I know we all agree, nothing beats the softness of cloth diapers against our baby's delicate skin. But let's be real, they can be a bit of a challenge to clean, right? You're not alone in this adventure, trust me.
Just like you, I've been on a quest to find the best laundry detergent for cloth diapers that's tough on stains but gentle on fabric and most importantly, safe for our little ones. And guess what? I’ve found some great options!
In this article, I'll be sharing my top picks for the best detergents for cloth diapers. These are game-changers, moms and dads, making our lives easier while ensuring our babies' comfort.
How Mother Bear Reviews Chooses The Best Detergent For Cloth Diapers
We need a detergent that fights those stubborn poop stains on cloth nappies - yes, we said it, poop. But it also needs to be gentle, protecting the soft fibers of your baby's cloth nappies. And above all, it must be safe, with no harsh chemicals touching your baby's precious skin.
Don't worry, we don't just take the labels at face value. We dig deep into ingredient lists, sift through user reviews, and even roll up our sleeves for some hands-on testing. Because, let’s face it, your little one deserves only the the best detergent for cloth diapers.
Our Top Picks
Best Concentrated Detergent
Seventh Generation Concentrated Baby Laundry Detergent
Best Powder Detergent For Cloth Diapers
Tide Powder Laundry Detergent, Original
Best Dermatologist-Tested Formula
Rockin' Green Cloth Diaper Detergent for Baby Clothes
Best Hypoallergenic - Best Overall
Dreft Stage 2: Baby Laundry Detergent Liquid Soap
Best For Large Loads
Charlie’s Soap Laundry Powder
Best For Sensitive Skin
Tide Free & Gentle Laundry Detergent Liquid Soap
Best Cruetly-Free Detergent
Babyganics 3X Baby Laundry Detergent
Best HE-Compatible
RLR Natural Powder Laundry Detergent
Best Value Detergent For Diapers
ARM & HAMMER Baby Liquid Laundry Detergent
Best budget-conscious detergent
Purex Liquid Laundry Detergent
Best For Stubborn Stains
OxiClean Baby Stain Remover
Best Liquid Detergent For Sensitive Skin
Persil Laundry Detergent Liquid
Let's get together and get clean!
Seventh Generation Concentrated Baby Laundry Detergent
Best Concentrated Detergent
Seventh Generation Concentrated Baby Laundry Detergent
What We Love About It
Not only is this plant-based detergent non-toxic, but it also contains no synthetic perfumes or optical brighteners that can irritate sensitive skin and cause discomfort. Plus, the fragrance of the of this cloth diaper laundry detergent is derived from natural essential oils, making it even more gentle on the skin.
This concentrated formula delivers high-performance cleaning power to leave all of the baby’s clothes and linens smelling fresh and clean. The detergent is effective in removing tough stains and dirt, leaving materials soft and looking their best.
Key Points To Keep In Mind
This laundry detergent is a strong, but gentle choice for cloth nappies. Without dyes, artificial fragrances, or artificial brighteners, it is also suitable for those with sensitivities. Its triple enzyme formulation allows for effective stain removal even in hard water conditions and its biodegradable ingredients make it an environmentally friendly choice.
Tide Powder Laundry Detergent, Original
Best Powder Detergent For Cloth Diapers
Tide Powder Laundry Detergent, Original
What We Love About It
Tide's cost-effective and high-quality detergent is perfect for all types of household laundry needs. It's even suitable for cold and hard washes, making it an ideal choice to tackle stubborn stains. Plus, many reviewers recommend this product as one of the top choices when it comes to cleaning cloth diapers.
Key Points To Keep In Mind
This powdered detergent offers a powerful yet gentle stain-removal performance for fabrics. Its biodegradable anionics surfactants and enzymes provide cleaning power and its built-in water softener makes it suitable for hard water conditions. However, this product is not suitable for those with sensitive skin, as residue marks have been reported by some users.
Rockin' Green Cloth Diaper Detergent for Baby Clothes
Best Dermatologist-Tested Formula
Rockin' Green Cloth Diaper Detergent for Baby Clothes
What We Love About It
Stock up on this cruelty-free natural detergent to keep your baby's clothes and other laundry looking squeaky clean without compromising sensitive skin. With its naturally sourced ingredients, this detergent is sure to bring back the fabric's initial softness and remove even the toughest of stains - all while being eco-friendly!
Key Points To Keep In Mind
This is an all-natural laundry detergent powder that provides deep fabric cleaning thanks to its activated enzymes. It is safe for sensitive skin types, as it has been tested by dermatologists and found to be non-allergic. However, some people may find it too harsh on their skin. Its unscented and biodegradable formula makes it suitable for use in HE (high-efficiency) washing machines.
Dreft Stage 2: Baby Laundry Detergent Liquid Soap
Best Hypoallergenic - Best Overall
Dreft Stage 2: Baby Laundry Detergent Liquid Soap
What We Love About It
This newborn-centric liquid soap detergent is specially formulated with natural ingredients and is hypoallergenic for sensitive skin, perfect for active infants using cloth diapers. No need to worry about running out -- this pack of two delivers up to 64 loads of cleaner clothes that are gentle and safe on your baby's skin.
Key Points To Keep In Mind
The sodium citrate in this cloth diaper detergent helps turn hard water softer and its special enzymes remove 99% of baby food stains too! However, keep in mind that you may experience an unpleasant odor from the detergent and it's not cruelty-free. This product provides a perfect balance of effectiveness and safety for your baby's delicate skin.
Charlie’s Soap Laundry Powder
What We Love About It
You only need one tablespoon of Charlie's Soap Laundry Powder per large load and it can handle a wide variety of fabrics. Not to mention, this deep cleaning detergent is hypoallergenic, plant-based, biodegradable, eco-friendly, and sustainable - all at a great price! A must-have for any budget-conscious family looking for superior results without breaking the bank.
Key Points To Keep In Mind
This hypoallergenic, plant-based detergent is free of artificial fragrances and brighteners - providing an effective clean without any harsh chemicals. Keep in mind that you may still experience stubborn stains that don't come out completely.
Tide Free & Gentle Laundry Detergent Liquid Soap
What We Love About It
This powerful yet gentle detergent is perfect for your little one's sensitive skin. Not only is it cloth diaper compatible, but its powerful surfactants provide a deep clean. Plus, it's hypoallergenic and free of dyes, optical brighteners, fragrances, and phosphates - making it suitable for anyone with sensitive skin and earning it the highest value rating in parent tests. Even dermatologists recommend it!
Key Points To Keep In Mind
Though it's a bit expensive, it can be very effective with a half scoop in the prewash and a full scoop in the main wash. If you have hard water, you may need to add water softeners to achieve optimal results. Unfortunately, there have been complaints about poor packaging and packaging leaks. Additionally, some parents may not appreciate its synthetic ingredients.
Babyganics 3X Baby Laundry Detergent
What We Love About It
This trusted brand has been around for years, and its sulfur-free formulation will keep your baby’s cloth diapers clean while being safe on their sensitive skin. Plus, its plant-based natural ingredients mean there are no optical brighteners, chlorine, phosphates, or any other toxins that could irritate your baby’s skin - it's gentle enough for even the most delicate of laundries.
Key Points To Keep In Mind
Babyganics natural detergent is a cruelty-free, non-allergenic formulation that only requires a ½ to ¾ cap for a normal or heavy load - great value for money! Unfortunately, being fragrance-free, the detergent doesn't keep the after-wash freshness, and the bottle doesn't come with a pouring spout.
RLR Natural Powder Laundry Detergent
What We Love About It
RLR Natural Laundry Detergent helps refresh frequently used items and it also whitens and brightens fabric fibers for that extra bit of freshness. Its phosphate-free, unscented concentrated formulation makes it suitable for deep fabric cleaning and sanitization.
And best of all, this powerful laundry booster is free from parabens, brighteners, and artificial fragrances - making it perfect for even the most sensitive skin types. A real winner!
Key Points To Keep In Mind
It boasts a gentle, biodegradable vegan formulation that won't irritate sensitive skin, making it perfect for those extra-delicate fabrics. Plus, the concentrated formula without fabric softener helps remove even the most stubborn of stains.
While this product might come with a mild chemical-like odor, its commitment to sustainability and gentle cleaning more than make it stand out among natural detergents.
ARM & HAMMER Baby Liquid Laundry Detergent
What We Love About It
ARM & HAMMER Baby Liquid Laundry Detergent is the perfect choice for those looking for a reasonably priced yet powerful cleaning solution. Not only does it get the job done without added preservatives, phosphates, or dyes - but it also has a gentle scent that isn't overpowering! And you won't have to sacrifice the brightness of your whites or vibrant colors either - this detergent will leave them even brighter after each wash.
Key Points To Keep In Mind
This detergent can do double duty for both your little one's diapers and their clothes. Not only is it powerful enough to give a deep clean, but its gentle formula makes sure it's kind enough for newborn skin. Plus, it's suitable for high-efficiency washing machines, which means more loads for less money. But perhaps most importantly, you can trust that the colors won't fade - even dark shades stay true and vibrant.
Purex Liquid Laundry Detergent
What We Love About It
If you're looking for an economical way to keep your family's laundry clean, then Purex Liquid Laundry Detergent is just the ticket! Not only does one bottle provide 126 loads of detergent but it's gentle enough that it won't fade colors or whites. And, if your family includes little ones with diapers, this detergent is perfect for both their clothes and cloth diapers alike.
Key Points To Keep In Mind
One bottle of this detergent provides 126 loads, which means it will last you a while. Plus, it's phosphate-free and gentle enough on the skin that it works great even with cloth diapers. However, some users might find the scent of this detergent a bit too strong, and you'll need to do extra rinse cycles when using soft water - but with how affordable this product is, it's definitely worth giving it a try.
OxiClean Baby Stain Remover
What We Love About It
The OxiClean formulation is free of dyes and perfumes, so it's gentle on sensitive skin. This powerful soaker will quickly and easily remove even the most stubborn stains from baby cloth diapers.
Key Points To Keep In Mind
It requires only 6 hours of soaking for maximum effectiveness; however, it might not dissolve properly in hard water. The chlorine-free formulation ensures that it won't irritate delicate skin or leave behind any harsh chemical residue.
Persil Laundry Detergent Liquid
What We Love About It
This unscented, hypoallergenic detergent effectively gets rid of odors and stains from cloth diapers without any added boosters. Plus, it's dye-free and dermatologically tested so you can trust it won't harm your baby's sensitive skin.
Key Points To Keep In Mind
It offers two times more cleaning power compared to the regular Persil Free and Sensitive product, making it ideal for high-efficiency washers and cold water washing. It's also free of dyes, perfumes and hypoallergenic for those with sensitive skin or allergies. With 110 loads per bottle, you really can't go wrong.
Best Detergent For Cloth Diapers FAQ
What type of detergent is best for cloth diapers?
Cloth diapering can bring its own challenges.
From my research, there are two main types of laundry detergents for washing cloth diapers: powdered and liquid. Laundry detergent powder usually packs a powerful cleaning punch and is great at getting out those tough stains. On the other hand, liquid detergents are excellent for treating specific stains and are typically easier to rinse out.
Now, onto additives! Some cloth diaper detergents contain fabric softeners or fragrances. While these might make the diapers feel soft and smell fresh, they could cause buildup which can reduce the absorbency of the diapers. So, it's generally best to avoid these when possible.
If your water is hard it is a good idea to add water softener as this will boost the cleaning power of your detergent.
But wait, what about sensitive skin? Well, some detergents are formulated to be gentle on sensitive skin without compromising on cleaning power. These are a great choice if your little one has sensitive skin or if you're just looking for a gentler option.
Finally, let's touch on eco-friendliness. Many parents prefer to use environmentally-friendly detergents. These detergents are often free from harsh chemicals and are biodegradable, making them a great choice for both your baby and the planet.
What is the best practice for washing cloth diapers?
Let's start with our pre cleaner - washing soda, also known as sodium carbonate. Not only is it 100% natural, but it's also super effective at removing those stubborn stains. Just sprinkle a bit in warm or hot water and pre-soak the cloth diapers in it. You can also sprinkle it into the empty drum of your washer, then add your laundry.
Now, onto detergents. With so many choices out there, it’s important to choose natural detergents. They're gentle on your baby's skin and kind to our planet. Plus, they work wonders in getting rid of any lingering odors.
And here's a mommy secret: skip the fabric softeners and dryer sheets. They can leave residues that reduce the absorbency of your cloth diapers. Instead, hang them out to dry in the sun. It’s nature's way of bleaching them white again!
Remember the key to a successful wash routine is consistency.
How do you wash cloth diapers after pooping?
If you've chosen the eco-friendly route of cloth diapers, you're probably wondering how to deal with the inevitable poopy ones. Don't worry, I've got all the insider tips for you!
First things first, get rid of as much poop as you can. You can use a rubber spatula (dedicated solely to this purpose, of course!) to scrape off the solids into the toilet.
Once that's done, it's time for the washing machine. Yes, you heard right! Cloth diapers are easy to clean, so you can simply toss them in with your regular clothes - just make sure to wash on warm.
But what if those stubborn stains refuse to budge? Here's my secret weapon: vinegar. A quick wash with about 1/4 cup of vinegar works like magic every single time. Add the vinegar directly to the washing machine during the rinse cycle. You can also soak smelly diapers in a mixture of baking soda and vinegar before washing.
This process helps to neutralize the alkalinity of the detergent and urine, ensuring your cloth diapers come out clean and fresh. Do not use vinegar with every wash as it can potentially deteriorate the fabric of your cloth diapers over time.
How often should you sanitize cloth diapers?
Firstly, let's be clear about what we mean by 'sanitize'. This is a deep clean intended to kill bacteria and other microorganisms that can sometimes linger in diapers. Especially if your little one has been unwell or you've bought second-hand diapers.
For your everyday cleaning routine, most parents who use cloth diapers, recommend washing them every two to three days. This frequency prevents any unpleasant odors from developing and is also a practical rhythm for most families.
A good rule of thumb is to sanitize your cloth diapers once a month. This ensures that your cloth diapers stay free and clear of any stubborn germs that survived the regular washes. You just need to soak the diapers in a diluted bleach solution for at least 15 minutes, but not longer than an hour. And don't forget to rinse the diapers thoroughly afterward.
Keep in mind that while bleach is commonly recommended for sanitizing, it's essential to use it wisely. Too much bleach or soaking for too long can damage the diaper fabric over time.
Final Thoughts
At Mother Bear Reviews, we think the Dreft Stage 2: Baby Laundry Detergent Liquid Soap is the best detergent for cloth diapers! Not only is it hypoallergenic and gentle on sensitive skin, but it also effectively cleans your baby's diapers.
Plus, with 64 loads in each package of two, you get great value for your money. It's no wonder why this detergent is a top choice among new parents.
Best Hypoallergenic - Best Overall
Dreft Stage 2: Baby Laundry Detergent Liquid Soap
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