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.
What To Avoid:
- 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.
I live abroad and my soap choices were limited, so I started using Soap Nuts. What are your thoughts on that route??
ReplyDeleteI've been using the Planet detergent sold on the Cotton Babies website. It gets my BunGenius 3.0 diapers nice and clean. The inserts are another story altogether...they are SO stained from my little guy's poop and I don't know what to do with them! Is it okay to soak them in some bleach water and rinse them, then throw them in with the rest of the diapers?
ReplyDeleteYay! You rock, I will be getting your bumGenius detergent whenever I am out of the Planet I just ordered from ya... Unless I don't like Planet, then it will be sooner ;-) I really want to try yours!
ReplyDeleteI use Purex Free & Clear. No dyes, perfumes, enzymes or brighteners. Have been using for over a year and no problems yet.
ReplyDeleteI challenge your statement: "We're often asked if there is a mainstream detergent available that is "safe" for cloth diapers. The answer is no. "
ReplyDeleteI LOVE "ALL Brand's 'Small & Mighty' (Free & Clear) " on my bG 3.0s. And it gets great reviews on http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm
I just do an extra hot rinse IF a "water bead test" ever shows any build up of the "brighteners," which could result in leaks. Same for the Purex F&C mentioned above.
I love sun unscented liquid. It is cheap and ONLY contains naturally derived surfactants. I use about a tablespoon each of detergent and borax with each load(HE machine) and don't get stinky diapers with 2-3 rinses. The final rinses have been key for me. Sometimes the diapers only need more rinses to smell fresh.
ReplyDelete7th Generation is basically a mainstream detergent now available at Target and works great with fleece pockets. As does Ecover available at Whole Foods.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: What about all those people who make their own detergent with washing soda, borax and oxyclean Free?? Is that safe for diapers?
ReplyDeleteI recently started making homemade laundry detergent and I love it so much I'm going to start producing it in my kitchen to sell at my local farmers market. I just wanted to let people know that there are really good recipes online for making laundry detergent and it's really easy AND CHEAP!
ReplyDeleteRecipe #3
Hot water
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 bar Soap (grated)
In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar soap and stir until melted. Then add the washing soda and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated soap mixture. Top pail with cold water and stir well.
Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).
I add essential oil to make it smell fantastic (lavender is my favorite)
You can make your own detergent for pennies!
Desiree