The Caldrea Sweet Pea stain remover is great too- gets out anything.

My daughter is 3 and I still use the detergent- so gentle and has an amazing scent!

I have used Dreft and Target brand baby detergent. Both smell nice are not strong. I recently bought the Method's Baby Blossom fabric softner sheets. I can't tell if they really make a difference though. I haven't bought the Method's detergent because I was waiting for my other one to run out. Good luck on your search!!

Just a note about Sport Wash/Sensi Clean (same product; different bottles) --

We started using it because we cloth-diapered, using both hemp diapers and fleece covers. A lot of people have gotten frustrated with cloth diapering because many of the "free and clear" detergents actually leave a residue on hemp and fleece, and once it accumulates through enough washes, the fabrics stop performing.

I've always used Sport Wash (you can also find it in the hunting section -- it is used for washing hunting clothes, getting all smells out of them so that prey do not smell you), and have never had a problem with my diapers -- and I have used them through 2 children.

It's a fabulous detergent for all our clothes, including the baby's.

i'm another vote for charlie's.

I got Mrs. Meyer's Baby Blossom for the clothes, bedding, etc., and Charlie's powder for the cloth diapers. I just love the gentle scent and natural ingredients. If it causes any irritation, of course we'll switch, but my husband has very sensitive skin, and the Meyer's doesn't bother him, so I feel pretty good about it. The scent is such a pleasant luxury, I won't give it up unless we need to.

i make my own... super washing soda, borax, tom's of maine bar soap, and whatever essential oils i'm in the mood for while i'm mixing. i also pour some vinegar into every load, and lemon juice with my whites.

Interesting, I had read on diaperpin.com that Borax Washing Soda breaks down cloth diapers and baking soda should be added to the wash instead. So I have been washing the baby clothes & diapers in Purex Free & Clear with a handful of baking soda and vinegar for rinse. I pre-soak in Oxy baby. My mom bought us Dreft when she was here but I haven't used it yet since it has fragrance and the baby is only 7 wks. Baby got a rash when clothes were washed in arm & hammer with fragrance so we use that for our clothes only.

after starting cloth diapers, i read that two things in detergents can make cloth diapers leak - optical brighteners and enzymes. i had been using method free & clear or seventh generation free & clear before baby arrived, but both have enzymes. so i tried country save, charlie's soap and maggie's soap nuts. charlie's doesn't work well for me, i think it's our hard water? country save is GREAT! but i love the soap nuts the best. i just wish they weren't so hard to find!

Another Charlie's Soap user here-- for all our clothes and cloth diapers. Their web site has some helpful hints on washing as well. I love their tag line: "if you want flowers, go pick some!"

As others have posted, you should choose an unscented product to start. We've used 7th Gen Free & Clear for years and use it for our toddler as well. No need for a special "baby" detergent. Personally I loathe scented cleaning products of any type.

But...if you are a first time parent I recommend that you *don't wash all of those clothes now at least if you have any chance of returning them. I would have saved hundreds of dollars if I hadn't washed so many of the clothes that we didn't use.

While I do believe that natural and chemical-free is inevitably better for all of us (and for the planet), some of the comments where people are questioning "whether a detergent is safe for babies" are frightening me a little. I work in an urban infant/toddler program, and a number of our families are lower income and the furthest thing from their minds is choosing a baby-specific detergent. Their babies are wearing brightly-dyed polyester outfits washed in Tide. And you know what? The kids turn out fine. I've not yet had a single kid with a detergent-related illness. The extensive safety counseling checklists that our program and the pediatricians go over with families don't say a thing about screening for unsafe detergent choices. Sure, if you're in a position to choose a less-toxic detergent, I'd go for it, but if you're really in the mindset of "I don't know whether it's safe for babies," I'd be worrying more about giving your kid an anxiety disorder.

While lower income kids seem 'fine' from those non chemical free and scented detergents, what you don't realize is that they often have allergies and asthma which are directly related to those household chemicals, detergents and and baby powder. I'm sure most are fine, but babies have thinner more sensitive skin than we do so you're better off using a dye and perfume free detergent. Personally, I find that Arm and Hammer works well but the others are great too! You can always just wash with baking soda and water if you are really worried.