When you do laundry, if you have sensitive skin, you could be adding irritation where you think you’re cleaning! Abide by these tips to help skin stay happy.

• Laundry products can be filled with ingredients that seriously irritate skin. The surfactants in detergent can be drying and cause allergic reactions. Go for a detergent that is made for sensitive skin.

• Since fragrance is a trade secret, companies don’t have to disclose what is used and they can use highly irritating chemicals. Switch to an allergen-free detergent (sometimes marked as “free of dyes and perfumes”) and skip the dryer sheets and fabric softeners altogether.

• Many people fill their detergent to the top line of the measuring cup, but that is unnecessary. Don’t over soap your clothes – just use the minimal amount needed to get the job done! Over-using detergent can prevent your washer from completely rinsing your clothes of soap.

• For people with severe allergies and eczema, try running your laundry through the rinse cycle twice to rid clothes of every last bit of detergent.

• Avoid starching your clothes – another hotspot for irritating ingredients!

• Don’t overload the washing machine – leaving enough room is important for your washer to properly rinse soap from your clothes.