Cloth Diaper Washing

I use charlies soap. You should always use powder, and dreft is not a good option. It has a fabric softner and it can waterproof the diapers. Look for something that is just detergent like charlies...no brightners, no enzymes.

A.
I use to use Dreft it is gentel and safe to use for diapers and baby clothes. I also put clorox in my diaper pail to cut down on germs and the smell, and it keeps the diapers white

I use Charlie's Soap for the diapers, covers, and the rest of my laundry. I feel it works very well at getting rid of odors. I also spray off the diapers and covers before washing instead of using any sort of pre-treating regimen. I have read on different websites about using baking soda, etc, as well. It's not been necessary for us as of us. Hope this helps and good luck! Congratulations on using cloth diapers!

We have a front loader so we can't use alot of the detergents out there. But this is what we do, and it's been working well.

Put all diapers in wash, add 1/4 of the 1 load amount of Tide HE Free, and about a cup of baking soda. Soak overnight in cold water. Complete the wash but turn the temp up to hot.

Run another cycle on hot with vinager. I do occaisionally get stains (esspecially with the newborn breastmilk poop). But realistically they are clean and who cares if they are a little stained. And like others have said sun can take care of the stains.

Before I did it this way I was using more detergent an no baking soda or vinegar, my d/s started getting horrible ammonia burns. After stripping the diapers many times to get rid of all residue and changing the way I wash I havn't seen any burns. they are as clean as a diaper services (we got a gift subscription for a month so I was able to compare).

Good luck.

We use Charlie's Soap (you can usually get it cheapest from their website: http://www.charliesoap.com/
We have cloth diapered both our boys. The oldest had a really bad diaper rash that no one could figure out. We tried tons of detergents and nothing worked until we switched to Charlie's. We love it and use it for all of our clothes now - no residue or need for fabric softeners anymore! You only use a Tbls of powder per load.

For the diapers I wash 1 cold cycle w/ a scant Tbls soap and cup of baking soda. Then a hot cycle w/ another scant Tbls soap and a vinegar rinse. Our diapers never smell and, when able to hang outside, rarely have stains.

We also make our own wipes and wash them with the diapers and they come out great too.

Good luck!

I make my own powder detergent and it works wonderfully on cloth diapers:

2 cups grated Fels Naptha soap
1 cup Borax
1 cup Arm & Hammer washing soda (not the same as baking soda)

All you need is 1-2 tablespoons per load.

Fels Naptha is a bar soap to be used on laundry, although it is often mistakenly shelved next to body soap in the stores. The Borax and Washing Soda is usually right next to powder laundry detergent.

All Free & Clear leaves some sort of residue on the diapers, and like other have expressed, decreases the diaper's ability to absorb. I have also read that stain removers are not good for diapers--they also leave a residue.

I wash my diapers first in cold water, then a second time in hot. I have not had much trouble with staining. If there is a little staining, I don't sweat it--hey, they're diapers. (I add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the second wash. It helps with the odors and vinegar is also a natural fabric softener. It makes prefolds SUPER soft.)

A.,

We use seventh generation laundry detergent and haven't had any problems. It cleans well and doesn't leave a residue.

K.

Hi A., I use Bum Genius too and have been washing them for almost a year....I have been really, really happy using Country Save powdered detergent. I read about it on several cloth diapering sites and haven't needed to try anything else. Every 4 washes or so I use a little bac-out as a prewash and that keeps them smelling fresh. You can find Country Save at co-ops or fresh and natural stores. Some of my best advice is to use just a small amount of detergent each time (it goes against conventional wisdom but really helps keep any residue off the diapers). The hot water and agitation does most of the work for you in the washer. Good luck!

Hi,

I must admit that I no longer have to wash diapers! I remember those days tho. I do applaud you for using cloth diapers - for saving the environment.

Anyway here is what one of my friends said they use:
I have been using the Shaklee liquid detergent with cloth diapers(http://www.shaklee.net/helpfromlinda/product/GCLaundryLiquid)
without a problem. I do only use one pump per load (not the recommended amount) and do an extra rinse, as most cloth diaperers do. I also add one drop of basic H to the load. Some folks do an occasional rinse with vinegar to remove detergent buildup and make cloth diapers more absorbant, I tried this ONCE and it made no difference whatsoever (which confirms to me that Shaklee's detergent does not build up on the
diapers.) Cloth diapers should not be washed in fabric softener (of any kind) as well. Just sharing my experience

We use Mrs. Meyers soap/softener and Ecover bleach. We purchase it at our local health/grocery store but it's also online, www.mrsmeyers.com.

i use some co-op brand of laundry detergent for my diapers.

i don't use stain treatments on diapers or fabric softeners, because they affect the absorbency of the diapers. the best stain removal for cloth diapers that i have found is the sun! it works like a charm. i just lay my diapers on the grass or hang them on the clothes line (wet or dry). magic!

We have kissaluvs and a few AIOs. I use Cheer free and clear verssion. It seems tho that every couple months my dipes smell like poo the momment they get wet. Then I throw a little bleach in with the dipes (not great for the dipes, but sunning, baking soda, vinegar, and extra washing didn't help). Used to use vinegar rinse every time, but I found that it breaks down the water proof layer in my covers and AIOs. I wish the Mom that makes her own soap would post her recipe--sounds interresting!!

The sun is a wonderful stain remover and odor remover. I cant say that I thought of what detergents I used too much other than I used detergents for sensitive skin.. but I always hang them out in the sun for a while to let them dry for the most part.. It takes away stains wonderfully.. I mean it's a miracle what the sun can do. Then when they still slightly damp I take them in and throw them in the dryer to soften them up a bit. The sun is a great stain remover on anything.. I hang anything that has stains on it and by the end of the day it's gone.. No need for bleach at all.. I havent used bleach or any stain remover in a very long time.

I used Planet powder and then would toss in a scoop of OxyClean every couple of weeks or so. We have water that's a little hard so sometimes the smell would be hard to get out and the OxyClean left them smelling like new. I never had a problem with stains but I guess you can lay them out in the sun to bleach the stains out.
Good luck,
J.
Mom to 4, almost 5 through another adoption and hopefully more :o)

Hi A., I used cloth diapers with my boys, but that was years ago. the youngest is 18. But I used Dreft and it worked fine. The best thing for stains is to hang them out to dry in the sun. the worst stains are gone! good luck!

Allen's always worked good for us!

Pretty much any detergent that is natural and not scented is going to be good for washing.

I have started using Sun detergent per a recommendation on a cloth diapering website- not sure which one though. I also use oxyclean, both about 1/2 the amount I would for a normal wash and my machine also has the extra rinse at the end of the wash cycle. The cheaper detergents don't have all the additives that the others do. I have used baby detergents and all free & clear in the past which have caused lots of repelling with my diapers. To dry I lay mine out in the sun (at least when it's nice out) and haven't had much problems with stains. My daughter hasn't had any reactions either. Good luckst for you, I'm sure you'll find what works best for you!

A., ive used cloth diapers and loved it, i did not make my own detergent, but i used dreft, along with borax and then bleach, however, i would run them through a hot bleach cycle first, then another wash of dreft, with the borax, they came out pristeen white, well you eventually get stained ones, some foods stain more than others, but it was nice to fold nice white stuff, and the extra wash cycle helped retain their absorbancy, i would also put them through an extra rinse cycle, if you were worried about detergents,. softners take away some absorbancies, but its right next to their skin and cotton it will usually absorb with like a dryer sheet type, softner, but usually the hot wash with bleach was fine, followed by another wash, hope things go well, D. s

you want to steer clear of anything that says 'free and clear' or anything that offers 'brighter brights, whiter whites'. They contain optical brighteners, they are harsh on skin and can build up on diapers making them water repellent. Also never use bleach, or anything harsh like that on the diapers, no stain treatments, no oxiclean, etc. No fabric softener or dryer sheets, they will all cause buildup that will make your diapers water repellent over time.

We used Charlies soap (www.charliesoap.com) for both the boys in cloth diapers and it worked famously. It has no smell (so there is no leftover smell, meaning your child won't smell like flowery pee after using hte diaper) and it rinses clean. ITs made of washing soda and coconut oil. Its really a great soap, and its cheap since you only use 1tbs per FULL load. I used 1/2 tbs per load of diapers and never have had a stain or build up on them.

www.greenmountaindiapers.com is a great resource too, on the left side there are links you can click to read up on how to wash and care for diapers. Also www.diaperpin.com has reviews on every cloth diaper available, also helpful hints and tips.

And you can e-mail me anytime if you have a question. We loved cloth diapering and I am a big advocate!

Hi A.! We use Bum Genius also and make our own detergent which has worked well for the 2 yrs we have been cloth diapering, plus it is very cheap. We actually do all of our laundry in it now to save money and the benefits for the environment are nice too.

2-3 tbsp of washing soda (on laundry isle, yellow box about $3)
4-5 squirts of simple green (a non-toxic, biodigradable household cleaner)
1/2 scoop of oxy clean

After the first rinse, add all of the ingredients to the washer that already has water in it. Simple green and washing soda without water will cake, so make sure there is water. Soak overnight (or for a few hours). Run the wash. Hypoallergenic, no perfumes or dyes, no additives. It works great for all laundry. If you have any other questions just let me know!
A.

When I used cloth diapers (40+ yrs ago), I used either Dreft or Ivory detergent. I also used bleach. However I would run them thru another wash cycle of plain water. Of course the best whitener/sanitizer is the sun. If you could hang then outside they smell so fresh and stay white.

I can't add much to what's already been suggested other than, what detergent will work best can depend a lot on what your water is like (some detergents work better in soft water, others better in hard, and if your water is hard, a water softener such as Calgon or Rain Drops can save you a lot of headaches), and vinegar is a great fabric softener (and detergent rinse aid), but if your water is very hard, it can cause some odor problems.

I use Shaklee detergent, liquid, in my HE front loader. One cloth diaper web site says not to use it, because it is enzyme based. However it cleans well and rinses out well. (I usually use a second rinse).
A.

i haven't heard that stain treatments can affect absorbency, so much as it could hurt your child's skin because they're usually harsh. although detergents with optical brighteners can affect absorbency & longevity of your diapers, i think. i think good old fashioned sunshine is best for getting stains out of diapers. fabric softener will affect absorbency negatively, so that's a no-no.

we're cloth diapering for the first time as soon as this kiddo arrives (any day now!!!!), so i'm interested to see what others have to say. i always hear great things about country save & allens naturally, but haven't seen too much about making your own detergents. have you tried checking out www.diaperjungle.com? i think they have lots of washing information.

I use Melapower from Melaleuca products. They are safe, non toxic, less expensive than any thing I have come accross and they are the only ones with rinseguard. It prevents the soil from getting back on clothes during washing. Their Prespot stain remover is increadible!! They also have a 60 day trial period on any product - so you can use it with no risk.

Email me if you want more info.

what i've liked (in order of preference):

soap nuts (bought online)
country save (found at a coop)
charlie's soap (bought online)

what i haven't liked:

all free & clear - made my fuzzi bunz leak INSANELY
seventh gen & method - i think the enzymes in them made my son's bum red...enzymes can be irritating

i want to try "dropps."

I have always used Seventh Generation with vinegar in the cup in the second cycle for my diapers. I wash the covers with my normal laundry and just use whatever detergent I would normally use for clothes. I have never heard of stain treatments being used on diapers - I've never had problems (use a wet bucket for poop diapers and rinse off poop on covers when fresh) - know that other people say they lay their diapers out in the sunshine to dry/eliminate stains.

Good luck!

Hi A.!

I love meeting other cloth diapering
mommies!!!

Detergent- I use the Walgreens Free
and Clear, which was suggested to me
by the owner of the company I purchased
the cloth diapers from. I have used it
for 3 months and have had no issues with
my diapers.

Stains- As far as stains, if you set the
diapers (after washing, but before drying)
in the sun for 30+ minutes, the stains will
go away. I'm sure my neighbors wonder what
on earth the microfiber pieces are laying
in my front yard - but it works like a charm!

Hope this helps!
A.
www.mygreenhealth.com

Hi A.;
I used Dreft or Boroax. They both were good with the diapers. I commend you for using coth diapers with the economy and fast paced world we live in now. L., young grandma.

Well, I always used distilled white vinegar in the rinse cycle (about 1/4 cup). This not only gets rid of soap residue (allowing you to use a stronger soap), but breaks down the uric acid left behind. Then use an extra rinse cycle of just plain water (cold or hot - cold is cheaper). I actually rinse ALL of my clothes in a little vinegar since it doesn't hurt any clothing and gets rid of the soap residue (soap residue will actually cause clothing to wear out sooner and fade quicker), and I have 1 kid who is allergic to Tide and the vinegar gets rid of any residue so I can still use it.

im a bit newer to this cloth diapering thing, but we have just been using any detergent that is FREE of dyes, perfumes etc, and that seems to work just fine. hope to hear what you decide!

We use All Free Clear and it works well.

We use Shaklee's powder detergent, which works great. We only add a quarter scoop, whereas for normal laundry a half scoop is called for. Another family introduced it to us who has used this detergent for washing the diapers for all her three boys. I also add a drop of basic G in with the load (where you usually put bleach in some washers). And, of course, extra rinse. I know the liquid detergent would work amazing too, but I think the powder is cheaper which is why we use that. We ALWAYS hang to dry in the sun when possible - I was utterly amazed when I discovered the power of the sun to remove stains! We've had a diaper come out of the wash (before I knew what I was doing and didn't do a cold wash first on the poopy ones) with stains so bad they looked like they had just been pooped in. After drying in the sun, the stains were totally gone. What you can also use as a stain remover if the sun doesn't work is Shaklee's Nature Bright® Laundry Booster and Stain Remover, and soak it in this for as long as possible (a couple days even). Another option is a little lemon juice on the stain (when the diaper is wet) and sun-dry. Yet another option is hydrogen peroxide, and you don't even need to use the sun.

Hi A.,

I have found BacOut to be a good product - it is an enzyme based- it can be diulted. You can find at co-ops and Whole Foods, also at Peapods in St. Paul. Good luck!

We always used the Melaleuca brand detergent. It works great, you can get it in scent and dye free and when compared to the cost of other detergents also comes out cheaper in the long run, because it is concentrated. We had no problem with staining and although it's not a "baby detergent" is soft enough on baby's skin. Let me know if you would like to try it. They also just came out with a HE detergent.

M.

I use regular Tide. I've never tried anything else because it's always worked. Every couple of weeks I use a little vinegar in the rinse cycle to help remove any residue that may have built up.

I actually make my own detergent and use that (very cheap and it works, I use it on everything now). Since I have done that I have not had to strip my diapers, I think it rinses very clean. No, you do not want to use stain treaters at all or your diapers will start to leak. If you have any stains just let them dry in the sun and they'll be gone. You can use a small amount of bleach every 6 weeks or so but I choose not to just because it's so harsh. The sun works better than anything anyway!