Best Laundry Detergents For Cloth Diapers: Tried and Tested

Are you tired of all the cloth diapers that leave behind stains and odors, leaving them feeling stinky? Are you in search of cloth diapers that work? 

You’re at the right place.

Many cloth diapers contain harmful chemicals like bleaches, optical brighteners, parabens, dyes, or phosphates. 

The fabric softeners in regular detergents or soaps leave the oil deposits and residue behind. 

The harsh chemicals in them can harm a baby’s delicate skin, leading to rashes and allergic reactions, which can be frustrating for parents.

However, the best kind of cloth diaper detergent doesn’t include harsh chemicals. 

They are filled with surfactants to clean the soiled diapers to avoid build-up and enzymes to boost surfactants and break down the stains. 

Choosing a suitable detergent can save you from many unpleasant wash routines, and it is hard to know which one you prefer based on your machine’s instructions.

So we saved you the hassle and listed the five best laundry detergents for cloth diapers.

If you have a baby with sensitive skin and are looking for diapers that are gentle on them, you can find them here. 

At times, cloth diapers can result in rashes. If you want to treat such rashes then you can find the diaper rash creams here.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cloth diaper detergents.

The market is filled with laundry detergents with various features. 

But unfortunately, different brands and advertisements endorse laundry detergents that are filled with harmful chemicals and ingredients. 

It can take time to decide which laundry soap is the safest option to use.

We researched the best detergents that are safe to use and gentle on your baby’s sensitive skin.

While selecting the best laundry detergents for cloth diapers, we chose the ones with no harmful chemical procedures and a fragrance-free formula. 

Therefore, you will find no parabens, phosphates, dyes, or SLS in the detergents that we selected for you.

We know many babies can be allergic to specific ingredients and have delicate skin, so we chose hypoallergenic formula for babies with sensitive skin.

The detergents we chose can be used in soft and hard water, and you can use them in high-efficiency machines too.

The enzymes and surfactant in these detergents will clean your dirty cloth diapers without damaging the fabric.

We know how important your baby’s safety is, so we made sure to choose the detergents that parents swear by.

Following are the points we kept in mind while choosing the best cloth diapers:

Why We Love It

No better detergent effectively cleans cloth diapers than Tide Laundry Detergent.

Tide is America’s number detergent brand and is trusted by parents worldwide. I’m sure in one use; you’ll love it too.

With Tide Detergent, washing cloth diapers is a very hassle-free experience. It leaves no stains or odors in the cloth, unlike any other cloth diaper soap. 

This liquid detergent is one of the best laundry detergents in the market that helps remove stains and makes washing day a stress-free experience for you.

Say goodbye to dirty diapers with this best cloth diaper detergent.

What You Should Know

This laundry detergent for cloth diapers features an improved formula engineered to remove tough stains.

It is a high-efficiency detergent featured with Smart Suds technology. This cloth diaper soap cleans, whitens, freshens, and brightens your clothes.

This detergent will leave no harmful residues in your baby’s diapers because it is non-toxic. The non-toxic features also make it great for a baby’s sensitive skin. 

This detergent is available in both liquid and bar form. You can measure the detergent with the cap and pour it into the washer with clothes

Why We Love It

This inexpensive detergent is our favorite recommended detergent from the market. We love how much this detergent offers in just a tiny amount.

20 Mule Team Borax is the refined form of raw Borax and comes in powdery form.

Borax is an all-natural ingredient found all across the globe. This laundry soap helps clean clothes, dishes, counters, and other appliances.

Borax is cheap and the most effective way to soften water and clean your diapers.

Borax will efficiently clean all the stains stuck in the fabric without hurting your washer.

What You Should Know

20 Mule Team Borax is one of the best powder detergents you will find at the lowest price in the market.

If you have hard water in the house, then this powdery detergent booster is a must for cleaning cloth diapers.

The mineral formula of this detergent softens the hard water for efficiently cleaning your laundry load.

You can add this powder detergent with a regular detergent to remove stubborn stains and the odors of diapers.

The half cup per a load of this powder laundry detergent yields 65 cycles with these four packs.

Why We Love It

If you have unsuccessfully tried to wash your cloth diaper with homemade laundry detergents, stop there because we have the best alternative!

Biokleen Laundry Detergent is the best natural detergent made from natural plant oils.

Unlike regular detergent, this detergent is free from harsh chemicals, and the sweet smell will leave your baby’s cloth smelling fresh.

This natural detergent has a new enzyme technology that will remove all stubborn stains from white and colored clothing.

Add this detergent to your wash routine and see how this cleans the toughest poop stains in no time!

What You Should Know

If you are looking for eco-friendly detergent for cloth diapers, Biokleen is the best plant-based detergent in the market.

This liquid detergent is made of plant-based cleaning agents. They will eliminate all the tough stains and odors from the soiled diapers. 

This is the best natural detergent for not just cloth diapers but also for cleaning any white and colored clothing. 

It also includes an enzyme cleaning system, an innovative technology to derive the best advantages of the enzyme’s cleaning properties.

This natural detergent works excellently in high-efficiency or standard washers. 

The natural harnessing power of this liquid detergent for cloth diapers will be perfect for your baby’s sensitive skin.

This natural detergent contains no harsh chemicals and will make your baby’s cloth diapers soft and clean after every wash.

It has biodegradable ingredients and has never been tested on animals, making it a perfect eco-friendly option.

Why We Love It

This eco-friendly and sustainable laundry detergent is one of the favorites that we picked for you.

Most laundry soaps contain harmful chemicals that can react to a baby’s sensitive skin and cause allergic reactions; we chose this plant-based and hypoallergenic formula just for you!

The natural formula of this powdered detergent will effectively clean cloth diapers without damaging the fabric.

A tiny amount of this powder detergent will be enough to deep cleanse your clothes.

It provides excellent cleaning qualities without going heavy on your pocket. We’re sure you’ll love it as much as we do.

What You Should Know

This powdery detergent contains no harsh chemicals or optical brighteners such as perfumes, fillers, or bleaches.

The powder detergent gives good solubility and won’t leave any residues on the diapers.

This laundry soap comes with recyclable packaging making it a perfect eco-friendly option. Moreover, it also has detailed washing instructions on the packaging.

It is one of the best cloth diaper-safe detergents. The biodegradable ingredients will wash off all the stains and odors in no time, leaving your clothes smelling fresh.

It has a fragrance-free formula and no harmful chemicals. 

In addition, the hypoallergenic formula prevents your baby’s delicate skin from developing any rashes or reactions.

This diaper detergent is one of the best natural detergents used in both hard and soft water and is fit for high-efficiency machines.

Why We Love It

We picked the top detergent in the market that parents are swearing over for you! So have a hassle-free laundry day with Tide Free & Gentle Laundry Day.

This cloth-safe detergent comes with a convenient measuring scoop to help you measure the accurate dosage for machine washing.

The packaging comes with clear washing instructions to help you use it without causing any regretful mistakes.

This free and clear detergent effectively cleans cloth diapers and leaves no stains or odors behind.

What You Should Know

This free and clear detergent is one of the best detergents on the market. 

The boosted cleaning power of this laundry soap will clean baby’s dirty diapers after every wash.

This best laundry detergent deep cleanses not just cloth diapers but other white and colored clothing of adults too.

The hypoallergenic formula is gentle on the baby’s skin, so you don’t have to worry about rashes or allergic reactions in your little ones. 

It is free from dyes, perfumes, and other harmful chemicals that may get left behind in diapers. 

This liquid detergent works perfectly in soft water. You can mix this with a water softener if you have hard water. 

It comes with a measuring cap or accurate measurements.

The laundry soaps and detergents in the market are filled with harmful and harsh chemicals. 

They leave stains and odors behind, causing rashes and reactions in your babies. 

Many detergents are formulated without considering their impact on the baby’s delicate skin.

This is why we spent hours researching the best laundry detergents to clean your cloth diapers after every wash.

If you want more clarity, go through the FAQs below to make a more informed decision.

What should I look for in detergents for cloth diapers?

When looking for the best detergents for your baby, you should look for ones with a high concentration of surfactants and enzymes. Moreover, you should avoid detergents with powerful scents.  

What to avoid when choosing the best detergents for cloth diapers?

You should avoid detergents that contain coconut oil-based surfactants and fabric softeners. Soap-based detergents can also cause residue on diapers which can lead to repelling. Also, avoid laundry pods and bleaches on cloth diapers.

Can I use homemade laundry detergent?

Homemade detergents are usually just soaps that can build up bacteria in the fabric, and the cloth diapers are not properly cleaned. Therefore, we do not recommend using homemade laundry detergent.

Is liquid or powder detergents safe for cloth diapers?

Both are safe for cloth diapers; it is just a matter of your preference. Powder detergents are known to be more affordable than liquid detergents. In addition, they work more effectively in soft water than in hard water.

How often should cloth diapers be washed?

It would be best to wash cloth diapers every two to three days.

Should I wash cloth diapers in hot or cold water?

Cloth diapers are heavily soiled, and hot water is the most effective way to remove them. However, soils can lead to smell and stains if not removed. 

Do you need a water softener for cloth diapers?

If you have hard water, you need a water softener for cloth diapers and the best detergent you can use in hard water.

What does Borax do for cloth diapers?

The Borax deodorizes the fabric and helps remove the stains from the clothes.

What temperature should cloth diapers be washed at?

It is recommended to wash cloth diapers in the hottest water setting that your machine allows removing the bacteria effectively. 

What do you soak cloth diapers in before washing?

To fight odor and remove stains, you can soak the cloth diapers in baking soda, essential oils,  and vinegar a day before laundry. 

There are a lot of detergents in the market, but only some are fit for cloth diapers. They are not designed to remove stubborn stains that you may find in cloth diapers.

You will see many advertisements endorsing brands filled with harsh chemicals and leaving behind residue in the cloth diapers.

So we did our research to find the best laundry detergents that are perfect for cloth diapers. They will clean your clothes without ruining the fabric.

If you want to know more about cloth diapers, you can watch the YouTube video below.