What detergent can I use to wash my cloth diapers?

What Detergent Should I Use for Washing Cloth Diapers?

Choosing the best detergent for cloth diapers can feel overwhelming. Between eco-friendly detergents, homemade laundry soaps, mainstream detergents like Tide, and products marketed specifically as “cloth diaper safe,” it can be difficult to know what actually works.

At Kanga Care, we spend countless hours testing detergents on real cloth diapers so parents do not have to guess. The truth is: not all detergents are capable of properly cleaning human waste. A detergent may work perfectly fine for everyday clothing while still causing buildup, lingering odors, leaks, repelling, stains, or ammonia issues in cloth diapers.

Many families choose cloth diapers because they want a more natural, eco-conscious option for their baby. Ironically, some of the gentlest marketed detergents are actually too weak to properly break down and remove waste from absorbent diaper fabrics.

The key is understanding what ingredients actually matter. For cloth diapers to get truly clean, detergents need the correct balance of:

• Enzymes to break down proteins, fats, and waste
• Surfactants to lift and wash away soil
• Builders and water softeners to help detergents work effectively
• Adequate cleaning strength without leaving behind softeners or residue

In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what to look for in a cloth diaper detergent, what ingredients to avoid, which detergents we recommend, and how to troubleshoot common wash routine problems.

Also read: How often do I need to wash my cloth diapers?

What Are Enzymes and Surfactants?

Enzymes and surfactants are cleaning ingredients that play a vital role in breaking down and removing human waste from cloth diapers.

Surfactants help lift soil away from fabric. One end of the surfactant molecule is attracted to dirt and oils, while the other end is attracted to water. When your washing machine fills and agitates, surfactants help pull waste out of the diaper fibers so it can rinse away.

Enzymes help break down proteins, fats, oils, starches, and organic waste without relying on extremely hot water. This is especially important for cloth diapers because diapers are exposed to urine, stool, skin oils, diaper creams, and body soils.

Together, enzymes and surfactants create a much more effective wash. Enzymes help break waste apart, and surfactants help carry that waste out of the fabric.

What Enzymes Are Best for Washing Cloth Diapers?

For cloth diapers, we recommend choosing a detergent that contains multiple clearly listed enzymes. If the ingredient list only says “enzyme blend” without identifying the enzymes, it may be harder to evaluate how effective that detergent will be.

Helpful enzymes for cloth diapers include:

• Amylase: Breaks down starches
• Mannanase: Helps break down organic waste and food-based soils
• Lipase: Breaks down fats, oils, and grease
• Protease: Breaks down protein-based waste and body soils

Protease is especially helpful for cloth diapers because it targets protein-based organic waste, which is one of the major soil types found in diaper laundry.

What Surfactants Clean Cloth Diapers Effectively?

Surfactants are essential because they help remove debris from fibers after enzymes begin breaking waste down. Most detergents contain some form of surfactant, but not all surfactant systems are strong enough for cloth diapers.

Common detergent surfactants may include ingredients such as:

• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Sodium laureth sulfate
• Alcohol ethoxylates
• Alkylbenzene sulfonates
• Other anionic or nonionic surfactants

For cloth diapers, the goal is not simply finding a “natural” detergent. The goal is finding a detergent with enough cleaning strength to remove urine, stool, and body soils from highly absorbent fabric.

What If a Detergent Says “Cloth Diaper Safe”?

A detergent label may say “cloth diaper safe,” but that does not always mean the formula is strong enough to clean cloth diapers well. Some homemade laundry soaps, boutique detergents, and extra-gentle formulas do not contain enough enzymes, surfactants, builders, or cleaning power to fully remove human waste.

This is why we recommend looking at the ingredient list instead of relying only on marketing claims.

Ingredients and additives to avoid include:

• Fabric softeners: These can coat fibers and cause repelling or leaks.
• Petroleum-based softening ingredients: These may leave residue that reduces absorbency.
• Sodium cocoate or other cocoates: These soap-based ingredients can build up on fabric and cause repelling.
• Unbuffered sodium metasilicate: This can be too harsh and may cause skin irritation when trapped in absorbent fabrics.
• Soap-based homemade detergents: These often lack the cleaning ingredients needed for diaper laundry.

Laundry Additives to Avoid in Cloth Diaper Wash Routines

Some laundry additives may seem helpful, but they are not always appropriate for cloth diapers. We recommend avoiding routine use of the following additives unless specifically instructed by Kanga Care customer care:

• Borax: Borax can be abrasive and may be too harsh for cloth diaper materials over time. It may help with odor in some laundry situations, but it does not replace the need for a strong, enzyme-based detergent.
• Bac-Out: Bac-Out can help neutralize odor, but it does not solve the root cause of diaper odor. If your diapers smell after washing, the wash routine usually needs to be adjusted.
• Scent boosters: Products like scent beads or fragrance crystals should not be used to cover up diaper odor. Odor means the diapers are not getting fully clean.

If you are dealing with recurring stink, ammonia, leaks, or buildup, please reach out to us at hello@kangacare.com so we can help troubleshoot your wash routine.

Best Detergents for Cloth Diapers: Kanga Care Approved

Selecting the right detergent is one of the most important parts of maintaining the cleanliness, absorbency, and longevity of your cloth diapers. Through testing and customer support experience, we have found that the following detergents tend to work best for Kanga Care cloth diaper products:

• Tide: Any Tide except Tide Simply and Tide with Downy
• Gain: Gain Original and Gain formulas without added fabric softener
• Persil: Most standard Persil formulas
• Molly Suds Liquid Baby Detergent: Liquid formula only, and only when used with Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Booster

Important: Detergent formulas can change over time. We recommend checking current ingredients before purchasing, especially if a product has been reformulated, rebranded, or released in a new scent or version.

For the most up-to-date detergent help, use our Cloth Diaper Detergent Finder to check your detergent ingredients.

Can I Use Boosters in My Cloth Diaper Load?

There are approved boosters you can incorporate into your cloth diaper wash routine when extra cleaning support is needed. Boosters should not replace detergent, and they should not be used to mask odors. If diapers smell after washing, that usually means the wash routine needs adjustment.

Only use boosters with an approved laundry detergent.

• Biz: An enzyme booster that may help with stains, odors, and hard water laundry challenges.
• OxiClean: Can help brighten and remove stains, but should not be used as a substitute for proper detergent or routine troubleshooting.
• Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Booster: A concentrated enzyme booster that can help strengthen weaker detergent formulas.
• Branch Basics Oxygen Boost: A fragrance-free oxygen booster that may help whiten and brighten laundry.

Note: While Kanga Care may approve certain boosters, this does not mean we approve all detergents from those same companies for cloth diaper washing. Boosters and detergents should be evaluated separately.

Is Vinegar Suitable for Washing Cloth Diapers?

At Kanga Care, we do not recommend using vinegar as part of your regular cloth diaper wash routine. Vinegar is acidic, and repeated use may shorten the life of cloth diaper materials, especially waterproof laminate and elastics.

Using vinegar regularly may accelerate aging of the TPU laminate, which is the waterproof layer used in many cloth diapers and covers. It may also weaken elastics over time.

We also do not recommend vinegar on Bamboo 6r Soakers, prefolds, or flats. Over time, vinegar can make natural fibers brittle and may reduce absorbency.

The only Kanga Care cloth diapering items that may be treated with vinegar in specific troubleshooting situations are hemp and microfiber inserts. Even then, vinegar should only be used when recommended as part of a specific troubleshooting method, not as a routine wash additive.

How to Know If Your Detergent Is Causing Cloth Diaper Problems

Your detergent may not be working well for cloth diapers if you notice:

• Diapers smell clean at first but stink after baby pees
• Strong ammonia odor
• Recurring rashes or irritation
• Leaks even when the diaper is not fully saturated
• Repelling or liquid rolling off absorbent fabric
• Excessive staining that does not improve with proper washing
• Diapers feel stiff, coated, or greasy

If you are unsure whether your detergent is the issue, start with the Kanga Care Cloth Diaper Detergent Finder. You can also contact us at hello@kangacare.com for personalized wash routine support.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cloth Diaper Detergent

What is the best detergent for cloth diapers?

The best detergent for cloth diapers is one that contains strong surfactants, multiple enzymes, and does not contain fabric softeners or residue-causing ingredients. Tide Original, Persil, and certain Gain formulas are among the most commonly recommended and tested options for properly cleaning cloth diapers.

Can I use eco-friendly detergent on cloth diapers?

Some eco-friendly detergents can work for cloth diapers, but many are not strong enough to fully remove human waste. Always check for proper enzymes and surfactants. Weak detergents may lead to ammonia, stink issues, leaks, repelling, and buildup over time.

Why do cloth diapers start leaking after a few months?

Leaks are often caused by detergent buildup, residue, weak wash routines, insufficient absorbency, or fabric softeners coating the fibers. Using a properly formulated detergent is one of the most important factors in cloth diaper performance.

Are homemade laundry detergents safe for cloth diapers?

Most homemade detergents are not recommended for cloth diapers because they typically lack the enzymes and surfactants needed to properly break down human waste. Many also contain soap-based ingredients that can coat fibers and cause repelling.

Can fabric softener ruin cloth diapers?

Yes. Fabric softeners, scent beads, petroleum-based additives, and certain cocoates can coat absorbent fibers and reduce absorbency. This can lead to leaking, repelling, and difficulty getting diapers clean.

How do I know if my detergent is cloth diaper safe?

The easiest way is to use the Kanga Care Cloth Diaper Detergent Finder, which analyzes detergent ingredients and flags common problem ingredients that can affect cloth diaper performance.

Have a detergent you would like reviewed?
If there is a detergent you are interested in trying and you are curious if it will work for cloth diapers, email us at hello@kangacare.com. We would be happy to review it!