Seventh Generation Ultra Power+ Packs include a solid four-enzyme system and basic builders, which support moderate cleaning performance. However, the formula relies on a lighter surfactant structure and includes a coconut oil soap component, which can increase residue risk in cloth diapers over time. Best suited for lightly to moderately soiled laundry rather than heavy-duty diaper loads.
Even a well-formulated detergent works best when paired with a proper wash routine. If you are new to cloth diapering, we recommend reviewing our Cloth Diaper FAQ along with our step-by-step Wash and Care Guide. These resources explain proper load sizing, water levels, and cycle structure to help prevent buildup, odors, and leaks. Pairing the right detergent strength with a consistent wash routine will provide the most reliable long-term cloth diaper performance.
QUICK SCORE
★★☆☆☆2.0/5
Avoid: High risk. Weak formulation signals for heavy soil cleaning in cloth diapers.
Surfactants:Â Not found. No surfactant signal found.
Enzymes:Â Pass. Specific enzyme signal found (protease is most important).
Builders:Â Pass. Builder or alkalinity support signal found.
Chelators:Â Not found. No strong chelator. Does contain a mild mineral helper (example: citrate). Hard water may still cause residue.
Oxygen system:Â Not found. For tougher stains and odor control, consider adding an oxygen bleach booster (sodium percarbonate).
Red flags detected:Â None detected.
26 POINT DYNAMIC SCORING SYSTEM
9/26
The Kanga Care 26 Point Dynamic Scoring System evaluates how well a detergent is likely to clean cloth diapers without causing buildup or repelling. Each formula is reviewed across five key areas including surfactants, enzymes, builders, chelators, and oxygen bleach based on the maximum number of ideal ingredients a detergent can contain, and awarded 1 point each for a maximum score of 26. Higher scores indicate stronger cleaning systems and fewer risk factors.
Most US detergents score well below the top range. Scores above 22 are considered extremely high performance, often found in EU detergents.
What are chelators in laundry detergent and why do they matter for cloth diapers?
Chelators are ingredients in laundry detergent that bind to minerals in hard water, such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals can interfere with cleaning and leave behind residue in fabrics.
In cloth diaper washing, chelators play a very important role because they help detergent work effectively even in hard water conditions. Without a strong chelator, minerals can:
Reduce cleaning performance
Cause buildup in diaper fibers
Contribute to odors and repelling
Make detergents less effective over time
A well-formulated cloth diaper safe detergent typically includes a strong chelating system to keep minerals suspended in the wash water so they rinse away instead of redepositing into the fabric.
If your detergent does not contain an effective chelator and you have hard water, you may need to adjust your routine or add a water softening strategy to prevent buildup.
Cloth diaper safe water softeners include:
Sodium carbonate (washing soda)
Sodium citrate
Zeolite (sodium aluminosilicate)
Sodium polyacrylate (polymer dispersant)
Calgon
DO NOT USE the following water softeners:
Borax (sodium borate): Effective for fabric-only diaper styles (flats, prefolds) but should not be used on modern style cloth diapers containing waterproof laminates and elastics.
What is an oxygen system in detergent and why is it important for cloth diapers?
An oxygen system in laundry detergent refers to oxygen-based cleaning agents (often called oxygen bleach or sodium percarbonate) that help break down organic stains and odors. When activated in the wash, these ingredients release oxygen that lifts and removes soils from fabric.
For cloth diapers, an oxygen system is especially important because diapers contain heavy biological soils like urine, feces, and ammonia. Surfactants alone can loosen dirt, but oxygen boosters help fully break down and eliminate deep-set organic waste that can otherwise lead to lingering odors, staining, or buildup over time.
Detergents that include a properly balanced oxygen system typically provide:
Better odor removal
Improved stain lifting
Deeper sanitation for heavily soiled diapers
Reduced risk of ammonia buildup
While not every effective cloth diaper detergent must contain oxygen bleach, formulas that include it often perform more reliably for families washing full-time diaper loads, especially in warm or hot water.
For best results, the oxygen system should be paired with strong surfactants and proper wash routines.
Are Seventh Generation Power+ Laundry Packs safe for cloth diapers?
They can work for some households, but they are not considered a top-performing option for heavy cloth diaper loads. The lighter surfactant system and presence of coconut oil soap may lead to buildup over time. Use with caution. Double the recommended dose size is recommended to ensure a thorough clean, along with an an additional enzyme booster (like Dirty Labs Enzyme Booster). Diapers will likely require regular deep cleaning and stripping.
Why do Seventh Generation Ultra Power+ packs struggle with cloth diapers?
Cloth diapers require strong surfactants and robust mineral control. This formula is more moderate-duty and may not provide the same deep-clean performance as heavy-duty powder detergents.
Can the coconut oil ingredient cause problems in cloth diapers?
Possibly. Coconut oil functions similarly to soap and can contribute to residue buildup or reduced absorbency in some water conditions, especially hard water.
Restore your cloth diapers with Mighty Bubbles. Learn the exact step-by-step stripping method, when to strip, and why it outperforms RLR for modern cloth diapers.
