10 Best Detergents for Cloth Diapers (2025 Reviews)

Looking for the Best Detergent for Cloth Diapers that won’t harm your baby’s cloth diapers or the environment?

Which one is the best? Choosing the Best Detergent for Cloth Diapers can be a daunting task. However, it’s essential if you want your cloth diapering experience to be a success. Cloth diapering is a noble idea, but it comes with a slew of drawbacks. Getting them all cleaned up and ready for reuse is one such challenge.

There are some things to consider before making your final decision on the best detergent for cloth diapers. When it comes to laundry detergent, most mothers just throw in the same stuff they use on other clothes and call it good. Your baby’s skin is extremely delicate, and the detergent may cause irritation or even an allergic reaction. As a result, we’ve compiled this list of the best detergent for cloth diapers just for babies. Choose from our selection of top-rated cloth diaper detergents to keep your baby’s skin healthy while washing at the same time.

---

Best Detergent For Cloth Diapers Reviews

1. Seventh Generation Ultra Power Plus

While it is easy on the environment, Seventh Generation Ultra Power Plus is powerful enough to clean your baby’s soiled diapers. It has three enzymes in it, so even the hardest feces stains may be removed. As a bonus, this non-toxic baby detergent is devoid of irritating synthetic perfumes and optical brighteners, making it ideal to use on your child’s sensitive skin as well.

You will need to wash your diapers in hot water for the primary wash. Moreover, you can use 1.5 to 2 times the detergent advised by the manufacturer if using a plant-based detergent. If your water is very hard, you will additionally need the usage of a water softener.

---

2. Tide Powder Detergent

Tide Original Powder is highly recommended by many cloth diaper devotees. Tide Powder is so effective at washing cloth diapers that many ecologically aware parents will switch to it. Tide Powder will keep your diapers fresh-smelling and almost stain-free. This highly soluble detergent is effective in both hot and cold water and will nearly eliminate residue from your cloth diapers, hence reducing the risk of buildup and leakage. On top of that, most families can afford it.

Unless your water hardness is more than 180 parts per million (ppm), you may skip using a separate water softener with Tide Powder. If you have hard water, this is an excellent idea since it will streamline your laundry process and save you money. Use this traditional detergent if you are having trouble cleaning your cloth diapers.

---

3. Rockin’ Green Natural Laundry Detergent Powder

You will have a lot of washing to do while using cloth diapers, and you do not want to have to go out and buy extra laundry soap all the time. You will save time and money by using a large-capacity detergent like this one. There are no fillers, colors, perfumes, or other dangerous substances because of its extremely concentrated recipe. Approximately 90 loads of laundry may be cleaned using only one bag’s worth of powdered detergent. It will last for a very long time because you only need a few teaspoons every wash.

Babies with dry or sensitive skin, chemical sensitivities, or scent allergies can benefit greatly from the gentle yet thorough cleaning. To get the best results, use soft or moderately hard water with this natural detergent. As a bonus, it has been designed to work in any kind of washing machine, so residue or unsanitary structures will not be an issue.

---

4. Charlie’s Soap Laundry Detergent

Using this laundry powder, you may get a fantastic deal on a thorough clean. For heavy loads, use just one spoonful of detergent. You may use one bag for up to 100 loads. A powder detergent such as this one has several benefits. Your clothing and washing machine will not be harmed because it soaks deep into the fibers of your cloth diapers without leaving any residue. In addition, you can use it on a variety of materials, so you may use it on cloth diapers and anything else you can imagine.

The eco-friendliness component is a big plus. Ingredients have been formulated to be more biodegradable while also being non-toxic. As a result, it is gentle enough for your child’s delicate skin.

---

5. Tide Free & Gentle Detergent

Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry is highly recommended by many cloth diaper devotees. Tide liquid is so effective at washing cloth diapers that many ecologically aware parents will switch to it. Tide liquid will keep your diapers fresh-smelling and almost stain-free. This highly soluble detergent is effective in both hot and cold water and will nearly eliminate residue from your cloth diapers, hence reducing the risk of buildup and leakage. On top of that, most families can afford it.

Unless your water hardness is more than 180 parts per million (ppm), you may skip using a separate water softener with Tide liquid. If you have hard water, this is an excellent idea since it will streamline your laundry process and save you money. Use this traditional detergent if you are having trouble cleaning your cloth diapers.

---

6. Tide Liquid HE Turbo Clean

Tide Original Powder is highly recommended by many cloth diaper devotees. Tide Powder is so effective at washing cloth diapers that many ecologically aware parents will switch to it. Tide Powder will keep your diapers fresh-smelling and almost stain-free. This highly soluble detergent is effective in both hot and cold water and will nearly eliminate residue from your cloth diapers, hence reducing the risk of buildup and leakage. On top of that, most families can afford it.

Unless your water hardness is more than 180 parts per million (ppm), you may skip using a separate water softener with Tide Powder. If you have hard water, this is an excellent idea since it will streamline your laundry process and save you money. Use this traditional detergent if you are having trouble cleaning your cloth diapers.

---

7. Arm & Hammer Plus OxiClean

This detergent from Arm & Hammer has the same cleansing and odor-eliminating properties as Arm & Hammer baking soda. Over 100 different stains are broken down by OxiClean’s enzymes, so you do not have to worry about those bothersome dog-poo marks. Even as a spot treatment for stains, it is fantastic. With this detergent, you can be sure that your diapers will be left smelling fresh.

There is no need to buy two different detergents if you use this affordable detergent, which is available at almost any major retailer.

---

8. Gain Liquid Original Scent Detergent

Gain Liquid makes it simple to clean your cloth diapers. Even if your hands are wet with really soft water, your diapers will still be spotless and smell amazing. There is no need to purchase two different detergents since this one is color-safe and can be used for all of your laundry requirements. Use this detergent if you have soft water and want to save money while still getting your diapers clean and smelling fresh.

---

9. Foca Powder Biodegradable Laundry Detergent

Because water softener is not required until 150 parts per million (ppm) with Foca powder, life should be simpler. Your primary wash will require 1/2 cup Borax or 1 capful of Calgon if your water hardness is more than 150 ppm. This will ensure that the detergent does its job of cleaning your dirty diapers.

Using Foca Powder means you will not have to worry about detergent residue causing absorbency concerns because of the built-in water softener. Foca powder also has a mild aroma, so your cloth diapers will not smell like chemicals and your baby’s sensitive skin will not be irritated by it.

---

10. Purex Mountain Breeze Detergent

You can save money by using Purex instead of more expensive brands. Since you will not need to buy two different detergents as often, this low-cost detergent is great for both diapers and clothes. With the addition of a water softener, you can even use this low-cost detergent in hard water.

As a result, if you are having trouble getting rid of tough stains with Purex alone, consider switching to Purex Plus Oxi or using an enzyme booster like Biz in addition to Purex.

---

How to Choose the Best Detergent For Cloth Diapers? — A Buyer’s Guide

1. Soaps
   Choosing them is one of the easiest decisions you’ll ever have to make. The majority of people use soaps to clean their homes. Pure soaps have only one drawback: they tend to leave a lot of residue in your baby’s diapers. The scums in the soap are no different. Diapers that have been exposed to soap scum will lose their ability to absorb moisture. Disrupting the diaper’s laminates, for example, can cause the water to soak in rather than be repelled.
2. Enzymes Are Biological Catalysts
   When it comes to cleaning cloth diapers, using enzymes is a great option. Because they’re organic, they attack other organics. As a result, the stains in water dissolve. Because sweat, human feces, and urine are all organic substances, the enzymes may also be interested in them. For babies with sensitive skin, this could lead to rashes and open sores.
3. Dyes and Fragrances
   While perfumes and dyes can go well with adult clothing, avoid using them on your child’s cloth diapers. Their harshness on a baby’s skin is due to the high concentration of unnecessary chemicals. The presence of petroleum is one of the primary causes of this. When exposed to the majority of these chemicals, they will rapidly bio-magnify. It’s also worth noting that it has the potential to cause other side effects, such as allergic reactions.

---

Top Reasons to Buy a Good Detergent for Cloth Diapers

The following are some of the most compelling reasons to purchase the best diaper detergent. There are several advantages to using the best detergent for cloth diapers. Here are a few good reasons to invest in laundry detergent:

• Both high-efficiency and top-load washing machines benefit from detergents.
• Detergent works with both hard and soft water.
• The only drawback is that using hard water means you’ll have to use more water overall.
• Regardless of whether you’re using all-in-one or flat cloth diapers, you can clean them with your regular laundry detergent.
• Detergents can also be used on a wide range of fabrics thanks to their versatility.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What To Do Before Washing The Diapers?
To begin the rinsing process, all washers should use the rinsing cycle. In some circles, this is referred to as the pre-wash cycle. In this cycle, add a small amount of detergent to help speed up the cleaning process. The cycle has a 10 to 15-minute maximum run time.

How To Dry Cloth Diapers?
Line drying your cloth diapers is one of the most environmentally friendly options for drying them. It will ensure that the diaper is free of stains that the wash was unable to remove. It also has the added benefit of softening the diaper, which some mothers prefer.

Shall I Use Bleach On Cloth Diapers?
Even though bleaches are primarily used to kill viruses and bacteria, they are ineffective when used to clean cloth diapers. It’s for a very simple reason. It is important to wash cloth diapers with soap that is kind to a baby’s skin because bleach contains harsh chemicals that defeat the purpose of using cloth diapers. But if you are unsure about disinfecting the cloths correctly, make an appointment with a pediatrician.

(Also Read: What are Cloth Diaper Liners?)

---

Conclusion

Finding the Best Detergents for Cloth Diapers is a challenge because the results are always based on personal preference. Others are more concerned with how well it works than with how it smells. Every one of the above-mentioned detergents is a top pick on the market right now.