Now, if I saw that headline, I would be like, “What? Of course it is!”. But in the case of using homemade laundry detergents, it is not always best for your diapering products. Below is a list of typical ingredients found in homemade laundry detergents:
Bar soap
Fels Naptha Soap
Liquid castile soap
Borax
Oxygen Bleach
Vinegar
Washing Soda
Now, you say, those are all natural ingredients. Yes, we love natural ingredients, but these may not be recommended for good reasons. What diapering products you are washing will determine which ingredient cannot be used.
Pure Soap: Bar soap, grated soap, Fels Naptha soap, Castile soap:
Pure soaps can deteriorate lamination, creating tiny pinholes and rendering the waterproofing useless. Pure soaps can also coat diapers, making them repel rather than absorb.
- Do not use on any diapering product.
- Do not use on covers, or diapers with components such as elastic - especially hook and loop fasteners. May be used on prefolds and inserts without elastic.
- May be used sparingly on diapering products, but not recommended for every wash as it is harsh. Thirsties recommends a treatment not more than once a month to preserve your diapering items.
- Do not use on diaper covers, pail liners, diaper duffles, or any diaper with lamination or elastic.
- May be used on prefolds and inserts without elastic.
- We do not recommend adding Washing Soda along with a detergent as an additive.
- Allens Naturally Liquid*
- Arm and Hammer Essentials
- Country Save Liquid
- Mountain Green Ultra Baby *
- Planet Delicate Laundry Wash Liquid
- Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash *
- Vaska
- Allen’s Naturally Powder*
- Country Save Powder*
- Planet Powder*
- Rockin Green: Soft Rock, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, or Funk Rock *
This is such an interesting debate. I used to make my own detergent but I am too worried to try it on my cloth diapers, as another poster pointed out these are an investment for sure and I don’t want to chance it. I currently use Arm & Hammer and while I think it would be a great detergent for clothing I’m just not finding it very effective on the cloth diapers. I am still getting the “stink” factor and have to wash more than once which seems to be quite counter-productive since I cloth diaper for environmental reasons. I am almost done with this particular bottle of detergent and will begin experimenting with the others on your list. :)
I’m with the people that want to hear from people who’ve had damage from homemade detergent…mostly because I’ve heard of several people who make their own and say that it works better than the brand name detergents they’ve bought.
WOW! THanks for the info. and loved reading all the comments too. Lots to think about. I use homemade detergent on my cloth diapers but without the soap.
Thanks so much for this post. Very informational. I’m new to cloth and still figuring out the do’s and don’ts.
Good stuff, however I would argue with recommending powder detergent for hard water. Powder dissolves a lot harder in hard water, and there always seems some residue left on our diapers and clothes whenever I attempt to wash with powder. Especially, as I prefer to wash on lower, ecofriendly temperatures. And dissolving the powder first in hot water is just such a mess and an inconvenience. So fr hard water I would recommend liquid detergents.
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