What Detergent Should I Use?

Washing cloth diapers does NOT require a special detergent. Let me repeat that, because I realize this isn't what you have read across other websites. The same household detergent you would normally use for the rest of your family's clothing will be FINE, with one exception. If you add fabric softeners to your wash or your dryer load, you need to forego that particular addition when washing cloth diapers; otherwise the detergent you currently use is fine.

If your baby's skin hasn't shown a sensitivity to your current detergent, it is unlikely he or she will react to it with their cloth diapers either, but be attentive any way; sometimes skin can be much more sensitive in baby's diapered area than it would be on other parts of their bodies.

When your cloth diapers aren't getting clean enough...

If you notice your cloth diapers are not getting as clean as you'd like, experiment with a different brand of detergent. Sometimes switching from one brand to another can make a difference in the overall cleanliness of the diapers. You should also always be on the lookout for any diaper rash that might be caused by a particular kind of detergent or any extra ingredients you may not have noticed your detergent contains. If this happens, simply switch to another, more basic, brand.

Very hard and very soft water can make a difference in how well your cloth diapers are cleaned. Some families who live in very 'hard water' areas might not notice the need to install a water softener until they began washing their baby's cloth diapers.

Detergents to ALWAYS avoid.

There are some detergents designed and marketed specifically for babies, such as Ivory Snow and Dreft. While these may be what you want to use on your baby's clothes and linens, they should be avoided in your cloth diaper wash because of the excessive fabric softeners built-in. Pure soap products and fabric softeners WILL leave a build-up layer atop your baby's cloth diapers and reduce the absorbency over time. This is also true for detergents with stain blocking and whitening ingredients. When it comes to detergents, staying simple is best.

Always be sure to read the instructions from the manufacturers for your individual cloth diapers. Some manufacturers will discourage the use of bleach in all forms or have special conditions for detergent, such as using less than would normally be required. In general, however, when washing cloth diapers just toss them in the machine with a regular detergent and everything should work beautifully.