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Detergents and Cloth
Diapering
 What
detergent works best for washing cloth diapers? Well, this is a loaded
question since different detergents will work or not work to your
satisfaction dependent on many different factors. What works for
one persons diaper laundry will not necessarily work for you and yours. This chart analyzes many
different detergent choices and rates them so that you can find the best
cloth diaper detergent for your diaper laundering needs. We also
pinpoint detergents that work well with
HE or High Efficiency washing
machines and they have a page of their own as well. See how our rating system works below the chart.
The percentages under the rating represents the results of our running
poll, and how many moms use each detergent.
Want to leave a review for a
detergent?
Visit
our Product Review Forum. We also have a
diaper laundry glossary
and Detergent Ingredients
Glossary.
 =
Do Not Use for Cloth Diapers =
Uses fragrance/dyes/enzymes/brighteners =
Pretty Good
=
Thumbs up!*
*Remember - Even the
detergents that have been given four stars will work differently within
different water, washing conditions, and individual children so do some experimentation and
find the option that works best for your family and your routine.
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
7% of moms polled |
 |
All
Free and Clear
Buy It Now |
NO |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
All
Liquid Laundry Detergent - Baby Care Plus
Buy It Now |
NO |
YES |
NO |
YES |
NO |
|
.23 per load
 |
 |
All
Small and Mighty HE Detergent
HE (front loader) compatible
Buy It Now |
NO |
YES |
NO |
YES
The Free/Clear version has no
fragrance |
NO |
|
3% of moms polled |
 |
Allens Naturally Powdered
& Liquid Laundry
Detergents
Buy It Now |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
 |
 |
Arm &
Hammer FabriCare
Buy It Now |
YES |
YES |
NO |
YES |
YES |
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
|
 |
Arm &
Hammer FabriCare Free |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
Arm & Hammer Essentials Free
Note: The Mountain Rain edition
has fragrance and dyes |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin
Buy It Now |
NO |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
2% of moms polled |
 |
20 Mule Team Borax
Buy It Now |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
1% of moms polled |
 |
Bio-O-Kleen
Laundry Powder
Buy It Now |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
2% of moms polled |
 |
Bio-O-Kleen Premium Plus Laundry
Powder
Buy It Now |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
1% of moms polled |
 |
Bio-O-Kleen Liquid Laundry
Detergent |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
.75 per load
|
 |
Caldrea Sweet Pea Laundry
Detergent
Note: Contains
plant-derived surfactants, Borax and essential oils of Geranium,
Orange, Jasmine, Coriander, Rose and Bergamot.
HE (front loader) compatible
Buy It Now |
NO |
NO |
NO |
YES |
NO |
|
10% of moms polled
|
 |
Charlie's Soap
HE (front loader) compatible
Note: Controversy around the
disinfecting abilities of this detergent have surfaced -
see
bottom of page for disinfectant information. |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
3% of moms polled
|
 |
Charlie's Soap
HE (front loader) compatible
Note: Controversy around the
disinfecting abilities of this detergent have surfaced -
see
bottom of page for disinfectant information.
Buy It Now |
|
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
Cheer |
YES |
NO |
YES |
YES |
|
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
1% of moms polled |
 |
Cheer Free and Gentle
Buy It Now |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
1% of moms polled |
 |
Country Save Liquid Detergent
Buy It Now |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
1% of moms polled
.21 per load
|
 |
Country Save Powdered Detergent
HE (front loader) compatible
Buy It Now |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
Dreft
Buy It Now |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
? |
|
ECO FRIENDLY |
 |
Dropps Liquid Laundry Pacs
HE (front loader) compatible -
Note - The scented has
fragrance and dyes.
Buy It Now |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
|
 |
Earth Friendly Products Baby
Hypoallergenic Laundry Soap
Vegetable & Coconut Based Soap...may not be strong
enough to launder cloth diapers |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
YES |
|
|
 |
Ecos Free & Cear
Liquid Laundry Detergent
HE (front loader) compatible |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
Ecos Powdered Laundry Detergent
Soy based fabric softener |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
YES |
|
|
 |
Ecover Non Bio Laundry
Liquid/Powder
Note: This detergent is Vegan approved
|
NO |
NO |
NO |
YES |
NO |
|
|
 |
EnviroRite Laundry Detergent
Ingredients: Deionized Water, Vegetable-Based Cleaning Agents,
Surfactacts, Microbiostat
|
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
|
 |
The Laundress Baby Detergent
|
NO |
YES |
NO |
YES |
YES |
|
|
 |
Lifekind Naturally Safer Triple
Concentrated Laundry Powder & Liquid
Note: contains Seed & Pulp Extracts, Orange Peel Extracts,
Surfactants from Coconuts. |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
1% of moms polled
|
 |
GAIN |
YES |
YES |
NO |
YES |
YES |
|
|
 |
GAIN HE Powder Detergent
HE (front loader) compatible |
YES |
YES |
NO |
YES |
YES |
|
|
 |
Ivory Snow
may not be strong
enough to launder cloth diapers
Buy It Now |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
|
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
3% of moms polled |
 |
Kirkland's Signature (Costco
brand)
This product is nearly identical to Tide |
YES |
YES |
NO |
YES |
NO |
|
|
 |
Maggie's Soap Nuts
Buy It Now
Note: 100% natural - Grows on Trees!!!
|
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
Melaleuca MelaPower |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
NO |
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
1% of moms polled |
|
Melaleuca MelaPower Scent Free |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
Method HE Laundry Detergent
HE (front loader) compatible
But It Now |
YES |
YES |
NO |
YES |
NO |
|
|
 |
Method Baby Laundry Detergent
Buy it Now |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
Method Free and Clear Laundry
Detergent
HE (front loader) compatible
Buy It Now |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
1% of moms polled
|
 |
Mountain Green Free and Clear
HE (front loader) compatible
A PETA acceptable product |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
|
 |
Mountain Green Original Citrus
HE (front loader) compatible
A PETA acceptable product |
NO |
NO |
NO |
YES |
NO |
|
|
 |
Mountain Green Baby Detergent
HE (front loader) compatible
A PETA acceptable product |
NO |
NO |
NO |
YES |
NO |
|
|
 |
Nature Clean All Natural Laundry
Liquid Pure
castile soap - not suitable for cloth diapers |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
Nellie's Laundry Soda
contains coconut
oil based ingredients.
HE (front loader) compatible
Buy it Now |
|
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
OXY-PRIME
Powdered Laundry Detergent
Buy It Now |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
|
 |
PENGUIN SPORT-WASH
Buy It Now
Restores factory applied waterproofing (DWR).
Contains biodegradable vegetable surfactants |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
1% of moms polled |
 |
Planet Ultra Powdered Laundry
Detergent
Buy it Now |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
1% of moms polled |
 |
Purex
Buy it Now |
NO |
YES |
YES |
YES |
NO |
|
|
 |
Purex
Buy it Now |
NO |
YES |
? |
YES |
NO |
|
10% of moms polled |
 |
Purex
Free and Clear
Note: Many moms have expressed
satisfaction with this detergent.
Buy It Now |
NO |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
|
 |
SA8
Sensitive Laundry
Detergent
HE (front loader) compatible |
YES |
YES |
NO |
YES |
YES |
|
|
 |
SA8
with BioQuest Concentrated Detergent
BUY It Now
HE (front loader) compatible |
YES |
YES |
NO |
YES |
YES |
|
2% of moms polled |
 |
SensiClean
Note: Some burns and rashes have been reported by users of
this detergent. |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
|
 |
Seventh
Generation Natural Laundry Detergent Baby
Buy It Now |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
YES |
|
|
 |
Seventh
Generation - Free & Clear
contains vegetable based surfactants and enzymes
Buy It Now |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
|
 |
Seventh
Generation Natural Laundry Detergent
Buy It Now |
YES |
NO |
NO |
YES |
NO |
|
1% of moms polled |
 |
Shaklee Liquid-L Laundry
Detergent |
YES |
YES |
|
YES |
NO |
|
5% of moms polled |
 |
Sport-Wash Residue Free Detergent
Buy It Now
Note: Some burns and rashes have been reported by users of
this detergent. |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
Sun and
Earth Deep Cleaning Laundry Detergent
HE (front loader) compatible |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
6% of moms polled |
 |
Sun Free
Note: Many moms have expressed
satisfaction with this detergent. |
NO |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
|
 |
Sunlight Ultra Sensitive Skin
|
NO |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
Sunlight Ultra Sensitive Skin HE
|
NO |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
 |
Surf Laundry Detergent
Buy It Now
|
YES |
NO |
YES |
YES |
NO |
|
|
 |
Surf Aloha Splash Laundry Detergent
Buy It Now
|
YES |
NO |
YES |
YES |
NO |
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
5% of moms polled
|
 |
Tide
Buy It Now |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
|
|
2% of moms polled |
 |
Tide Free
Buy It Now |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
|
|
|
 |
Tide HE
Buy it Now
HE (front loader) compatible
|
YES |
YES |
NO |
YES |
|
|
|
|
Trader Joe's Cleanliness is Next
to Godliness |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
Rating |
Image |
Detergent |
Enzymes |
Brighteners |
Dyes |
Fragrance |
Softeners |
|
|
 |
Wisk Free Clear Ultra Laundry Detergent
Buy It Now |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
1% of moms polled
|
 |
Woolite
Buy It Now
HE (front loader) compatible
Note: Woolite has an
alkaline pH that may strip wool fibers so wool users should use
caution.
Woolite Washing Guide |
NO |
NO |
NO |
? |
NO |
How we rated the detergents:
Detergents received one or two stars
based upon the amount of non-ideal ingredients they contain. Detergents
that received three stars are mostly good but may contain at least one
of the non-ideal ingredients, which means a little caution may be
warranted when trying them. Detergents that received four stars have
none of the non-ideal ingredients and should be a good place to start
experimentation in finding the diaper detergent that will work best for
you! If the YES/NO section for a particular ingredient has been left
blank it is because we just don't know yet.
Are you
wondering about a detergent that is not seen here? Email us!
Which Detergent Do You
Use? Take Our Poll!
Want more information
on HE or High Efficiency washing machines and a condensed list of HE
detergents?
Why Avoid these
Ingredients?
Pure Soap:
Pure soaps are the more natural choice in the world of cleaners, but
soaps will leave a residue on your
diapers and covers – similar to the soap scum you find in your tub. Soap
scum on diapers makes them repel moisture rather than absorb it and it
is also harsh on the laminates used in your diaper covers, making them
absorb rather
than repel water. The best choice for washing your diapers is to use
detergent on them. To combat build-up though, Annie Berthold-Bond,
author of
Better Basics for the Home recommends adding baking soda. “Start out
with 1/4 cup of baking soda, and increase to 1/2 cup if you have very
hard water,” she advises. Leave the soda in the water for ten minutes,
then add the soap and clothes.
Enzymes:
Enzymes attack organic matter and help dissolve stains when activated
with water or moisture. Sweat, urine, and feces are all organic matter
so there is a risk that these substances that are lingering on baby's
skin will be a target for these enzymes. In particularly sensitive
children these enzymes can cause blistering, bleeding, sores and rashes.
Fragrances and Dyes:
These are harsh and unnecessary chemicals for a baby's laundry. It is
best to avoid them.
Artificial fragrances are made from petroleum. Many do not degrade in
the environment, and may have toxic effects on both fish and mammals.
Additionally, they often can cause allergies and skin or eye irritation.
Optical
Brighteners: are actually tiny
particles that stick to the surface of your clothes. These particles
make colors appear to be brighter by absorbing invisible ultraviolet
light and re-emitting it as blue light. If you want to see if your
detergent has these brighteners, simply look at the detergent under a
black light. Although these optical brighteners may make your clothes
appear brighter, they are chemical residues that are intentionally left
behind on your clothes and may cause skin irritation or other allergic
reactions.
Fabric
Softeners: Fabric softener, either
in liquid or sheet form – leaves a water-repelling residue on your
diapers, making them less absorbent and useful in the very purpose that
they serve. It also coats your diaper covers and can deteriorate their
water-proof laminate. If your diapers NEED softening
add 1/2 cup baking soda to the rinse cycle of your wash. You can also
try a commercial green fabric softener like Natural Choices Home Safe
Product’s Safe ‘N Soft, Ecover’s Natural Fabric Softener, or Sun &
Earth’s Ultra Fabric Softener.
Dryer Balls also help soften
laundry.
Do Detergents Disinfect?
Many people believe that a detergent is
supposed to disinfect clothing or diapers but this is just not the case
with most detergents. Detergents that contain something like
chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, will kill bacteria/viruses/fungi
present in the laundry but detergents without these ingredients will
clean only...not disinfect. Most cloth diaper users avoid the above
mentioned ingredients because they are harsh on clothing and skin. When
searching for the perfect diaper detergent for your family please keep
in mind that most of the higher ranked detergents for diaper laundry will
NOT disinfect diapers and it would unreasonable to expect such.
What Is Detergent
Residue?
Detergent Residue is a film that is
left behind on clothing or in this case cloth diapers. Why is this a
problem? Detergent build-up and residue can lead to repelling or beading
of liquid, leaks and wicking, skin rashes and irritation, stinky diapers
and diaper covers, and a dulling of color. These all present problems
for cloth diaper users so it is best to try and avoid detergent build-up
and residue. Residue problems are usually caused by additives in your
detergent such as brighteners, fabric softeners, natural additives like
citrus extract or grapeseed extract, soaps, and stain guards. Well, what
if it is too late and you have a build-up problem? The most common
method for removing residue is to
strip diapers. A study
on detergent residues that compares ecover, biokleen, country save, and
others can be found here.
Still Not Sure?
Make your own detergent!
Disclaimer:
Best
efforts have been made in the preparation of this information. The
Diaper Jungle has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the
information herein. However, the information contained within this site
is given without warranty, either expressed or implied. The Diaper
Jungle can not be held liable for any damages caused directly or
indirectly by the links and information on this site. In addition,
changes and improvements to the information provided herein may be made
at any time.
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