Cloth 101: Laundry Detergents

More than a year ago, Jenn wrote a great blog post called Good Detergent / Bad Detergent. We wanted to update that post with some current information, so we are reposting and adding some new information, because a lot has changed with laundry detergent since 2009.

Jenn wrote:

Choosing a good detergent for your cloth diapers is easy. When you purchase from Cotton Babies' detergent selection, anything you pick is fine. Cotton Babies ships all detergents for free using the coupon code GOODWASH. No minimum order. Order as often as you want to... we want you to take care of your diapers well.

The good news for you is that now, free shipping extends to most products carried by Cotton Babies. No coupon code needed! For full details on Cotton Babies free economy shipping, please see our shipping page.

In 2009, Jenn wrote:

Mainstream Detergents - We're often asked if there is a mainstream detergent available that is "safe" for cloth diapers. The answer is no. The least of the evils is Tide Free. Tide Free does not contain any fragrances, optical brighteners or dyes. It does contain enzymes though and will require diligence with rinsing your diapers well or more frequent diaper changes to avoid the mild diaper rash that can be caused by lingering enzymes from the detergent.

There is more good news here as well. There are a few cloth diaper safe detergents that have recently been spotted in stores, although depending on where you live and what stores you have in your area, they still may be difficult to find. Country Save is often available in Whole Foods and other natural life stores and is a highly recommended detergent for cloth diapers. Seventh Generation Delicate Care formula is sometimes available in stores, but be careful - only the Delicate Care formula is safe for cloth diapers, not the other varieties. Some customers have also reported success with Dropps Baby; while it is free of enzymes, brighteners and scents, these are pre-measured packets, so you won't be able to adjust your detergent amount as easily if you have especially soft or hard water conditions.

One of the common mistakes we see is that people sometimes assume laundry detergents marketed for babies (such as Dreft, Ivory Snow, etc.) are safe for their cloth diapers. These detergents often have enzymes, brighteners and scents which can clog the fibers of your cloth diapers and lead to leaks.

The bottom line about detergents was best said by Jenn in her "What To Avoid" list:

• Optical brighteners - if the box mentions anything about making your colors brighter or your whites whiter, don't buy it. Optical brighteners remain in your clothing and are designed to "bend the light" so you see the colors brighter or whiter. They do nothing to extend the life of your clothing. Optical brighteners caused buildup.
• Enzymes - if the box talks about removing certain kinds of stains easily, don't buy it. Enzymes attack protein-based stains. Those same enzymes can react with your baby's skin and cause a mild rash.
• Perfumes/Fragrances - that mountain breeze is best left on the mountain where it came from. Really, perfumes and fragrances are oil based. Oils are left in fabrics when rinsed. Again, this can cause a diaper rash and buildup.
• Dyes - dyes can remain in your fabrics when rinsed, potentially causing diaper rash and buildup.