Back to Basics: Cloth Diaper Safe Detergents

There are so many detergents available today, but did you know that many of them are not considered "cloth diaper safe"? When choosing a detergent "safe" to use with cloth diapers, you should first check with the manufacturer of your diapers and familiarize yourself with the diaper's warranty. Many manufacturers have a set list of approved detergents. It may void the warranty if you use a detergent not on that list. If you are using older diapers or used diapers, you will not need to worry about the warranty in most cases.


Typically, there are things to steer clear of when choosing a detergent.

• Brighteners
• Bleach
• Enzymes
• Dyes
• Fabric Softeners
• Fragrances

Why?
Many of these ingredients can cause build-up which can lead to repelling, ammonia, or diaper rash.

Free and Clear Detergents: May cause repelling in fleece due to microbiostats. If you notice leaks or smells from your clean diapers then you may need to consider a new detergent.

Remember, what works for your sister or best friend will not always work for you. Water type can play a big role in what type of detergent you should be using. Also, some babies may have sensitivities to certain detergents.

I currently use Tide on my diapers. While I have tried my "cloth diaper safe" detergents, I find that I have no issues with Tide. When using "safe" detergents, I struggled to get my diapers properly clean, leading to barnyard stink and ammonia. Tide is not generally considered cloth diaper safe and voids many warranties, but it works for us and I haven't seen any damage to my diapers yet.

Resources:
Thirsties - Homemade is not always best
Pinstripes and Polka Dots - Detergent Choices
Jillian's Drawers - Detergents for Cloth Diapers
Real Diaper Association - Detergent Determinator