| Choosing a detergent is one of the most important | | | | detergents coming out that were made specifically for |
| parts of cloth diapering. It took me over two years to | | | | cloth. That's when I came to the eye opening video |
| realize how important it really is to find a cloth diaper | | | | made by the owner of Rockin Green. |
| safe detergent. Without the proper care, your cloth | | | | What To Look For When Choosing A Detergent |
| diapers can get major detergent build up, causing odor, | | | | I highly recommend choosing a detergent made |
| ammonia stink, chemical burns, rashes and blistering, | | | | specifically for cloth diapers. These products are made |
| repelling and leaking. I cannot tell you how many times | | | | just to deal with the problems that can happen when |
| I've seen a mama desperate to figure out why her | | | | washing cloth diapers. However, you do not have to |
| child's diapers were having problems or causing pain to | | | | use these. If you choose not to, here are some things |
| her baby, not realizing it was the detergent. And I was | | | | to look for when choosing cloth diaper safe detergent. |
| one of them. | | | | * Most common laundry detergents contain "optical |
| My Journey | | | | brighteners" - tiny particles that stick to the surface of |
| When I first started using cloth diapers, I have to admit I | | | | your clothes, giving the effect of brighter colors. What |
| didn't do much research on choosing a detergent. I | | | | does this mean for your diapers? Chemical residue is |
| was using All Free & Clear on my clothes, so I just | | | | being left behind which can cause you diapers to repel |
| used them on my diapers too. I had read a little about | | | | or cause skin irritation. |
| using choosing detergent for cloth diapers, but there | | | | * Enzymes in your laundry detergent are made to |
| was also a lot of conflicting advice as well. So until I | | | | degrade protein molecules. This can be good for |
| started to have a full time stash of cloth I didn't worry | | | | removing stains, but when the enzymes are not |
| about using anything else. | | | | properly rinsed from diapers (or clothing), they will |
| Once I built my stash up and was totally in love with | | | | actually "eat" away at skin. |
| my diapers I wanted to make sure I used the best | | | | * Most don't know this, but artificial fragrances are |
| detergent for them. I looked around a found a list of all | | | | made from petroleum. |
| the safe detergents and picked one - Country Save. | | | | * While chlorine bleach is great for killing germs, you |
| They just happen to sell it at the local Natural Foods | | | | won't want to use it on your cloth diapers. Not only |
| Co-Op so I was set. I started washing my diapers with | | | | decrease their durability and absorbency, but it will also |
| it and they smelled fresh and clean - or so I thought. | | | | eat away at the fibers of your diapers. |
| My diapers seemed cleaner than every and I was | | | | * When buying detergent, keep in mind that liquid |
| happy. | | | | requires more additives than powder to keep it in liquid |
| After using Country Save for several months I noticed | | | | suspension. |
| the diapers started to get an awful smell every time | | | | * Avoid any detergent that contains actual soap. It will |
| he peed. I mean it was gross! I never once thought it | | | | leave a residue on your diapers that can cause them |
| was the detergent. I mean why would I? It was one of | | | | to repel moisture. |
| the cloth diaper safe detergents. So I tried every | | | | * Detergents that commonly known to cause |
| solution I could find to try to get rid of the odor. I tried | | | | problems for cloth diapers are: Arm & Hammer |
| stripping, soaking in Bac-Out, and other things to no | | | | Fabricare, Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin, Cheer, Gain, |
| avail. I could not get rid of the stink! I think I soaked | | | | Melaluca MelaPower, Nature Clean, SA8, The |
| them in Bac-Out so many times I actually contributed | | | | Laundress, Tide HE. |
| to the detergent build up. I *almost* stopped using cloth. | | | | Be wary of lists telling you what detergents are safe |
| Finally someone suggested something that I hadn't tried | | | | and not safe. Not all these lists are current and up to |
| - changing my detergent. So I made the switch. I | | | | date. Do your research on the detergents yourself. |
| bought some Tide, after all moms were raving about it. | | | | Read the ingredients and make sure there is nothing in |
| I stripped my diapers and did a long vinegar soak on | | | | them that is bad for your diapers. |
| my fitteds and a bleach soak on my microfiber. It was | | | | If you have been using a detergent that has caused |
| like magic - the stink was gone! I was a believer in | | | | build up and then switch to another detergent that is |
| Tide. It was a life saver! | | | | good for cloth, then you may have issues. You need |
| Or so I thought. I was on the Tide bandwagon and | | | | to do a good stripping on the diapers to remove all of |
| loving it. Tide saved me from my build up problems. | | | | the build up. Other wise you may find your diapers |
| Then after months of using Tide my son started to | | | | becoming stinky or start to repel. |
| have horrible ammonia stink in his morning diapers. It | | | | The Final Scoop |
| was some of the worst stench ever. It could knock | | | | I'm not an expert on choosing a detergent nor do I |
| you out, seriously. Then came the redness. I would | | | | claim to be, but I want to help save other mamas from |
| change his diaper in the morning and his crotch area | | | | all the trouble I went through. I know there are mamas |
| would be bright red. It would clear up by the next | | | | who have had to quite cloth diapering because of |
| change, but something just wasn't right. Another | | | | issues caused by build up because they never figured |
| mystery problem...Couldn't be the Tide could it? | | | | out what the problem was. I want to get families |
| I tried cutting back on how much detergent I was using | | | | started on the right track with cloth diapering so they |
| and it didn't help. I did some research and realized the | | | | can enjoy it. |
| moms who didn't like Tide complained of chemical burn | | | | Hopefully my story and the information I have shared |
| and detergent build up. It sounded like what I was | | | | with you helps you out in choosing a detergent - I wish |
| experiencing. I started looking around at the new | | | | someone had shared this with me years ago! |