Whip up an ultra-cheap, eco-friendly liquid or powder detergent right at home. For liquid, combine liquid castile soap, baking soda, washing soda, and water. For a bulk powder, mix grated bar soap with borax and washing soda. Always check your washer's manual to ensure these DIY recipes are suitable for your machine.
It is available at most major retailers. If you have diabetic skin, I encourage you to try Fairy Sheets Laundry Detergent. It is a gentle, effective, and affordable detergent that can help to protect your skin.
Yes, laundry detergent can indirectly cause or worsen folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles). While folliculitis is typically caused by bacterial or fungal infections, the chemicals and residues in your detergent can trigger it in a few key ways:
This classic, ultra-frugal Amish liquid laundry soap recipe yields up to 5 gallons of detergent for under $15. It is gentle, highly effective, and costs just a fraction of commercial brands.
The most effective and popular homemade laundry detergent combines washing soda, baking soda, borax, and grated bar soap. This powerful, eco-friendly blend cuts through grease, removes tough odors, and costs a fraction of store-bought brands.
Never mix borax with chlorine bleach, as the combination can produce toxic, dangerous fumes. Additionally, avoid mixing it with vinegar for general cleaning; while it won't create dangerous fumes, mixing a base (borax) with an acid (vinegar) neutralizes both, canceling out their cleaning power.
Tide as a Leader in Laundry for Sensitive Skin
Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent and Tide PODS® Free and Gentle Laundry Detergent are specifically designed to provide effective cleaning while being gentle on skin.
Folliculitis—inflammation or infection of the hair follicles—often pops up suddenly when a damaged follicle is invaded by bacteria (like staph) or yeast. Common triggers include recent shaving or waxing, tight clothes causing friction, excessive sweating, or soaking in an inadequately chlorinated hot tub.
These surfactants can boost the cleaning power of laundry detergent. However, they also can damage mucus membranes and lungs, which could lead to serious respiratory problems. These surfactants increase inflammation in the lungs, and have even been linked to an increased risk of asthma and cancer.
The cleanest, healthiest laundry detergents prioritize plant-based, biodegradable ingredients without synthetic fragrances, dyes, or harsh preservatives. Top dermatologist-recommended and independently verified options combine maximum safety for sensitive skin with excellent cleaning power:
The kidneys and urinary system
Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels in the kidneys. This damage prevents the kidneys from filtering waste out of the blood. In time, kidney failure can result.
Diabetic skin requires gentle, hydrating care to prevent dryness, irritation, and slow-healing sores. The best soaps are fragrance-free, pH-balanced, and packed with moisturizing ingredients like ceramides and shea butter. Avoid harsh deodorant soaps and hot water, as these severely strip natural oils.
Making all-natural laundry detergent is an eco-friendly and budget-friendly way to clean your clothes. You can make an easy, highly effective powder with just 4 basic ingredients: washing soda, baking soda, Epsom salt, and coarse sea salt.
While you don't need a special license to sell soap, you do need to adhere to specific FDA regulations when it comes to marketing your soap. For all of that information on what you can and cannot say (including any medical claims!), please refer to the FDA guidelines on Soap.
Surfactants and Anti-Redepositing Agents
Surfactants are one of the major components of laundry and cleaning products. In washing machines, surfactants lift dirt and oils off the fabric and attach them to the water, so the dirt gets rinsed away when the water drains out of the machine.
To kill folliculitis naturally, use antibacterial and antifungal home remedies. Apply a warm compress soaked in a mixture of 1 tablespoon of white vinegar per pint of water, or use diluted tea tree oil and pure aloe vera gel to eliminate bacteria and soothe inflammation.
Viral folliculitis is most commonly caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which often presents as painful, clustered papulovesicles. While bacterial infection (staph) is more common, other viruses like herpes zoster (shingles) and molluscum contagiosum can also cause this hair follicle inflammation.
Folliculitis may be mistaken for the following conditions:
For sensitive skin, the most toxic detergents are conventional mainstream brands like Tide Original, Gain Liquid, and Persil ProClean. They frequently score poorly in toxicity databases due to heavy artificial fragrances, optical brighteners, and harsh surfactants like SLS that trigger eczema, contact dermatitis, and respiratory issues.
Dermatologists recommend hypoallergenic laundry detergents that are 100% free of dyes, perfumes, and harsh optical brighteners. These formulas prevent allergic reactions and contact dermatitis flare-ups. The top dermatologist-recommended brands include:
Laundry detergent allergies are commonly triggered by synthetic fragrances, preservatives (such as isothiazolinones), dyes, and enzymes. These additives can cause contact dermatitis, leading to itchy skin, rashes, and redness where your clothes rub against your body.
The Amish wash clothes using non-electric wringer washers powered by diesel, gasoline, or compressed air. More traditional groups rely on hand-cranked agitators or heavy-duty washboards. They clean the garments with homemade soaps made from lye, lard, and natural oils, enhanced with washing soda and borax.
In the old days, borax was a multi-purpose "miracle" mineral. Its primary use was as a heavy-duty laundry booster, water softener, and household cleaner. Beyond chores, it was used as a metalworking flux, a food and meat preservative, and an ingredient in ancient medicines, pottery glazes, and glassblowing.
Boric acid and borax are particularly useful against the following insects: