The Great Detergent Debate
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The Great Detergent Debate
Ask a room full of cloth diapering moms, "What is the best detergent for cloth diapers?", and watch as the claims and warnings start flying! What's worked like a charm for someone may have completely failed for another. With so many variables from diaper brands to soft vs. hard water to amount of detergent used, it's tough to draw conclusions on this issue.
The Concerns
Let's talk about what's at stake. Using the wrong products can wreak havoc on your diapers. Bleach will literally tear them apart, given enough time. Fabric softeners, additives, soaps, and detergents can leave residues that inhibit the diaper's ability to absorb. Residues build up over time, so you may not notice any change at first. Eventually, oily/soapy build up can cause diapers to be less absorbant, stiff, stinky, and can cause diaper rash.
The Solutions
1. Rinse Thoroughly: Do not underestimate the power of a good rinse! Using the extra rinse option on your washer will do your diapers a world of good. If money or resources are a concern, try to work the occasional extra rinse into your game plan.
2. Use Less Detergent: Getting the amount of detergent right may take practice. Too much will cause residues. Too little won't get them clean! If you're struggling with residues, but are using a recommended detergent, keep using a little bit less until the problem resolves. As long as your diapers look and smell clean, they are! Use 1/4 cup at most and think nothing of using 1/2 the recommended amount on your bottle or box. Keep in mind that smaller loads will require less detergent!
3. Use the Right Detergent: Never use a detergent with fabric softeners. Avoid detergents with fragrances or dyes. The more complicated your detergent is, the more probably that some ingredient is going to "stick" to your diapers, rather than rinsing free. If extra rinses and using less detergent have not fixed the problem, try switching detergents next.
4. Strip your diapers: You can use Dawn dish soap to strip your diapers of any residues. Add a small squirt of Dawn to your hot/cold wash. Rinse well, checking to see that no suds remain in the last rinse.
Country Save - A Good Choice
If you're not particularly loyal to your current detergent, I recommend switching to Country Save for the cloth diapers and normal laundry. Country Save has been shown by independent lab testing (see details) to leave behind far less residues than other popular detergents. Since Country Save is a natural, bio-degradable detergent, you'll feel good and green about using it! Many, many, many cloth diapering moms recommend Country Save over any other detergent. As compared to other popular cloth diapering detergents (Bio-Kleen, Charlie's Soap, Allen's Naturally, etc), Country Save is a more economical choice, as well. You can buy Country Save online (contact them for a link to the secret store), compare detergent costs, or search for a retailer near you at CountrySave.com.
But I Like My Detergent!
OK, OK, you don't have to switch (hopefully)! If you'd like to use your current detergent, make sure it passes the no-no's test: no softeners, no bleach, no fragrance, no whiteners. Some common detergents that may work well include: Tide, Sun, and Pure-Ex. Go ahead and try your favorite detergent. If you encounter residues, you can always "strip" them from your diapers and switch detergents. |
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