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Best hypoallergenic laundry detergent (2026)
Molly's Suds Original powder is our pick for allergies: it lists no fragrance and no isothiazolinone preservative (MI, MIT, BIT), two common detergent allergens, while 27 of the 41 best sellers sold as hypoallergenic list at least one.1
Molly's Suds Original Laundry Powder, Unscented, 240 loads
It makes no hypoallergenic claim. Its list holds no fragrance and no isothiazolinone preservative.
Watch for: Pre-treat bad stains with a spray, because a powder will not do it for you.2
Does "hypoallergenic" mean a detergent is safe for allergies?
No. The FDA says of the word on cosmetics: "There are no Federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term 'hypoallergenic.' The term means whatever a particular company wants it to mean."3 So we read the full ingredient lists of the best-selling detergents that carry the word in the title or on the label, and checked each for fragrance and for isothiazolinone preservatives.
Of those sold as unscented or free & clear (21 of them), 10 still list an isothiazolinone preservative.
Our pick, and three for other needsThree more picks for other needs
Molly's Suds Original Laundry Powder, Unscented, 240 loads
Our pickFewest skin triggers. Sold with no hypoallergenic claim, and its list holds no fragrance and no isothiazolinone preservative.1
Watch for: Pre-treat bad stains with a spray, because a powder will not do it for you.2
Dropps Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent Pods, Unscented, 64 count
Best lab score of the ones that pass. Pods that list neither allergen. They list one ethoxylated ingredient and come in PVA film.4
Tide PODS Free & Gentle pacs, 112 count
Most bought, with the National Eczema Association Seal. The best seller that lists neither allergen, with enzymes. Its list also holds a brightener, an ethoxylated ingredient and PVA film. Keep pods away from small children.5
ARM & HAMMER Sensitive Skin Free & Clear Liquid
Lowest cost per load. Sold as hypoallergenic, and its list holds up. It is the lowest cost per load of the 14 hypoallergenic-labeled detergents that pass, and it lists an optical brightener.6
Which detergents sold as hypoallergenic list an allergen?
Our four picks come first. Then come the five best-selling hypoallergenic detergents that list fragrance or a preservative allergen. Several are scented on purpose, and the word still sits on the bottle.
| Detergent | Sold as hypoallergenic? | Lists |
|---|---|---|
| Molly's Suds Original Laundry Powder, Unscented, 240 loads1 | No | Neither |
| Dropps Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent Pods, Unscented, 64 count4 | No | Neither |
| Tide PODS Free & Gentle pacs, 112 count5 | No | Neither |
| Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear Liquid6 | Yes | Neither |
| All Free & Clear The Original liquid7 | Yes | BIT |
| Dreft Stage 1 Newborn Liquid for Babies8 | Yes | Fragrance and BIT |
| Puracy Natural Liquid Free & Clear9 | Yes | BIT |
| ECOS Hypoallergenic Liquid, Lavender10 | Yes | Fragrance and MI |
| Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Plus Fresh Scent Liquid11 | Yes | Fragrance |
Five of the 25 hypoallergenic formulas that list an allergen, best sellers first. MI is methylisothiazolinone; BIT is benzisothiazolinone.
Which allergens should I look for instead of the word?
The American Contact Dermatitis Society named MI its Contact Allergen of the Year for 2013, and the whole isothiazolinone group can cross-react.12 In 2019 to 2020, patch tests in North America found a common fragrance allergen, fragrance mix I, in 12.8% of patients referred for contact dermatitis.13 The American Academy of Dermatology tells families with eczema: "Use only detergent that is fragrance-free and dye-free."14
NBC Select's guide chose from "highly rated hypoallergenic laundry detergents on Amazon" and screened them for fragrance.15 That is a start, but the preservative is what the label word hides. For lab cleaning scores, see our fragrance-free guide. For eczema, see our eczema detergent guide.
Questions people ask
Is All Free & Clear hypoallergenic?
It is sold that way, and its list names no fragrance. It does list benzisothiazolinone, an isothiazolinone preservative.7
Is Tide Free & Gentle hypoallergenic?
The liquid is sold that way and names no fragrance, but its list has benzisothiazolinone.16
Is baby detergent safer for allergies?
Not by the word alone. Dreft's unscented family liquid is sold as hypoallergenic and lists benzisothiazolinone.17
Is Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin hypoallergenic?
Yes, it is sold that way, and its Free & Clear liquid lists no fragrance and no isothiazolinone preservative.6
Sources (17)
- Molly's Suds Original Laundry Detergent Powder, Unscented: ingredient list, read November 4, 2026. Quote: “Molly's Suds Original Laundry Powder includes only 4-5 simple yet powerful ingredients: Sodium Carbonate sourced from the Green River Basin in Wyoming…”
- Consumer Reports: Best and Worst Laundry Detergents of 2026, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “you can’t adequately pretreat your clothes with them”
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Hypoallergenic cosmetics, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “There are no Federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term "hypoallergenic." The term means whatever a particular company wants it to mean.”
- dropps Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent Pods, Unscented, 64 count: ingredient list, read November 4, 2026. Quote: “Ingredient Disclosure: Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent, Unscented. Alcohols, C12-16, ethoxylated Cleaning Agent 68551-12-2; Glycerin; Water; Alkyl Glucoside”
- Tide PODS Free & Gentle pacs, 112 count: ingredient list, read November 4, 2026. Quote: “INGREDIENTS: MEA C10-16 Alkylbenzenesulfonate, Propylene Glycol, MEA Laureth Sulfate, Water, MEA salts of C12-18 fatty acids, Glycerin, C10-16 Pareth…”
- ARM & HAMMER Sensitive Skin Free & Clear Liquid: ingredient list, read November 4, 2026. Quote: “Arm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Detergent - Perfume and Dye Free (42017319): Water; C10-16 alketh; Sodium laureth sulfate; Sodium carbonate”
- All Free & Clear The Original liquid, 118 oz: ingredient list, read November 4, 2026. Quote: “Ingredients: water (CAS 7732-18-5); C12-15 alcohols ethoxylated (CAS 68131-39-5); sodium laureth sulfate (CAS 9004-82-4); sodium carbonate (CAS 497-19-8)…”
- Dreft Stage 1 Newborn Liquid Laundry Detergent for Babies, 150 fl oz: ingredient list, read November 4, 2026. Quote: “INGREDIENTS: Water, C10-16 Alketh, Sodium C10-16 Alkylbenzenesulfonate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, C10-16 Alkyldimethylamine Oxide, Sodium Salts of C12-18 Fatty…”
- Puracy Natural Liquid Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear (Unscented), 16 fl oz, 64 loads: ingredient list, read November 4, 2026. Quote: “FULL INGREDIENT LIST Laundry Detergent (Unscented) Laundry Detergent (Fresh Linen) Ingredients Protease Amylase Lipase Mannanase Purified water Decyl…”
- ECOS Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent Liquid, Lavender, 100 fl oz x2 (200 loads): ingredient list, read November 4, 2026. Quote: “Full Ingredients List Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine (plant-derived surfactant), Sodium Coco-Sulfate (plant-derived surfactant), Cocamidopropylamine Oxide…”
- ARM & HAMMER Sensitive Skin Plus Fresh Scent Liquid, 170 fl oz: ingredient list, read November 4, 2026. Quote: “Arm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Detergent - Sensitive Skin plus Scent (42017324): Water; C10-16 alketh; Sodium laureth sulfate; Sodium carbonate”
- DermNet: Methylisothiazolinone allergy, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “MI was named Contact Allergen of the Year 2013 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. ... All chemicals in the isothiazolinone group may cross-react and…”
- North American Contact Dermatitis Group Patch Test Results: 2019-2020. (Dermatitis, PMID 36917520), read November 4, 2026. Quote: “The most commonly positive allergens were nickel (18.2%), methylisothiazolinone (MI) (13.8%), fragrance mix (FM) I (12.8%), hydroperoxides of linalool (HPL)…”
- American Academy of Dermatology: child-friendly products for eczema, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “Use only detergent that is fragrance-free and dye-free”
- NBC Select: 9 Best Laundry Detergents for Sensitive Skin, read November 8, 2026. Quote: “highly rated hypoallergenic laundry detergents on Amazon with at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more”
- Tide Free & Gentle liquid, 132 fl oz: ingredient list, read November 4, 2026. Quote: “INGREDIENTS: Water, C10-16 Alketh, Sodium C10-16 Alkylbenzenesulfonate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Polyethyleneimines alkoxylated, Sodium Salts of C12-18 Fatty…”
- Dreft Liquid Laundry Detergent for Family, Unscented, 84 fl oz: ingredient list, read November 4, 2026. Quote: “INGREDIENTS: Water, C10-16 Alketh, Sodium C10-16 Alkylbenzenesulfonate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Salts of C12-18 Fatty Acids, Sodium Citrate, Propylene…”
The paper trail
Every product on this page was looked up in the EPA Safer Choice list, CPSC recalls, California Prop 65 notices and EWG’s database. We read each maker’s full ingredient label and worked out what a load or an ounce really costs. Every fact links to where it came from. How we snoop.