You have made the choice. You have collected your diapers and now you are beginning your cloth diapering journey. You deserve to have success while cloth diapering your baby.  Choosing a detergent suitable for cloth diapers can often avoid unnecessary problems including diaper odor and leakage. 

What to look for in a Detergent?

At best, a detergent to be used on your baby's diapers would NOT contain enzymes, dyes, perfumes, optical brighteners or any other component designed to be left on your diapers after washing.  

Specialty detergents with fabric softeners or wrinkle guards will not be suitable; however, a detergent with non-chlorine bleach or oxygen bleaching capabilities may be fine.  And just to be clear, soaps are not detergents, and soaps are generally not recommended for cloth diapering.

Top Detergent Picks

Rating	Detergent Brand	Enzymes	Dyes	Scents	Brighteners
		Ingredient Absent     Ingredient Present
	All Free and Clear - Military Version
	Allen's Naturally Powdered/Liquid  Laundry Detergent Standard and HE compatible
	Mountain Green Free and Clear Standard and HE
	Mountain Green Free and Clear Baby Standard and HE
	Nellie's All Natural Laundry Soda Standard and HE
	Planet Ultra Liquid Laundry Detergent
	Planet Ultra Powder Laundry Detergent Standard and HE compatible
	Planet 2X Ultra Laundry Detergent Standard and HE

The evaluation included in the above chart is made with the current (March 2008) knowledge available in regards to detergents and cloth diapering.  Detergent makers are free to change their formulations without notifying the public.  Realize that washing conditions, diaper collections, and personal sensitivities vary.  Use this chart as an aid to find the detergent that will work best with your own conditions.

Detergent Tips:

1. Powdered Detergents should always be dissolved completely before adding to the washing machine.

2. HE compatible generally refers to a low sudsing detergent.  A detergent rated HE has been certified for use in a High Efficiency washing machine.

3. Detergents are now highly concentrated. It is important to accurately measure your detergent amount and not just "eye-ball" it.

Complete Detergent Chart for Traditional Washing Machines: http://pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm 

Complete Detergent Chart for HE Washing Machines: http://pinstripesandpolkadots.com/hedetergentchoices.htm 

written by Sarah Gesiakowski

PinStripes and PolkaDots: http://pinstripesandpolkadots.com 

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