Detergents?

[lovelylisa]

Hi there!

I am trying to figure out what sort of detergent to use on my diapers. Every source I read seems to suggest some sort of specialty  detergent that I have to order online or something. Then I get confused with all the suggestions about stripping and everything.

 I really just want to find a simple detergent that I can buy at the grocery store. Do you all have any suggestions for me? 

[SubliminalDarkness]

Original Tide. Never had a problem. No stripping, no build-up, no staining that putting a diaper out in the sun couldn't get rid of. 

[Nicole730]

We started off with Tide Original Scent Powder.  Then I discovered the internet and all the "rules" about washing diapers.  I went through a variety of way more expensive detergents and now, after 2 years, we are back to using Tide Powder.  :)

[lovelylisa]

Tide. Works for me! I was having a hard time with that one, thanks!

[Jaimee]

If you're using prefolds, you can be much more relaxed about your detergent choice.  If you're using premium diapers, I would not be so lax as eventually you will have build up issues that will lead to persistent diaper rash.  It could take months, but it will eventually happen.  Tide Free and Clear is considered okay to use.  But be careful of detergents that are marked "free and clear" or "baby" as these terms do not necessarily mean truly free and clear.  Examples of these would be Seventh Generation Free and Clear, Seventh Generation Baby, All Free and Clear and Dreft. 

My favorite detergent is Planet, which is often available at natural grocery stores.  You might also find Country Save.  But, check out these two sites for complete lists of detergents and how they rate for use with cloth diapers.  Hopefully you can find one you like at your local store.

http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoicesataglancepspd.htm  (scroll down to the bottom and click on the type of washer you have for a comprehensive list)

http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html

[lovelylisa]

Thanks... I plan on using prefitted diapers and prefolds. I did hear about the planet detergent but I"m not sure if I can find that near me very easily.

[Jaimee]

I actually buy it by the case from Amazon.  It's free shipping and cheaper per bottle than buying it from a local store anyway! 

[Petite Bottoms]

I started with Tide and switched to Rockin Green. I found that once I had the right formula for my water it worked better than Tide.

I agree that if you are using cotton diapers you can be more lax, it's the synthetic fiber diapers that get the build up issues. If you look for a non-enzyme detergent that is clean rinsing you should be okay just in case you do decide to use these diapers in the future. :)

[TNmommyBFB]

We washed our previous diapers in tide. When I switched our stash to new dipes, we started using rockin green and now use Charlies Soap. I can get the Charlies soap at our local earthfare

[Ola_]

Our original plan was to use Tide free & clear, but DH picked up some of the Kirkland uscented liquid detergent so we have been using that so far (DD is 9 weeks old).  We haven't had any issues yet so we plan to keep using it as long as we don't run into any problems.  We use mostly fitteds, I think it's mostly pocket diapers that tend to have issues because there is usually a stay-dry layer made of synthetic fabric (like microsuede or microfleece).

[Beauchamp]

I use Biokleen citrus laundry powder that I get via Amazon's subscribe and save program. It's actually nice to NOT have to lug detergent boxes home from the grocery store. And it's much cheaper.

I've heard Planet is a good brand, and I think I'm going to try that next. I prefer using the same detergent for all clothes and dipes. Having two brands is too much for me.

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by Beauchamp 

I use Biokleen citrus laundry powder that I get via Amazon's subscribe and save program. It's actually nice to NOT have to lug detergent boxes home from the grocery store. And it's much cheaper.

 

Yeah - I don't get why people are so against ordering detergent online.  I have 10 lbs of Biokleen delivered at a time for free shipping and on sale (use it on our clothes) and love that someone else is carrying it home for me!

IME:

-Powders are better than liquids.  They rinse better, esp. in less-than-perfect water.

-Cotton diapers don't care as much, but the covers still are sensitive to detergents.  Many companies will not honor warranties on their covers if you have used something unapproved.

-With pockets, you really need to use a zero-buildup detergent.

-Tide is fine for some babies, but gives other babies bad rashes from the enzymes (it has for my kids.)  I don't recommend it for this reason.  Plus, I am uncomfortable with the chemical additives in it.  We don't use anything petroleum/artificial on our bodies or for any cleaning products.

-If you have soft or hard water, you should really go with Rockin Green's specialized formulas.

[onetwoten]

Has anyone used Mrs. Meyers on cloth diapers? I use the rest of their cleaning products, and I'm just about to break into the laundry detergent for the first time. I can only buy it in the states, as the shipping to Canada is too expensive, but I'd like to know if I should stock up next time I'm there!. lol 

This is the ingredient listing for the scented one:

PRODUCT INGREDIENTS ARE AT LEAST 97% NATURALLY DERIVED.

INGREDIENTS: Water, Alcohol Ethoxylate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coconut Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Borate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Fragrance*, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Abies Alba (Fir) Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) Oil, Protease, Amylase, Lipase, Mannanase, Sorbitol, Alcohol Denat., Potassium Hydroxide, Methylisothiazolinone, Benzisothiazolinone

[lovelylisa]

I would love to order online but I live in an apartment complex and packages don't get delivered here very well. So I don't want to rely on getting detergent online and then go through a problem every time I need to order something :) 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galatea 

Yeah - I don't get why people are so against ordering detergent online.  I have 10 lbs of Biokleen delivered at a time for free shipping and on sale (use it on our clothes) and love that someone else is carrying it home for me!

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by jeninejessica 

Has anyone used Mrs. Meyers on cloth diapers? I use the rest of their cleaning products, and I'm just about to break into the laundry detergent for the first time. I can only buy it in the states, as the shipping to Canada is too expensive, but I'd like to know if I should stock up next time I'm there!. lol 

This is the ingredient listing for the scented one:

PRODUCT INGREDIENTS ARE AT LEAST 97% NATURALLY DERIVED.

INGREDIENTS: Water, Alcohol Ethoxylate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coconut Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Borate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Fragrance*, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Abies Alba (Fir) Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) Oil, Protease, Amylase, Lipase, Mannanase, Sorbitol, Alcohol Denat., Potassium Hydroxide, Methylisothiazolinone, Benzisothiazolinone

Bad for diapers.  The oils will cause buildup, and it has lots of enzymes (all the -ases.)  Also, the huge amount of unnatural and skin-irritating ingredients are not good for diapers b/c they are going next to the skin (SLS, propylene glycol, fragrance = phthalate, -zolinone.)  Mrs. Meyers, IMO, are all "green-washed" products, with their cute labels and all, and weird chemicals and non-essential fragrances (I have tried the lavender liquid cleaner and it smells nothing like real lavender.)  If you want a whole suite of natural and effective cleaners, try Bio-Kleen.  Everything they make is amazing.  Dunno about shipping to Canada.  Amazon will ship them free here in the USA.
 

[octobermom]

I use Dropps (buy it at our target) I alos got great results with Tide but it was hard to rinse out and I thought the scents were too strong but the FnC irritated the baby.. Tried RnG that was a disaster. LOVE the dropps.

[onetwoten]

Thanks, good to know about the Mrs.Meyers detergent. I love the sprays for the kitchen and the all purpose, and for me, they're natural enough, but it's different when I'm dealing with several hundred dollars of cloth diapers! lol I'll see how I like the detergent for our other clothing, but skip it for the diapers. I can get rockin green here for what I think is an ok price, so we'll probably just go with that then. 

[octobermom]

I'd try your regular detergent first actually. RnG has been great for many but don't assume it will be that way. RnG did some serious damage to my stash and worse the babies skin.

[onetwoten]

Up until we switched ot the Mrs. Meyers, we've been using Sunlight. lol. I think I'll probably avoid that on the diapers!

Country save is also avail. at the diaper store here, is that generally a better bet? I know it has good reviews. 

[matte]

I have never used it for diapers (baby is not born yet, but we'll be washing diapers soon enough) but I LOVE Country Save for clothes and household wash. I get it from Amazon on subscribe and save, and I'm still on the first case after a YEAR. (I even gave away a box of it to some new parents in our neighborhood!). We wash clothes VERY often, too, and use only rags for household cleaning. I think my total expense for detergent is like $50/year, which seems reasonable to me...