The Best Washing Detergent to Use for YOUR Cloth Nappies

This is a common question when someone starts out with cloth nappies. You may begin just washing with whatever you have already in the cupboard, which is fine, but quickly realise this can be a bit of a mind field when talking to other cloth parents. There is so much advice out there and what you should and shouldn’t be using. The real answer is you need to pick a detergent that works for your family. That’s why I’ve dug into the science to make it simple for you to pick the best detergent to wash your cloth nappies with.

It is best to use a powder detergent when washing cloth nappies as powder gives a better clean and is proven to be better at stain removal. It also washes out of materials easier, making it less likely for any residue detergent to be left behind and irritate babies skin.

It’s important to get the right detergent for your family and your cloth nappies. I know many will tell you to keep it simple, to not over complicate things or worry about having the perfect washing routine. But really if you run into problems like I have in the past it can be really stressful trying to fix things. Avoid them with knowledge. Knowledge is power after all right?

The best washing powders for cloth nappies in the Uk

Waitrose Sensitive £1.85/kg

The best for sensitive skin and gives a good concentrated wash. Add bonus is that it is cruelty free.

2. Sainsburys Non-Bio £1.25/kg

Also gives a great clean and isn’t heavily scented so good for sensitive skin.

3. Surcare Senistive powder. £3.97/kg

Its the more expensive of the lot but if you have a baby with sensitive skin this will be kind to them as well as getting your nappies clean. 0 fragrance, 0 dyes, 0 enzymes. Also cruelty free.

4. Co-op Non Bio. £3.27/kg

Cleans well, suitable for vegans and cruelty free but is a little fragranced.

5. Fairy non-bio £3.65/kg

Effective cleaning but strong smelling, this is personal preference. I don’t like heavily fragranced products but some people love them.

Why use powder detergent over liquid with cloth nappies?

Reusable diaper manufacturers recommend using powdered detergents rather than liquid as they dissolves better and rinse out easier. This means they tend to wash better and are less likely to leave any detergent in the nappy which could lead to nappy rash.

There is a lot of talk within the cloth nappy community that liquid detergents can also leave a coating on nappies effecting their absorbency, however through research taken by the Nappy Science Gang there seems to be no evidence for this.

Other benefits of using a powdered detergent are it’s much cheaper, which is good if your washing nappies serval times a week. Easy to buy in bulk, comes in a carboard box and is concentrated so lighter to ship. All of which are much better for our planet, reducing plastic and the amount being transported. Something I guess is on your mind if your a cloth nappy user.

Should I use bio or non bio washing powder when washing cloth nappies?

You can use either Bio or Non Bio detergent on cloth nappies. Bio works best when washing at 40 degrees, while non-bio is more effective at 60 degrees. Recent studies have also proven bio detergents are NO more likely to cause skin irritations than non-bios, making them safe to use with cloth nappies used on babies.

There is evidence to say Bio detergents clean better than non bio, particularly with protein based stains, including poo.

But wait aren’t be always told NOT to use bio detergents with babies? So how can we use them with reusable nappies? Well it seems to stem back to a leaflet put out by the NHS some years ago advising that bio can irritate a babies skin. They have now retracted this statement after being unable to find any evidence behind this when questioned by the Nappy Science Gang.

Unfortunately the pull between which to use doesn’t end there. Many nappy manufacturers also recommend against bio powders, some to keep inline with the original NHS advice, some saying that certain enzymes in biological powders can damage nappies and invalidate their warranty, which The Nappy Lady goes into detail of here. There is some evidence that proves bio detergent could shorten the life span of some cotton or bamboo nappies.

However in other countries there is no such thing as the market being split between bio and non-bio. This as it turns out is a completely British thing. All detergents apart from in the UK are BIO. If non-bio does appear it’s a very niche thing.

What I’m trying to tell you with all this is use what you wish. I personally do not use biological detergents simply because I find most of them are fragranced heavily. Anything highly fragranced seems to make both my daughter and I react. This is also true of any fragranced non-bio so I’m careful what I buy. Our non-bio washes great at 60 degrees so I’m happy to carry on like this but if you do feel you want the cleanest of the clean, perhaps giving bio a go may be for you. The enzymes in bio detergents also work better at lower temperatures, so this may be something to consider if you want to use less electricity.

Many manufacturers also recommend washing at lower temperatures to extend the life of their nappies. To me washing at 60 degrees is important so I will risk a nappy wearing out slightly sooner, it is the same decision you can make for using bio too.

How much detergent should I use when washing cloth nappies?

When washing cloth nappies start by using the FULL amount of detergent recommended on the side of your detergent box. This can seem like an awful lot but it is often needed and can be adjusted if necessary. This is often depended on how hard or soft your water is.

For example for us it is the maximum amount recommended is 220ml. This is because we live in a hard water area, have a 9kg washing machine and add the recommend 50ml extra for heavy soiling. Dirty nappies defiantly come under the heavy soiling category.

According to more research done by the Nappy Science Gang the perfect amount of detergent for effective cleaning is when the amount of bubbles sit 2-3cm above the line of the water in the washing machine.

If the bubbles sit above the 2-3cm line or you still can see bubbles in the machine near the end of it’s cycle when it is rinsing, simply add a rinse cycle after the wash to make sure all detergent is washed out, then slowly reduce the amount of detergent in the next wash until you feel you have the perfect amount.

How to avoid detergent build up in your cloth nappies.

Unfortunately detergent build up is not a myth and can cause your nappies to not clean properly, become smelly or irritate skin. To avoid this there are a few things you can do.

Run your machine on a cleaning cycle once a month. Do this by putting it on the highest setting (90 degrees) and running on empty. Adding something like Calgon, or vinegar for a more natural clean, will help get rid of any detergent and limescale build up. Simply add a cup of vinegar straight into the drum or into the rinse aid section in the draw.
Washing your nappies with no detergent. Do this with clean, wet nappies. Simply put the machine on again when a nappy wash has finished at 60 degrees. You can do this serval times to make sure any detergent build up has been washed out. Do this every so often or if you think you may have detergent build up, often identified by your nappies becoming smelly.
Leave your nappies out in the rain. Rain water is much softer than our mains water, especially if you live in a hard water area. Rain water therefore makes for a great stripping agent. Leave clean nappies out in the rain, then bring them in and pop them on a rinse cycle. This can help get rid of detergent build up and leave your nappies nice and soft.

Remember if you think you’ve got detergent building up you will need to revisit how much detergent your using to make sure it doesn’t keep happening.

Read: “How to fix your wash routine.”

“How to rid cloth nappies of ammonia and other smelly problems.”

Should I use detergent in my cloth nappy pre-wash?

Use half the amount of detergent you use in your main wash in the pre-wash when washing cloth diapers. Usually between 1-2 scoops. It is important to pre-wash your nappy on a short wash cycle rather than pressing the pre-wash button on your washing machine to unsure the dirty water isn’t re-used.

For me this is a 30 minute 30 degree short cycle. Each machine will vary so pick the best option closest to this.

This is because most modern washing machines are so water efficient they reuse water from the pre-wash in the main wash. You do not want this with cloth nappies as the idea of a pre-wash is to rinse off any poo stains or residue and urine as much as possible before the main wash to get them very clean. You don’t want to be washing your nappies with dirty water after all. Just looking at the water throughout the pre-wash cycle will prove this to you. A small amount of detergent in the pre-wash will help with that process.

How does temperature effect detergent when washing cloth nappies?

Biological detergents wash better at 40 degrees when washing cloth diapers, anything higher than this can affect the enzymes working to clean your nappies or clothes properly. When using non-bio an effective clean will be achieved at 60 degrees.

What temperature should I wash my cloth nappies at to sanitise them?

60 degrees will effectively sanitize your cloth nappies with a non-bio detergent. Anything highly than this could damage the waterproof layer on your nappies, or degrade some materials within your nappies such as bamboo.

Although hospitals wash their materials at 74 degrees which would make your nappies so clean they could not habour any bacteria, interviewed for a study with The Nappy Science Gang Ian Strudwick a technical manager of Shirley Technologies stated, “washing at 60deg C with effective detergents is practically achievable and will give a perfect serviceable nappy for future use.”