A good detergent for cloth diapers lifts out the soil, rinses away completely and leaves no coating on the fabric. That is the whole job, which is why the label matters more than the name on the front. This guide walks through the choices so you can read a label with confidence.
What a diaper detergent has to do
Diapers hold urine and stool against fabric until the next change, so the wash has to lift both and then let go of everything it used to do it. Leftover detergent can leave a film on the fibres, and a film can slow down how quickly an insert soaks up liquid. Soil left behind can make diapers smell.
When you compare detergents, ask two questions. Does it clean well in the water you have? Does it rinse out cleanly? Everything below comes back to those two.
Powder vs liquid
Any of these formats can work, as long as your diaper maker does not rule it out. What differs is how each behaves in your washer.
- Powder: needs enough warmth and water movement to dissolve fully. If you wash cold, look on the label for the maker's tips on dissolving it.
- Liquid: mixes into cold water easily, but read the ingredient list, because some liquids carry softeners or other additives.
- Pacs and strips: pre-measured, so there is no scooping, but the amount is harder to fine-tune for a small or heavily soiled load. Check the pack directions for how much to use and where it goes in the machine.
Why built-in fabric softener is a problem
Softeners work by coating fibres so they feel smoother. On a bath towel that is a feature. On an absorbent insert, a coating can get in the way of liquid soaking in, which is why many diaper makers tell you to avoid softener and any detergent with softener built in.
Look for wording such as 'with softener', 'conditioning' or 'softening' on the front of the pack, and scan the ingredient list as well. Makers also differ on additives such as brighteners and enzymes, so let your diaper maker's care label decide instead of guessing.
Fragrance-free and sensitive-skin formulas
Diapers sit against skin all day, so many families look for a fragrance-free formula. Terms such as unscented, fragrance-free and for sensitive skin are chosen by each maker, so the ingredient list tells you more than the front of the pack.
The Cloth Diaper Accessories collection includes several detergents to compare. Examples are Nellie's Baby Laundry Soda, Fragrance-Free Powder Detergent, 80 Loads, Tru Earth Baby Laundry Detergent Eco-Strips, Fragrance Free, 64 Count and Rockin' Green Dirty Diaper Laundry Detergent Powder, Unscented, 1.3 kg. Read each product page for the ingredients and directions.
A detergent is not a skin treatment. If your baby's skin looks red, rough or sore, ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist instead of switching laundry products on a guess.
How much to use
Start with the amount on the detergent label, then check it against your diaper maker's advice. The right amount shifts with a few things:
- the size of the load and how soiled the diapers are
- how hard your water is
- whether your washer is a high-efficiency (HE) model that uses little water
Diapers need room to move, so a drum packed tight cleans poorly whatever detergent you use. After a wash, look at the last rinse. Suds on the water or a slippery feel on the fabric suggest leftover detergent, and an extra rinse or a smaller dose may help. Diapers that come out of the wash still smelling soiled point the other way, toward too little detergent for the load. Adjust the dose or the rinse, not both at once, so you can tell which made the difference.
Matching detergent to your water
Hard water carries more dissolved minerals, and it can make detergent work less well. White scale on taps and kettles is a common clue. Water hardness varies between regions and towns, and private well water can differ again, so your local water utility or a hardware-store test kit is the way to find out where you stand.
Soft water can need less detergent than hard water, and some detergent labels print separate directions for each. If yours does, follow the line that matches your water. Some families add a separate water conditioner; check with both the detergent maker and the diaper maker before you do.
Shop this guide
- Cloth Diaper, One Size, White with Insert (ships via Amazon)
- Bumkins Waterproof Wet/Dry Bag with Zipper, Black Check (ships via Amazon)
- ALVABABY Cloth Diapers, Newborn, Floral, 6-Pack with 12 Inserts (ships via Amazon)
- Snappi Cloth Diaper Fasteners for Prefolds and Flats, 5 Pack (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Cloth & Reusable Diapers
- See all: Cloth Diaper Accessories
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
What diaper makers say on their care labels
The care label, or the maker's web page, is the place to start for your own diapers. It can cover the wash temperature, which detergents and additives to avoid, whether bleach is allowed and how to dry each part.
If the detergent pack and the diaper label disagree, follow the diaper maker for the diaper and ask the maker if something is unclear. Some makers link warranty cover to following their care steps, so check whether yours does. Keep the tag, or save the page, for the day you need it.
Common questions
Can I use my regular family detergent?
Some families do. What matters is whether it contains softener or other additives that your diaper maker says to avoid, and whether it rinses out cleanly in your water. Compare the ingredient list with the care label.
Can diapers go in with the rest of the laundry?
Some makers allow small amounts of other laundry, while others suggest washing diapers on their own so the load has room to move. The care label settles it for your brand.
Does a front-loading or HE washer change the choice?
Front-loaders and HE machines use less water, so they can be less forgiving of too much detergent. Look for an HE mention on the detergent label and check the last rinse for suds.
Should I use bleach?
Only if the diaper maker's care label says it is allowed. Never mix bleach with other cleaning products.
Still not sure which detergent suits your diapers and your water? Send us a message and we will help you narrow it down. We reply within one business day.