detergent? - The Pin

What detergent do you use to wash cotton flats/prefolds? Do I need to buy a special detergent? I have read in some places that good old fashioned Tide works best and others say that is the worst thing I could use. It seems like the more I read the more confused I get.

It seems like it depends more on your LOs skin. My DD can't have any fragrance but Tide free is fine. My favorite detergent is Charlies but as long as you aren't using fabric softener and your baby isn't reacting to it any detergent is fine!

I have a small (portable) top loading washer and soft city water. I know I have the option of stripping the dipes if need be, but it seem like a PITA and I'd rather avoid it if possible. Also, how many diapers can you comfortably do in a single wash and get them good and clean?

I use Country Save but even thought I use mostly natural fiber diapers I have a couple of pocket diapers in the mix sometimes. I also have hard water.

Michelle wife to Brian mom to DD1 (5/13/06), DD2 (4/23/10) and DD3 (5/8/12)

Yes. An extra rinse usually does it for us.

I usually wash between 10 and 15 diaper a load. Every other or every third day. I have enough diapers that we can go 4 days ( if we are really busy and it doesn't make it to the top of the priority list), but I usually split it into two loads.

Christina, wife to Monty (Jul 06), Mom to T (Apr 09) and C (Jun 11)

thanks so much - you all make it sound so easy and everything I read from other places makes it sound so overwhelming

I use Tide and have well water and haven't had any problems. But my kids don't seem to be sensitive to anything so I also do fine just buying whatever detergent happens to be on sale.

And welcome to the Pin!

Linda

Wife of 13 years to Troy, mama of E 10/07 J 09/09 and S 10/11

I use any free/clear detergent and have normal city water. I have a mix of PF, Flats, pockets, AIO.

I also use a small dash of bleach

Emily Wife to Jake
Mom to Joseph 2/07 & Jordan 5/09 and 1 little girl Audrey 9/12
Probably NAK-- so please excuse the typos.

Hi all,

I am also new to CD and I live in a part of Canada where our detergent selection is really limited. Tide, Sunlight, Purex and Method seem to be the most available and then some Seventh Generation and Arm and Hammer. I cannot get the "CD Safe" detergents on the pinstripes and polkadot list without ordering them online. It is rather frustrating!!

I was looking into using Tide and I see from the comments above that it can work well. About how much detergent would you use in a load of say 18-24 diapers? Our washer is a standard top loading machine. Would you use the liquid or the powder? I have a mix of PF's, AIO's, fitteds and pockets.

Wonder why some diaper manufacturers say that Tide is ok and others say it is not.

Thanks for the quick reply. I think I will use up the Rock N Green that we have from baby gifts and then give Tide a go. By the time I get Rock N Green up here is costs me an arm and a leg!!

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leah79 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'interested Yearlong Pinner 1 year 50 days Joined: 31 Mar 2012 Points: 66	Post Options Post Reply Quote leah79 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: detergent? Posted: 31 Mar 2012 at 11:08pm
	What detergent do you use to wash cotton flats/prefolds? Do I need to buy a special detergent? I have read in some places that good old fashioned Tide works best and others say that is the worst thing I could use. It seems like the more I read the more confused I get.

mom4moju Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'insightful Member Rating(9) Perennial Pinner 4 years 171 days Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Location: Manitoba Points: 2632	Post Options Post Reply Quote mom4moju Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 31 Mar 2012 at 11:24pm
	The thing with prefolds and flats is that they are quiet forgiving. If you used something and get build up, it is easily undone with a few extra rinses and a change of routine/detergent? Do you have a front loader or a top? Do you have any water issues (hard, iron) anything like that? Since I'm in Canada, I really hesitated at buying detergent online. I knew it might be the end of my cloth diaper experience if I had to pay for shipping and wait for it to show up at my door. So I found something local with no dyes, fragrance, enzymes and whiteners. Gave it a try and after 3 years and 2 kids later it is still working and I've had no skin troubles or build up.
	Christina, wife to Monty (Jul 06), Mom to T (Apr 09) and C (Jun 11)

MomBeck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List P'infatuated Perennial Pinner 2 years 60 days Joined: 23 Mar 2011 Location: Colorado Points: 930	Post Options Post Reply Quote MomBeck Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Apr 2012 at 12:36am
	It seems like it depends more on your LOs skin. My DD can't have any fragrance but Tide free is fine. My favorite detergent is Charlies but as long as you aren't using fabric softener and your baby isn't reacting to it any detergent is fine!

Sarah2106 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'inspector Member Rating(20) P'insane Perennial Pinner 4 years 357 days Joined: 29 May 2008 Location: Rocky Mtn High Points: 24791	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sarah2106 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Apr 2012 at 9:56am
	This is my favorite detergent listing
	Wife & Mom to my amazing 3 “Sometimes,' said Pooh, 'the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

leah79 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'interested Yearlong Pinner 1 year 50 days Joined: 31 Mar 2012 Points: 66	Post Options Post Reply Quote leah79 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Apr 2012 at 10:33am
	I have a small (portable) top loading washer and soft city water. I know I have the option of stripping the dipes if need be, but it seem like a PITA and I'd rather avoid it if possible. Also, how many diapers can you comfortably do in a single wash and get them good and clean?

lflips Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'invisible Joined: 25 Jul 2009 Location: Ohio Points: 345	Post Options Post Reply Quote lflips Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Apr 2012 at 11:26am
	I use homemade detergent. I've never had any problems with build up and it is a lot cheaper than store bought. When we do diaper laundry we generally wash about 2 dozen plus family cloth. With that said we wash twice because we aren't dealing with nb poop.
	Tamryn : Mama to dd Edenpaynd

expectingnumber2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'insightful Member Rating(7) Perennial Pinner 3 years 240 days Joined: 23 Sep 2009 Location: WI Points: 2519	Post Options Post Reply Quote expectingnumber2 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Apr 2012 at 3:07pm
	I use Country Save but even thought I use mostly natural fiber diapers I have a couple of pocket diapers in the mix sometimes. I also have hard water.
	Michelle wife to Brian mom to DD1 (5/13/06), DD2 (4/23/10) and DD3 (5/8/12)

leah79 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'interested Yearlong Pinner 1 year 50 days Joined: 31 Mar 2012 Points: 66	Post Options Post Reply Quote leah79 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 8:30am
	So as long as I make sure that the diapers are completely rinsed out after each washing the detergent doesn't really matter?

mom4moju Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'insightful Member Rating(9) Perennial Pinner 4 years 171 days Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Location: Manitoba Points: 2632	Post Options Post Reply Quote mom4moju Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 9:21am
	Yes. An extra rinse usually does it for us. I usually wash between 10 and 15 diaper a load. Every other or every third day. I have enough diapers that we can go 4 days ( if we are really busy and it doesn't make it to the top of the priority list), but I usually split it into two loads.
	Christina, wife to Monty (Jul 06), Mom to T (Apr 09) and C (Jun 11)

MamaKikow Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'insightful Member Rating(4) Yearlong Pinner 1 year 271 days Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Points: 2789	Post Options Post Reply Quote MamaKikow Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 10:08am
	I wash approx 2 dozens diapers at a time and use Tide. I always do an extra rinse and when I use bleach I do a double rinse. I think I've tried almost all detergents on my dipes, IMO the trick is the rinsing.
	Happy wife to J and SAHM to my 2 little girls with a big surprise coming in the Spring. Please excuse the typos. my 'smart' phone was too smart for school

leah79 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'interested Yearlong Pinner 1 year 50 days Joined: 31 Mar 2012 Points: 66	Post Options Post Reply Quote leah79 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 10:23am
	thanks so much - you all make it sound so easy and everything I read from other places makes it sound so overwhelming

kcanstef Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'invisible Joined: 27 Feb 2012 Location: Indiana Points: 190	Post Options Post Reply Quote kcanstef Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 11:31am
	i use mountain green free and clear and have well water it works great :)

txmom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'inspector Member Rating(25) P'insane Perennial Pinner 5 years 322 days Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Points: 10004	Post Options Post Reply Quote txmom Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 11:35am
	I use Tide and have well water and haven't had any problems. But my kids don't seem to be sensitive to anything so I also do fine just buying whatever detergent happens to be on sale. And welcome to the Pin!
	Linda Wife of 13 years to Troy, mama of E 10/07 J 09/09 and S 10/11

ShannonM1976 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List P'invisible Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Location: Vermont Points: 1321	Post Options Post Reply Quote ShannonM1976 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 11:41am
	There is good info in this pdf file about washing diapers. It should help you in making your decisions.
	Married 2 the best man on earth Mama 3 girls & a boy Surromom boy 6/18/05 Birthmom boy 8/31/00 Life Changes

mamma22boys Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'invaluable Member Rating(39) P'insane Perennial Pinner 2 years 284 days Joined: 11 Aug 2010 Location: Iowa Points: 15422	Post Options Post Reply Quote mamma22boys Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Apr 2012 at 11:47am
	I use any free/clear detergent and have normal city water. I have a mix of PF, Flats, pockets, AIO. I also use a small dash of bleach
	Emily Wife to Jake Mom to Joseph 2/07 & Jordan 5/09 and 1 little girl Audrey 9/12 Probably NAK-- so please excuse the typos.

shirleymoonie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'interested Joined: 26 Mar 2012 Points: 13	Post Options Post Reply Quote shirleymoonie Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Apr 2012 at 10:26am
	I've just started out using my normal Planet Ark detergent. Never really put any thought into it. I hope it is okay.

zsoka Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'invisible Joined: 02 Feb 2012 Location: Whitehorse YT Points: 34	Post Options Post Reply Quote zsoka Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Apr 2012 at 9:10pm
	Hi all, I am also new to CD and I live in a part of Canada where our detergent selection is really limited. Tide, Sunlight, Purex and Method seem to be the most available and then some Seventh Generation and Arm and Hammer. I cannot get the "CD Safe" detergents on the pinstripes and polkadot list without ordering them online. It is rather frustrating!! I was looking into using Tide and I see from the comments above that it can work well. About how much detergent would you use in a load of say 18-24 diapers? Our washer is a standard top loading machine. Would you use the liquid or the powder? I have a mix of PF's, AIO's, fitteds and pockets. Wonder why some diaper manufacturers say that Tide is ok and others say it is not.

MomBeck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List P'infatuated Perennial Pinner 2 years 60 days Joined: 23 Mar 2011 Location: Colorado Points: 930	Post Options Post Reply Quote MomBeck Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Apr 2012 at 9:26pm
	When I use Tide I use up to the 1 line for around 2 dozen diapers. I think Tide got a bad reputation without mfgs doing much real research on it. As long as you're rinsing it out and not letting it build up in your diapers it's totally fine!

zsoka Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'invisible Joined: 02 Feb 2012 Location: Whitehorse YT Points: 34	Post Options Post Reply Quote zsoka Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Apr 2012 at 9:35pm
	Thanks for the quick reply. I think I will use up the Rock N Green that we have from baby gifts and then give Tide a go. By the time I get Rock N Green up here is costs me an arm and a leg!!