There are only a handful of things an infant is able to do and only three things they’re experts at — eating, sleeping, and making loads of dirty laundry.
Thus since becoming a mother, you’ve likely grown rather friendly with the washer and dryer. And as your infant turns into a toddler, the onslaught of
laundry won’t be retreating any time soon.

The Good News? We’ve tested a bundle of laundry products (many use natural ingredients and essential oils), and the results were heavenly.
Now it’s your turn to transform this household chore into fun by treating yourself to these luxury laundry products.

Top Pick

The Good Home Co.
We fell instantly in love with the charming, glass bottles these detergents and laundry fragrances (read fabric softener) come in. In fact, they’re so
stunning you’d think the contents belong in your bubble bath rather then rinse cycle. Nevertheless, the detergent and fragrance used together produced
delicately-scented laundry that was definitely a joy to fold. All the scents are simple, clean and just plain fantastic, but we were absolutely
swooning over the fresh, Beach Days fragrance (although the Paris Rain scent is a very close second) ($19 at
amazon.com).

Runner Up

Caldrea.

These luxury detergents were the easiest to use with their measuring-cup cap
— a lot like the caps for the stuff you might already be using.
But unlike your normal detergent, these are made with plant-derived ingredients and essential oils for aromatherapy laundry care. The perfectly clean
and fresh Lavender Pine fragrance was our favorite, combining the aromas of a freshly-bloomed lavender field in Provence with the crispness of a forest
after rain. We also adored Caldrea’s laundry supplies for baby’s room, which are scented with a delicate Sweet Pea fragrance and dermatologist
tested ($16 at caldrea.com).

Other Favorites

The Laundress.
These clothing-care products smell like a fine, French perfume and look like something off the shelves of a fashionable boutique. And it is no coincidence, since its founders both worked previously at fashion giants like Chanel and Ralph Lauren. We were impressed by their full range of job-specific detergents –
there is one to keep your whites bright; another armed with lint-beating ingredients to keep your darks spotless; and still others to treat your swimwear,
delicates, and even your pet’s favorite blankets. Don’t forget baby! The Laundress’s baby detergent is formulated to be soft on baby but strong on
stains ($16-19 at beauty.com).

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day.
This retro-cool line was definitely the perkiest of the bunch. We loved the words of encouragement from Mrs. Thelma A. Meyer, “Remember that keeping
clean is easy. You just need the right soap.” We don’t necessarily agree that cleaning is easy, but if you use her bright Lemon Verbena Laundry
Detergent you’ll be feeling just as sunshiny as Mrs. Meyer seems to be ($12 at drugstore.com).

Sweet Grass Farm.
If you prefer a powdered detergent, we recommend this down-home take on regular laundry detergent. With essential oils and natural detergents, this one
is loads better then the usual stuff. The low-sudsing formula is kind to nature and kind to those with sensitivities to chemicals. We preferred the
classic Lavender version which smells completely pure and natural. Don’t miss their too-precious lavender sachets to toss in with your dryer load ($6-20 at sweetgrassonline.com).

Quick Laundry Tip: Be sure to add the detergent (especially if it is powdered) while your washer is filling with water but before you put in your clothes.
This will allow the detergent to evenly disperse throughout the water and cut down on any detergent “hot spots” which can cause spotting in your clothes.

– Bettijo B. Hirschi