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Pinstripes and Polkadots
Diapering Basics Registry
DETERGENT CHOICES updated June 2010

 

Detergents abound on the supermarket shelf, but none have a bright, bold, beautiful cloth diaper on them to let you know that they are the product of choice for your cloth diapering laundry needs.  

This page is a compilation of information regarding well-known name brand detergents, lesser-known environmentally friendly detergents and newer detergents from specific cloth diapering manufacturers.  Compare your choices to determine which product is best for your baby's cloth diapers.   

If you are just starting your cloth diapering journey,  I can not emphasize enough how advantageous it is to choose a really good detergent.  Remove as many obstacles as you can at the beginning to  ensure your success.  If you want to experiment with your favorite detergent down the road, do so, but only after you are successfully cloth diapering so you know what normal is. 

Recognize that washing conditions, such as machine and water supply, do vary from person to person.  However, by eliminating known problems you should find success in washing your diapers more easily.

For information on  HE detergent recommendations click here.

 

KEY TO DETERGENT CHART

Considered a great choice for diaper laundry.

Easy Tip:

A green background highlights detergents that are recommended;  an orange background highlights detergents to avoid.

A good choice for cloth diaper laundry.

An average detergent. Not the best for cloth diaper laundry.

 

Not recommended for diaper laundry.

Detergent does NOT have this offending ingredient

 

Should not be used for cloth diaper laundry. 

Detergent does have this offending ingredient

 

Detergent Chart for diaper laundry success

information updated June 2010; images may be older

 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

  Ajax 2x Ultra

 

all®

-Free & Clear Liquid

-Ultra Free & Clear 2x 

-Free & Clear 3x 

Personal Note: Some people use All Free and Clear for their diaper laundry and swear they have had no problems (many are prefold users, I wonder how many are military?).  My understanding is that the problems come long-term and then they are unaware of what could be causing the diapers to leak.  The optical brighteners in All Free and Clear have been noted for causing problems with pocket diapers and Bummis diaper covers.

 

all®

Free and Clear Liquid - Military 

This detergent will only be available from a military commissary, but it does have a bright red label on it stating that it does not have optical brighteners.

all®  Small & Mighty®

 Free & Clear

all®  Small & Mighty®

-Snuggle

 

 

all®  Small & Mighty® 

-Stainlifter

-Fresh Rain 

-Wild Fresh

-with Bleach Alternative

-Relax & Refresh 

all® 

Free & Clear Powder

all® 

-Baby 

-2x Ultra Baby

all® 

-with Stain Lifters 2x

-Ultra 2x

-Ultra 2x with Bleach Alternative

-Fresh Rain 2x

-Secret Garden 2x

-Dancing in the Tropics 2x

-Floral Melody 2x

-Sunshine Energy 2x

-Wandering Through the Wildflowers 2x

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

Allens Naturally Laundry Detergent

-Liquid 

-Ultra Concentrated Powder  

Standard and HE compatible

Arm & Hammer Fabricare

Personal Note: This detergent has caused severe reactions among too many babies to recommend.

Arm & Hammer FabriCare Free

Personal Note: This detergent has caused severe reactions among too many babies to recommend.

 

Arm & Hammer Essentials 

-Mountain Rain

 

Personal Note: This detergent contains baking soda which may not be compatible for use with some diapers.

Arm & Hammer 

-Regular

-with Color Safe Beach Alternative

-Clean Burst 2x

-Clean Mountain

-Spring Breeze

-Tropical Burst

 

 

Arm & Hammer 

Plus the Power of OxiClean

-Clean Meadow

- Fresh Scent

-Fresh Scent Powder

Arm & Hammer 

Plus A touch of Fabric Softener

Arm & Hammer 

for Sensitive Skin 

 

Attitude 

-Baby

-Fragrance Free

 

Standard and HE compatible

 

Attitude 

-Lavender & Grapefruit

-Ylang-Ylang & Lime

 

Standard and HE compatible

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

 

BabyGanics Loads of Love 3X 

-Fragrance Free

Standard and HE compatible

Bi-O-Kleen  Laundry Powder

-Free & Clear

Standard and HE compatible

Personal Note: This brand of detergent has repeatedly caused repellency issues with pocket diapers.

 

Bi-O-Kleen Premium Plus Laundry Powder

Standard and HE compatible

Personal Note: This brand of detergent has repeatedly caused repellency issues with pocket diapers.

Bi-O-Kleen Laundry Liquid

Standard and HE compatible

Personal Note: This brand of detergent has repeatedly caused repellency issues with pocket diapers.

  Bio-Vert

 
  Bio-Vert 

-with no perfume

 

Bold 2 in 1

Liquid

-Lavender & Camomile

-Blossom & Lime Zest

-Refreshing Water& Spa

-Crushed Silk & Jasmine

 

Bold 2 in 1

Powder

-Lavender & Camomile

-Blossom & Lime Zest

-Refreshing Water& Spa

-Crushed Silk & Jasmine

  BumGenius Diaper Detergent
Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

 

Caldrea Laundry Detergent

-Basil Blue Sage

-Ginger Pomelo

-Lavender Pine

-Sweet Pea

-Sea Salt Neroli

-Sandalwood Riceflower

Standard & HE compatible

   

natural essential oils

 

 

Charlie's Soap

Powder

Personal Note: There is great controversy over this detergent.    Fact is: some (not all) babies have a severe skin reaction to this detergent.

Manufacturers Note: "We have found that by following proper procedures with our detergents... we have remedied nearly all the problems. We know there can be a problem with hard water with our detergents" -Charlie Sutherland

Charlie's Soap

Liquid 

Personal Note: There is great controversy over this detergent.    Fact is: some (not all) babies have a severe skin reaction to this detergent.

Manufacturers Note: "We have found that by following proper procedures with our detergents...we have remedied nearly all the problems." "We know there can be a problem with hard water with our detergents" -Charlie Sutherland

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

 

 

Cheer BrightClean

-Original

-Colorguard

-BrightClean

-Dark

-Fresh Clean Scent

-Bleach Alternative

 

Cheer BrightClean

-Bounce Fresh Linen Scent

Cheer BrightClean 

 

-Free & Gentle Liquid

-Free & Gentle Liquid

 

 

Citra Suds 

- Liquid 2x 

 

Citra Suds 

 

-Powder 

 

Claudia's Choices 

 

 

Clorox 2 Stain Fighter & Color Booster

-Liquid

   
 

 

Clorox 2 Stain Fighter & Color Booster

 

-Free Liquid

-Free Powder

   

Country Save Powder Laundry Detergent

 Standard and HE compatible

Manufacturers Note: Independent lab results for this product http://countrysave.com/announce.php

Country Save Liquid Laundry Detergent

Manufacturers Note: Independent lab results for this product http://countrysave.com/announce.php

 

 

Crunchy Clean 

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

Dreft 

-Liquid 2x

-Powder

 

Dropps Baby

These are pre-measured capsules so check with diaper manufacturer to determine if the dosage would be acceptable. Wouldn't be suitable for variable laundry load sizes.

 

Dropps Scent & Dye Free

 

These are pre-measured capsules so check with diaper manufacturer to determine if the dosage would be acceptable. Wouldn't be suitable for variable laundry load sizes.

 

 

Dropps Fresh Scent

These are pre-measured capsules so check with diaper manufacturer to determine if the dosage would be acceptable. Wouldn't be suitable for variable laundry load sizes.

 

Dynamo 2x Ultra

-Sunrise Fresh

-Waterfall Fresh

Standard and HE compatible

 

 

Dynamo 2x Ultra

-Free and Clear

Standard and HE compatible

 
Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

Earth Friendly Products Baby Hypoallergenic Laundry Soap

ECOS Baby

 

natural essential oils

Eco-Max

-Liquid

Standard and HE compatible

 

Eco-Max

-Powder

Standard and HE compatible

ECOS

Free and Clear

 

ECOS Laundry Detergent with Coconut Based Fabric Softener

 -powder

-magnolia and lillies

-lemongrass

-lavender

Standard and HE compatible

not present in powder

 
Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

 

Ecover

Liquid

Standard and HE compatible

 

Ecover

Powder

Standard and HE compatible

 

 

Equator

 

Era

-Ultra

-Ultra with Oxibooster 

-Ultra Crystal Springs

   

Era

-Ultra Free 2x

 

Fab Ultra 2x

-Ocean Breeze

- Rain Forest

-Sun Shower Fresh

-Spring Magic

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

Gain

-Original

-Ultra

-Fresh Awakenings

-Island Fresh

-Outdoor Sunshine with Bleach Alternative

-Joyful

-Baking Soda Fresh Water Sparkle

 Expressions

-Soothing Sensations

-Apple Mango Tango

-Spring Lavender

-Floral Fusion

Gain

-Touch of Softness Simply Fresh

-Touch of Softness Cotton Fresh

 

Green Works

-Free and Clear

 

Standard and HE compatible

 

Green Works

-Original Scent

-Lavender

 

Standard and HE compatible

 

Ivory Snow -Powder

-Liquid 2x

 

Personal Note: Not considered strong enough for cloth diapers

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

Kirkland Signature Free & Clear

 

Kirkland Signature  

-Ultra Liquid 2x

-Powder with Bleach Alternative

 
Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

Melaluca MelaPower 6x Fresh Scent 

Melaluca MelaPower 6x Scent Free

Method 

 

-Fresh Air

-Lily and Aloe

-Sweet Water 

-Peony Blossom

 

 

Standard and HE certified 

Method

 

-Free and Clear

 

Standard and HE certified

Method

-Squeaky Green

Standard and HE certified

Method 

Baby

Standard and HE certified

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

Mountain Green 

Free & Clear

Standard and HE certified

Mountain Green 

Free & Clear Baby

Standard and HE certified

 

Mountain Green

Original Citrus

Standard and HE certified

natural citrus

 

Mountain Green 

Ultra Baby

Standard and HE certified

natural essential oils

Mrs. Meyer's Laundry Detergent

-Basil

-Lavender

-Lemon Verbena

-Geranium

-Baby Blossom

natural essential oils

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

Nature Clean All Natural Laundry Liquid

 

-3x

-Refill

Standard and HE compatible

 

Nature Clean 3x

 

-Citrus Blossom

Standard and HE compatible

Nature Clean All Natural Laundry Powder

Standard and HE compatible

Natural Value

-Naturally Gentle 

Personal Note: This product contains coconut diethanolamide. (CDEA, cocomide)  which may cause contact dermatitis for some people with prolonged exposure.

Nellie's 

-All natural Laundry Soda

-Laundry Nuggets

Standard and HE certified

Personal Note: The Laundry Nuggets are an easy way to take a good detergent with you when traveling.
Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

OXY-PRIME Powdered Laundry Detergent

Planet 

2x Ultra Liquid Laundry Detergent

Standard and HE certified

Personal Note: This hypoallergenic detergent has been independently certified by Scientific Certification Systems for biodegradability.  The liquid detergent is a better choice for use in hard water conditions.

Planet 

Ultra Liquid Laundry Detergent

Personal Note: This hypoallergenic detergent has been independently certified by Scientific Certification Systems for biodegradability.  The liquid detergent is a better choice for use in hard water conditions.

Planet

Ultra Powdered Laundry Detergent

Standard and HE compatible

Personal Note: This hypoallergenic detergent has been independently certified by Scientific Certification Systems for biodegradability.  The powdered detergent is a bit stronger than the liquid detergent and may be suitable for tougher stains.

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

Publix

Free and Clear

Personal Note: This detergent is another cheap detergent and is available only from Publix Grocers.  

 

Purex Ultra Liquid

-Original Fresh Scent

-Mountain Breeze

-Lavender Fresh

-After the Rain 

-Renuzit Fresh Scent

-Color Safe Bleach Alternative,    Original Fresh,

Mountain Fresh

 

Purex Ultra Powder

-Original Fresh 

-After the Rain 

-Mountain Fresh with Renuzit 

 

Purex Ultra

with Fabric Softener

 

-Seaside Escape

Purex Ultra Natural Elements

-Linen & Lillies

-Blossoms & Vanilla

-Apple & Melon

 

Purex Ultra Hypoallergenic

-Free & Clear

-Free & Clear 2x

Personal Note: This detergent is easier to find.  However, often people are using too much and end up with stink issues.

Purex Ultra Baby®  

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

  Rockin' Green Unscented Cloth Diaper Detergent

 

  Rockin' Green Cloth Diaper Detergent

-various scents

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

 

SA8 Legacy of Clean Liquid 3x

-Floral Scent

 

Standard and HE compatible

 

SA8 Legacy of Clean SA8 + BioQuest

 Concentrated Powder

Standard and HE compatible

Product Note: Enzyme used is Amylase which won't be a problem for cloth diaper laundry.

SA8 Legacy of Clean Liquid 3x

-Light Scent

 Standard and HE compatible

SA8 Legacy of Clean

-Delicate Fine Fabric

Standard and HE compatible

Sears 

-Stain Fighting

-with Oxi Clean

-with Bleach Alternative

 

Standard and HE certified

 

Sears 

Ultra Plus Detergent Dye and Perfume Free

Standard and HE certified

 

 

SensiClean 

Personal Note: This detergent works well for many people.  However some babies will develop severe rash to this detergent.  The manufacturer has been reluctant to investigate what could cause these problems.

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

Seventh Generation  

-Baby Laundry 

-2x Concentrate Free and Clear

Standard and HE certified

Seventh Generation 2x Liquid or Powder

-Blue Eucalyptus & Lavender

-White Flower & Bergamot Citrus

Standard and HE certified 

Seventh Generation  

Delicate Care

Standard and HE certified

    

Shaklee Fresh Laundry Concentrate Powder Fragrance Free

   

Shaklee Fresh Laundry Liquid Fragrance Free

Standard and HE compatible

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

 

Sportwash*  

Personal Note: This detergent works well for many people.  However some babies will develop severe rash to this detergent.  The manufacturer has been reluctant to investigate what could cause these problems.

Sun 

-Clean & Fresh

-Mountain Breeze

-Vanilla Lavender

-Wildflowers

 

 

 

Sun 

-Clean & Fresh with Cuddlesoft

 

Sun Free & Clear

Personal Note: Sun Free does not have the odd scent of Sun.  Interestingly enough this detergent is made with plant-based vs. petroleum based surfactants.

Sun and Earth

Standard and HE compatible

Personal Note: Ingredients in this detergent are problematic for build-up/repellency issues with cloth diapers.

Surf

-Lavender & Oriental Blossom

-Sunshine Lemons and Bergamot

-Tropical Flowers and Ylang-Ylang

-Cool Fresh

-Power Fresh

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

 

Thirsties Super Wash
Personal Note: This detergent is highly suitable for cloth diapering.  Enzymes it contains are not the problematic type.  This detergent actually contains probiotics in its formula which is cutting edge in the realm of detergent manufacture.  Pair with Thirsties Pre-wash for maximum results.

Tide

-Original

-Clean Breeze

-Mountain Spring

-Tropical Clean

-Spring & Renewal

-Meadows & Rain

-Citrus & Light

-Fresh Scent

-Glacier

-April Fresh

-Soft Ocean Mist

-Vanilla & Lavender

-Water Lily & Jasmine

-Rose & Violet

-Whitewater -Clean

Simple Pleasures

-with Dawn Stain Scrubbers

-with Febreeze Freshness

-Coldwater

-with Bleach

-with Alternative Bleach

 

Tide

-with a Touch of Downy

 

Tide  

-Free & Gentle

-Coldwater Free

Personal Note: We used this detergent back in the first year of diapering.  It did an excellent job of cleaning the diapers.  However, when we switched I realized that my eldest child was sensitive to enzymes.  The redness that only came when we were out and about for the day or visiting the grandma's never came back when we switched to an enzyme free detergent.  Enzymes seem to effect skin the longer a wet diaper is on.  If you change frequently like I did, skin damage from enzymes can go undetected.

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

Tiny Bubbles

Trader Joe's Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Liquid

Standard and HE certified

soy based

 lavender oil

 

Trader Joe's Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Powder

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

 

  Vaska 

-Light Lavender Scent

 Standard and HE certified

 

  Vaska 

-Scent Free

-Diaper Detergent

 Standard and HE certified

VIP 

Deep Cleaning 

VIP 

Hypo-Allergenic 

Sam's 

Wind Fresh 

 

Wisk 

-Original Scent 1x, 2x, & 3x

-Citrus Clean 1x, 2x, & 3x

 

 

Wisk Free 

 

Wonderwash 

Rating Detergent Image Detergent Brand Enzymes  Fabric Softener Brighteners Scents Dyes

good       average     avoid 

XTRA  

Perfume and Dye Free

XTRA  

-Mountain Rain

-Tropical Passion

-Summer Breeze

-Floral Garden

-Sparkling Fresh

-Lemon

-Fresh Cotton Breeze

-Apple Citrus

-Spring Sunshine

-Mountain Lavender

-Summer Fiesta

-Calypso Fresh

 

XTRA plus Softener

-Lavender & Sweet Vanilla

Data for evaluation detergents for cloth diaper compatibility has been gathered from various sources including manufacturer websites, msds sheets, and http://www.goodguide.com  

The "Detergent Chart for diaper laundry success" is under copyright to Krista Cardona and may not be used in part or whole without written consent from same person.  Images used in the "Detergent Chart for diaper laundry success" may be under copyright and should not be used without expressed permission. 2005, 2008, 2010

what makes a good cloth diaper detergent?...

choosing detergents for pocket diapers...

information on using other laundry aids with cloth diapers...

view detergents and their ingredients...

For information on  HE detergent recommendations click here.

Detergent Choices for The Modern Cloth Diaper

Many of the modern diapers such as pocket diapers, all-in-one diapers, and some fitted diapers are designed with a synthetic stay-dry fabric for their inner layer.  These synthetic fabrics are more sensitive to detergent buildup than standard fitted diapers or prefold diapers.   Your choice of laundry detergent will determine not only how easy it is to care for your diapers but how well your diapers will perform.  The best detergents for the modern cloth diapers need to rinse completely clean out of your diapers leaving no residues or fabric enhancers behind.  

Laundry detergents that contain fragrance/scent, fabric softeners, and brightening agents/optical brighteners are not suitable because these fabric enhancers are designed to leave chemicals on your diapers to make the diapers "appear" cleaner or better through your senses of touch, smell and sight.  These components of the detergent will buildup on your diapers over time and may lead to diaper failure.  The diapers could retain unnecessary odors and they could even have repellency issues so that the moisture will escape out the side of the diaper rather than being absorbed by the absorbent part of the diaper.  

A few more natural ingredient detergents that are derived from plant oils or have essential oils in them are not recommended for the modern diapers.  We have made note of these detergents in the detergent chart above.  Some of them seem to work fine in naturally soft water, but with 80% of the United States dealing with hard water it is easier just to point out that they may cause trouble.

Soaps should never be used for washing diapers in general.  Dr Bronners and Fels Naptha are two that come quickly to mind.  Also, I haven't seen a recipe for making your own detergent yet that would be suitable for washing cloth diapers in.

You may want to choose a detergent brand made specificially for the cloth diapering industry.  Look for these brands: BumGenius, Crunchy Clean, Rockin' Green, Thirsties Super Wash, Tiny Bubbles, and Vaska.  Of course even these detergents can vary in efficacy.

Learn more about washing pocket diapers...

Detergent Choices for Prefold Diapers, Fitted Diapers, and Covers

Choosing a detergent without additives  would be the best choice even for use with prefolds and covers. However, as long as you don't choose a really bad detergent rated with either 1 or 2 red stars you should be ok. Realize that some diaper covers will end up leaking if washed repeatedly in a detergent wtih optical brighteners.

What detergent do I personally use?

My detergent choice has changed since I first started diapering.  With my first baby I used Tide Free.  After learning about enzymes with my second baby, we chose to use Purex Free and Clear (before the detergent went concentrated).  Now 4 years later and diapering my 3rd baby, we are using Planet Powder detergent.  Planet is available in our local Kroger supermarket as well as at our new Naturally Yours grocery on College Avenue in Normal. 

We use a hodge-podge collection of diapers including: prefolds, fitteds,  pocket diapers, and AIO's.  

We definitely love the hassle-free ease of using Planet.  We have clean diapers without build-up and we know we are using a detergent that is not only good for our diapers but also agreeable with the environment.

Purex Free and Clear worked well for us back with our second.  Since the detergent has become concentrated more and more people are experiencing stink issues associated with using too much detergent.

Tide Free is one of the only detergents a client of mine in Brazil can find that is suitable for her pocket diapers.  She chooses to include extra rinses to ensure that the detergent is washing completely out of her diapers.

Evaluation Process for Detergents

This work is an elimination of detergents for cloth diaper laundry based on problem ingredients and a compilation of known detergent complications with cloth diaper laundry.  Even from the recommended detergents all of the detergents may not be compatible with your water or washing routine.  At least you will have fewer detergents to experiment with. Best success in your real-life chemistry adventure.  Please let me know how I can help.

A product with a red star has known problems that make it unsuitable for cloth diaper laundry.  Examples include Arm and Hammer Fabricare which has been known to cause severe reaction due to its enzyme content.  Ivory Snow, Dreft and Zero which are just too mild of a detergent for diaper washing.  Environmentally friendly detergents may fall into the orange coding when they have ingredients that may act with hard water poorly and create a residue. Detergents with built in fabric softeners are all included as unsuitable. Biokleen has caused trouble with pocket type diapers but may work fine with prefold or fitted cloth diapers.

? A product with a question mark just hasn't had enough research done to honestly evaluate it.  I just don't have the information yet to evaluate the product.  

Is the product you are looking for not on the list?  If you send an ingredients list, I am more than willing to help you evaluate.

- A product within this ranking includes a potentially problematic additive as is viewable from the detergent ingredients.  A detergent that has dyes and/or fragrance may not be suitable for baby.  Some diapering momma's do not feel chemical exposure is an issue, and prefer the "clean" illusions they get from their fragrance detergents or the super cleaning they get from enzymes.  My opinion just differs.

  1. Dyes are unnecessary ingredients added to detergents with the potential of  being left on the cloth diapers. 

  2. Fragrances are unnecessary chemicals left by the detergent on purpose, which may irritate baby's skin and overload baby's sense of smell. Mothering Magazine has a good article on infants and smell in their Jan/Feb 2010 issue.

  3. Enzymes are unacceptable because they can irritate baby's skin. I can not with good conscience recommend enzymes when I know from experience that many babies do experience, the bright red markings indicating enzyme irritation.  The enzyme group that is problematic is called protease, most detergent manufacturer's will not release what enzymes they use and thus have to be considered problematic.  New detergents are being developed now in early 2010 to use good enzymes as aids in sanitizing. 

  4. Optical brighteners are chemicals added to a detergent to be attached to the fabric and not rinsed off. Optical brighteners make your diapers appear cleaner by looking "whiter" through the refraction of light. These chemicals if loaded into the detergent can also compromise a cloth diapers ability to absorb and make covers, pocket diapers and AIO's leaky.  

Detergents with optical brighteners do leave chemicals on your cloth diapers.  However, these products may end up being more acceptable for your cloth diaper laundry than other readily available detergents.  Note: optical brighteners have been identified with causing problems with several diaper brands performance so check with your manufacturer's instructions.

- A detergent in this categories may be a great choice for your cloth  diaper laundry.  You will have to determine which detergent in this category works best with your washing machine and  your water supply, but you are on the right track to a great laundry routine.  Do consider any notes of caution presented with the detergent and always seek to follow your manufacturer's instructions.

Citrus?  Yes or No?

Is your baby sensitive to citrus?  After your toddler eats oranges or you eat citrus fruits if nursing, do you notice a red diaper rash form around the anal opening?  If so, you will want to consider avoiding citrus ingredients in your cloth diaper detergent as well.  This is more of a concern when choosing a natural detergent.  Sodium Citrate, Citrus Oils, etc.

OTHER LINKS:

Learn more than you ever wanted to know about detergents...

More about those optical brighteners and other ingredients...

Pinstripes and Polkadots
copyrighted by Krista Cardona
info@pinstripesandpolkadots.com
Images and content contained in this site are under copyright to their respective creators and authors. No rights are given, expressed, or implied that any pictures, graphics, or content on this website may be copied or used for any purpose without expressed written permission from Krista Cardona.