You’re thinking to yourself, “Seriously?! I’ve decided to start using cloth diapers and now I have another decision to make on the kind of detergent I should use?! Why does it matter!!??” Great question and I was wondering the same thing too. Why does it matter if I use liquid or powder detergent?
The only thing your REALLY need to stay away from when considering what detergent to use is if it has a synthetic fabric softener (for example Tide with Downy) That is the only type that you have to stay away from.
There is a ton of information out there on detergents from blog posts to charts. Here are a few of my favorites:
Padded Tush Stats Detergent Survey Results – Read frequently updated results based on cloth diaper users’ opinions. Very detailed with a number rating system.
If you do a Google search the myriads of results can be overwhelming so first figure out. Do some research and then use common sense and all you’ve learned to arrive at a solution that works for you and your family. Lastly don’t give up. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Elizabeth (aka Bert) is a stay-at-home-mom and contributing writer for She Thinks Media. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, Ben, her son Buggie, and daughter Lady Bug. When she’s not trying to convince Buggie to expand his interests beyond Thomas the Train or put his pants back on she’s writing about her experiences as a mom on her blog, First Time Mom (FTM). After all, Bert maintains there’s a first time for everything, even if you have more than one child!
PGoBiren says
We use powder. I’ve taken to mixing the powder in with the water in a jar quickly before pouring the mixture into the wash. I feel it helps with making sure the powder doesn’t get stuck on whichever diaper it happens to land on.
Xi Manco says
I’ll choose liquid detergent. Powder may leave some substance. That may harm the skin of the baby. Especially that they’re still sensitive.
Carolyn says
I’d also heard that powdered detergent has more water softening agents in it, which is why it tends to get better survey results with hard water users (though I have no idea where I’ve heard that, it just seems to be one of those things everyone says ….) But in any case, it is why I stick with the powder ;)
FUTURECLOTHDIAPERQUEEN says
STINKY ISSUES COME UP for people who buy into the cloth diaper safe detergents- because cloth diaper company/so called cloth diaper safe detergents don’t get diapers clean at all. Enzymes and baby oxygen clean or using bacout is not going to destroy your diapers nor make it function less. We are dealing with poop and urine- and Tide Free and Clear Powder, Ultra Tide Powder and Gain Powder are awesome detergents for cloth diapers. Rock in Green, Country Save, Laundry tarts, Nellies, other liquid detergents gave my friend’s diapers the stinkies and Nellies made the colours fade out and would only work out if you used their oxygen bleach- Nellies alone would leave diapers stinky. My friend and I live in hard water parts and Powder Calgon has just be discontinued where we live- not sold online nor available in stores in our country. The detergent that has the most water softeners is the TIDE POWDER detergent.
I’d rather see a diaper wear out sooner, fade sooner , but be always nice and clean on the inside and not cause ammonia burns or stinkies then a diaper that looks like new on the outside but is stained and smells of urine on the inside the most important part- which makes contact with the baby’s bum. The baby could care less if the sunshine or flower designs on the outside of the diaper are faded or not- what makes contact with the skin is the most important.
I understand babies have allergies- I myself am allergic to SUNLIGHT detergent- but if Tide Free and Clear Powder or Ultra tide powder does not give your babies allergies nor cause smelly diapers I say go for it. And nothing wrong with soaking inserts or flats in oxyclean free or oxy clean baby or adding colour safe/chlorine free bleach to your laundry cycle a couple times a month. Another alternative to getting rid of dingy washes and restoring diapers to their original state is RLR(CADIE).