You carefully chose the best detergent to use for your baby's clothing...so you thought. You got a dye free, fragrance free detergent that claims to be tested for sensitive skin. But you didn't know to look out for "whitening enzymes". 3 women found this out the hard way when they tried Arm and Hammer's Fabricare Advanced Powder Detergent last fall.
Laura's 4 year old son broke out in red blotches all over his body when she switched to Fabricare. The red blotches were warm to the touch and where so unsightly it was difficult for Laura to look at them. She took him to her son's pediatrician who diagnosed him with erythema multiforme and gave him a prescription to clear it up. When Laura contacted the Church & Dwight, the makers of Arm and Hammer, they told her that they recently added new enzymes to their powder detergent. To make up for the problem they sent Laura 2 coupons for free bottles of any of their detergents. They assured Laura that these enzymes were not found in the liquid detergents but she decided not to take the chance.
Tiffiny, a cloth diapering mom, stopped using Arm and Hammer's new powder detergent when she realized it was irritating her two sons' penises. She described the reaction as occuring on the tip, around their urethra. It was bright red, bleeding with white discharge. At first she noticed this on one son, took him too the doctor who was stumped. It wasn't until her second son developed the same reaction that she was able to determine that the rash was caused by the detergent. She stoppped using Fabricare immediately and started using All Free Clear. She was able to salvage the diapers by putting them through several cold rinses.
Liz of Kloth Kreations story is the most disturbing....her friend's son's bottom return bright red but his penis was even worse. In addition to being bright red it was swollen and looked as if something had been wearing away at the skin. It was obvious to Liz and her friend that his condition was quite painful. After switching to disposables Liz's friend observed that the irritation went away. She contacted the makers of Arm and Hammer who verified that the new ingredient (and possible culprit) to their powder detergent was "whitening enzymes".
The woman at Arm and Hammer went on to say that these enzymes attack organic matter and help dissolve stains when activated with water or moisture. As Liz explains, considering children easily wet their clothes by spilling drinks and foods on themselves, by perspiring or by wetting their cloth diapers, and since they are organic they are the key target for these enzymes!
Liz's friend asked Arm and Hammer hem how she could remove the enzymes from her diapers but they were unable to provide a suggestion. They offered compenstation for the detergent but this did not help pay for the $500+ in diapers that were ruined.
We contacted Church and Dwight via email to get their side of this story but they not reply.
It is important to note that not all people and children are sensitive to these enzymes. According to Bethan, enzymes have been in detergents for many years in Britain. While her brother is sensitive to them, she and her sister are not.
"...when they [whitening enzymes] came out here[the United States] I tried them (the first detergent I found with them was Tide) and neither of my boys who have sensitive skin are bothered by washing detergents with enzymes." If you are not sensitive to them,
enzymes can be great at helping remove tough stains.
So watch out for detergents that list enzymes or whitening enzymes in their ingredients, especially if someone in your family is sensitive to them. In particular, avoid Fabricare: Arm and Hammer Advanced Detergent Action. If you are using this detergent and your child, you or other family member is experiencing a rash, stop using it immediately and consult a doctor. The ladies we interviewed switched to brands such as Soapworks Fresh Breeze and ALL Free & Clear. Diaper Pin highly recommends ALL Free & Clear.
