Talk to me about detergent please!

[orange_mommy]

I'm realizing from reading that there are certain detergents I will be able to use with CD, and some that are no-no's! So keeping in mind that I use a HE front loader...
What type of detergent do you use for cloth diapers?
What have worked for you and what types haven't?
What kind is your favorite?
I wanted to begin prepping my prefolds and washing the others... but it seems like I cant use my regular laundry detergent for cloth diapers so I'm wondering what I should be looking for!
Thanks!

[Mammajamma]

There is a website online somewhere ( sorry didnt provide a link) but it is all about cloth diapering and gives you a run down of the different types of detergent that can be used and what is bad for you dipes. I personally use Ecos free and clear laundry detergent ( I also have an HE and have never had any problems with this detergent at all). I use this detergent for everything though not just my dipes- though I did buy it after reviewing whatever that site was, specifically for the dipes. I also use Ecover non chlorine bleach and my dipes have never given me problems with this sort of washing regimen. Good luck finding one that works for you! :)

[Smidge]

http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoicesataglancepspd.htm

I love Country Save personally :)

[Mammajamma]

Thats the site!!!

[blessedwith7]

You can find quite a few cd sites that encourage you to use the regular laundry detergent instead of the special cloth diaper detergent.  Abby's Lane to name one.  I actually use Tide Liquid (original) with Calgon water softener and am very happy with the results. This is what works for us.  I did not like the powder Tide Free and Gentle.  The scoop is huge and my dipes still smelled yuck after washing.  

I think finding a wash routine is the hardest part about cding...the rest is fun!

Theresa

[Carma]

I am using Tide HE powder in my LG HE FL, which is not a popular detergent for diapers I believe. But sofar that has been the only detergent that washes my pocket diapers with microfiber inserts well. I tried 7th Gen F&C (terrible ammonia smell when I used that one) and Rock 'n Green (still a poopy smell after washing) with no good results. Our water is hard. Tide has enzymes that can cause rashes. But we haven't had a rash with Tide, I rinse twice after washing (my machine has a button for that). Also no leaking, repelling etc. issues.

Carma

[coffeegirl]

I rotate between Tide powder, Purex powder, All Free & Clear (liquid) and Sun liquid. I don't really use "Cd-safe" detergents unless I get a sample or something and just want to try it out of boredom. :) I also have hard water so I use a couple spoonfuls of Borax with my hot wash....it softens the water and also has some disinfecting properties (I think it turns into hydrogen peroxide when it hits water). As long as you rinse thoroughly, you'll be ok. I have a top loader. With a FL I have heard that you have to be more diligent about rinsing and sometimes add more water or "trick" your machine into giving you more water for the rinse.

Good luck! :)

[blessedwith7]

Thanks for mentioning the Borax.  I just ran out of Calgon and was thinking of trying the Borax since I had some on hand and it is supposed to help with hard water also.  How much do you use?  I was planning on going half the amount recommended.

We don't get rashes with Tide either.  I set the washer for an extra rinse.  Is Tide powder (original) better than liquid for use with hard water and washing cloth diapers?  I get the liquid because I'm afraid of the powder not dissolving completely.

Theresa

[mrs.yd]

Here's a summary:

BioKleen powder detergent - I like this.  No rash, rinsed out well, got everything very clean. 

Planet liquid detergent - I like this, no rash. took more rinses than usual to get it all out

Rockin Green- Liked this, it's really not convenient for me to have to order detergent

Charlies soap- occasionally we had rashes after using this.  Most of the time it worked great.  Not convenient to have to order it.

All Free and Clear- Works okay, but after 3 or 4 uses there is a strong odor after the diaper gets peed on- that means the detergent didn't rinse out well

Tide free-  same as above

store brand Free and clear-  same as above

Sun and Earth-  same as above

Seventh generation free- same as above

It seems that I always end up switch detergent every few months or so.  The first time I use a detergent, the diapers always seem clean as new. So maybe it is a good idea to switch every now and then? 

I cloth diapered using a front loader for about a year or so.  In my experience, it does not clean as easily as a top loader.  But, it can be done.

The best think you can do is to run a pre rinse, pre wash, or a pre-dunk in the toilet , to get most of the yuck out before washing it. Since you're not getting as much water on them in a front loader, you really need to make sure you have them rinsed out before you wash them.  I used to dunk and squeeze mine in the utility sink before washing them.  They will get much cleaner, much quicker, this way.   Just put on some rubber gloves, and have a bucket for the dirty ones, and a bucket to put the rinsed ones in.  wash the rubber gloves while you're wearing them, spray everything down with a cleaner, wash it off with a rag and then put the rag in with the diapers. 

Enzymes in detergents are meant to kill protein stains.  If it doesn't rinse out all the way, when the baby pees on the diaper, the enzymes will start working again and they will eat away at the babies bottom.  That's one way the baby will get a bad rash.

However, if the detergent doesn't have things like enzymes then the germs from the poop don't come out of the diaper.  So, if you use a detergent that is "natural" you need to use something like hydrogen peroxide (oxygen bleach) to disinfect or else baby will get a rash from the germs. 

The main problem with the detergents and cloth diapers is that the detergent doesn't wash out all the way.  In order for it to wash out all the way, you have to have enough water and the water has to not be hard.  Vinegar can help the detergent rinse out, but you don't want any vinegar left over.  If the water is hard you can use something like calgon to soften the water. 

One way to tell how the detergent is working is to wash the diaper in the sink after it's done washing.  Squeeze it out and swish it around.  See if you get any soap bubbles.  If you do, then maybe you should use less detergent, or more water, or maybe you need to use something like vinegar in a rinse with a clear rinse after that.