5 Laundry Myths: What Experts Recommend
With three kids, laundry never really ends at our house. There's always a basket waiting: school uniforms, soccer socks, pajamas, sheets someone spilled juice on at breakfast. Most weeks I'm squeezing loads in between drop-offs, work and dinner, so I don't have time to overthink it.
For a long time my system was simple: grab whatever was on sale, pour in a generous capful to be safe, add softener so everything smelled "clean," and toss new clothes straight into the drawer. Then I started trying to simplify our routine, and every search turned up another tip, another product and another rule that contradicted the last one.
So I went to the people who actually see what laundry does to skin. I asked cleaning experts, dermatologists and other medical and cleaning professionals which laundry mistakes they see most and which myths they spend the most time correcting. Some of their answers surprised me, and a few of my own habits made the list.
What do experts recommend changing first?
Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of New York Cosmetic Skin & Laser Surgery Center, put it plainly:
"If I could get a patient with sensitive skin to change just one thing about laundry, it would be dropping fragrance completely, not just switching to a product labeled sensitive. Fragrance, including unscented products that still contain masking fragrance, is the most common laundry-related trigger I see in patients with eczema or contact dermatitis."
That lines up with guidance from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), which recommends fragrance-free and dye-free laundry products for people with eczema, and similar conditions.
Sham Zemichael, Owner and Operations Manager, Costina Cleaning Services, has two tips:
- Stop overloading the washer. Leave your clothes enough room to actually move through the water; cramming the drum can leave detergent, sweat and body oils trapped in fabrics. As a rule, you should be able to fit your upright hand between the top of the laundry and the drum when the machine is loaded.
- Clean the washing machine once a month. Run the machine's cleaning cycle or an empty hot cycle according to the manufacturer, and wipe the rubber door gasket, detergent drawer and the inside of its door. Those hidden damp areas can accumulate detergent residue, biofilm and mildew, which can transfer odors back onto your freshly washed laundry.
5 Laundry myths, debunked
Myth 1: "Detergent residue is the real problem."
Mostly false. What's in the detergent usually matters more than how much is left behind.
The experts we asked weighted this differently, Dr. Rokhsar puts the formula first:
"Detergent residue on fabric matters less than what's actually in the detergent to begin with. A properly rinsed load leaves very little behind. The bigger issue is choosing a formula loaded with dyes, optical brighteners, and fragrance compounds, plus fabric softener, which coat fibers directly and sit against skin all day." — Dr. Cameron Rokhsar
Dr. Prichard sees the two as linked:
"Residue is important, but it's closely linked to the detergent since both the ingredients and how much is left on the skin can cause irritation." — Dr. Pablo Prichard
Alex Varela, Cleaning Expert at Oakville Maids recommends:
Most times you don't really need to use that much detergent. Always stick to what the product recommends or even less, and after doing laundry, keep the washer door slightly open so it airs out and you don't keep moisture inside the drum.
Sofia Martinez, CEO and cleaning expert at Sparkly Maid Austin recommends:
Almost everybody uses too much soap. The extra sits in the fabric and holds dirt, and towels stop absorbing after a few months. We cut our dose to two thirds of the label and clients stopped asking why their towels felt slick.
And if you use sheets, tear one up and drop the pieces in the empty drum while it fills. Add the clothes after.
In practice: choose the formula first, then avoid leaving extra behind by dosing to the label and not overloading. An extra rinse is a reasonable backup while you figure out what's bothering your skin, but it won't fix a formula that contains your trigger.
Myth 2: "Unscented means fragrance-free."
False. "Fragrance-free" generally means no fragrance was added. "Unscented" generally means the product doesn't smell, which can be done by adding a masking fragrance. That's why Dr. Rokhsar calls out "unscented products that still contain masking fragrance." Check the ingredient list for "fragrance," "parfum" or "perfume." More in our guide to fragrance-free laundry detergent.
Myth 3: "If the label says it's made for reactive skin, it won't irritate mine."
False. Words like "sensitive," "natural" and "hypoallergenic" are front-of-pack marketing terms, not a result for your skin. Dr. Rokhsar's advice is to drop fragrance completely, "not just switching to a product labeled sensitive." The full ingredient list tells you more than any label, including ours.
Martin Wolfe, a chemical engineer, Owner Wolf Sustainability, advises that terms like 'natural' and 'non-toxic' can point to greenwashing or false claims since there is no legal or universally defined standard for what 'natural' means.
If you're choosing a new detergent, our guide to laundry detergent for sensitive skin covers what to look for.
Myth 4: "A rash after switching detergents means I'm allergic to it."
Not necessarily. A reaction to a laundry product can be irritant contact dermatitis (the ingredient aggravates the skin directly) or allergic contact dermatitis (an immune response to a specific ingredient). They can look alike, and only patch testing by a dermatologist confirms an allergy.
Myth 5: "Only the detergent matters."
False. Fabric softener, dryer sheets, scent boosters, dyes in the clothes themselves and rough fabrics can all play a part.
"For sensitive skin, the best laundry routine is usually simple: use fewer irritants, rinse well, and pay attention to what touches the skin often." — Dr. Pablo Prichard
A dermatologist-recommended laundry routine
- Clear out old buildup. Before switching products, run your current laundry through a hot-water wash with no product (check care labels for heat tolerance).
- Take fragrance out of every step. Detergent, softener, and scent beads. "Unscented" isn't enough; check the ingredient list.
- Choose a dye-free formula, Hey Sunday laundry sheets and dryer sheets are dye-free. Check out our ingredients here! Hey Sunday is fully transparent about its ingredients so you can decide if it works for you and your family, without any unpleasant surprises.
- Dose to the label and don't overload the drum.
- Add an extra rinse while you troubleshoot. It's a backup, not a replacement for the right formula.
- Wash new clothes and bedding before first use. Then change one thing at a time and give your skin a few weeks.
If your skin doesn't improve after a few weeks, see a board-certified dermatologist. Patch testing can identify specific allergens, including ones in soaps, lotions or clothing treatments.
Where Hey Sunday fits
We publish the full ingredient list for each of our products so you can check it against your own triggers or take it to your dermatologist. We don't think any single laundry product is right for every skin type, and we'd rather you read the label than take our word for it.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common laundry mistakes?
The ones dermatologists and cleaning experts see most are using more detergent than the label calls for, overloading the machine, wearing new clothes before washing them, keeping scented softener or dryer sheets while switching detergents, and changing several products at once.
Should you wash new clothes before wearing them?
Yes. New clothes can carry dye and manufacturing residues, and washing before first wear removes some of them. It matters most for underwear, bedding, baby clothes and anything tight-fitting or deeply dyed.
Is it bad to use too much laundry detergent?
Past the labeled dose, extra detergent doesn't clean better. It leaves more product to rinse out, which can stay in the fabric if the load is large or the rinse is short.
Can detergent residue on clothes cause itching?
It can contribute, particularly with overdosing or an overloaded machine. Dermatologist Dr. Cameron Rokhsar notes that a properly rinsed load leaves very little behind and that the formula itself usually matters more.
Do dermatologists recommend an extra rinse cycle?
An extra rinse can help remove leftover product while you're working out what's irritating your skin. The experts we asked treat it as a backup to choosing a fragrance-free, dye-free formula, not a substitute.
About the experts
- Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, MD, FAAD, FAACS — Board-certified dermatologist; Founder & Medical Director, New York Cosmetic Skin & Laser Surgery Center.
- Dr. Pablo Prichard — Plastic and reconstructive surgeon; Co-Founder, Vincere Cancer Center; Founder, AAA Plastic Surgery.
- Sofia Martinez is a cleaning expert and CEO of Sparkly Maid Austin.
- Sham Zemichael. Owner and Operations Manager at Costina Cleaning Services
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology — eczema and laundry guidance
- American Academy of Dermatology or ACAAI — contact dermatitis (irritant vs. allergic)
