Did you know that your not supposed to wash your cloth diapers in regular laundry detergent? On top of that, you're not even supposed to treat diaper stains with products (refer to my cloth diaper laundry tips for more information). The reason why you're not supposed to use detergent is because it builds up a residue in the fabric that creates wicking...aka you get leaks. That issue can be solved by "stripping" the diapers, a process you're more than welcome to Google should the problem arise. Anyway, the residue is similar to what happens to towels if you toss them in the dryer with a dryer sheet or fabric softener, which reminds me... NEVER USE DRYER SHEETS OR FABRIC SOFTENER with cloth diapers.
So what kind of detergent should you use? Well, homemade detergent (which I can't rave enough about. I LOVE mine) works great or you could buy some specially formulated for cloth diapers, such as Rockin' Green. Even then, less is more so it lasts a long, long time. Still, I don't even purchase regular laundry detergent because I make my own. I've heard great things about Rockin' Green, but it's still pretty pricey. So, I make my own cloth diaper detergent and let me tell you...I haven't had a single problem.
Supplies:
-Borax
-Sun Oxygen Cleaner or Baby OxyClean (do NOT use regular OxyClean!!)
-Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
Directions:
-Thoroughly mix 3 cups Borax, 3 cups Sun Oxygen Cleaner, and 3 cups Arm & Hammer Washing Soda in a plastic container with a lid.
-Store in plastic container.
-Use 1 tbsp of mixture per load.
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2 comments:
Do you use the same thing on the rest of your laundry? Do you have an HE or regular washer? I've never seen a recipe without grated soap.
I only use this detergent with my cloth diapers. The soap was taken out because that's what causes the residue. I have a regular washer.
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