Less than a month into cloth diapering, I have to say things are going pretty well. Several things impress me about using cloth:

1. “We’re out of diapers, better throw a load in.” vs. “We’re out of diapers, crap, let’s dig through the couch for some change. Oh shoot, I need gas, too!” (Yep, that’s how it was before!)
2. The cloth diapers really trap in the smell of a poopy diaper. So much so that I’m often surprised to find he did go #2 when I open up the diaper during a change.
3. With a fleece liner, cloth wicks away moisture just as well as disposable.
4. His bum looks so cute, most of the time I just put a t-shirt on him and call it a day (unless we’re going somewhere, anyway).

I use Thirsties Diaper Wash, which costs $19.99 from Nicki’s Diapers and does 64 loads. Now it has come to my attention that maybe this isn’t the most effective, or cheapest route when it comes to washing my diapers. I’m always looking for ways to save a buck, but if there’s one thing I don’t want is a loss of quality when it comes to clean diapers. I hate diaper rash. I fear build up (and leaks). I detest bad smells. So far, I have had none of these problems (at least due to my detergent). Still, I’m curious if other detergents can do as well or better for less money.

I decided to turn to a few dependable cloth diapering websites and see what they had to say about detergent.

The Experts’ Recommendations:

Nicki’s Diapers

• Use a laundry detergent that is free of dyes, perfumes, enzymes, brighteners, bleach and softeners. Laundry additives may prematurely break down elastic, hook & loop and waterproof material. Follow diaper manufacturer recommendations when considering these. (Recommended detergents: Rockin’ Green Cloth Diaper Detergent, Country Save, or Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin)
• DO NOT use Dreft or Fabric Softeners – they will coat cloth diapers and decrease absorbency.

Diaper Pin

• Run the wash with hot water, detergent and 1/2 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda. Since my baby has sensitive skin, I use All HypoAllergen detergent. (I’m assuming she’s talking about All Free Clear.)

Green Mountain Diapers
(The author talks extensively about washing suggestions, but here are a few key points concerning detergent.)

• My favorite detergent is Charlie’s Soap Laundry Powder or Liquid.
• If the package says “brightens colors” or has whiteners or brighteners, or “optical or UV brighteners”, avoid it. That actually eliminates many of the mainstream laundry detergents, including both All and Purex “Free and Clear”. Avoid anything that says “keeps clothes fresh longer” or similar. That stuff, like Gain, is not rinsing out and causes buildup and possibly rashes.
• For a store-bought detergent, usually the store brand least expensive one, powder if possible, has the least additives and is best. Sams Choice (Wal-mart’s store brand) or Sun powder (by Huish brands) are examples of good ones.
• Tide, Ivory Snow and Dreft are considered harsh and are not recommended for regular use.

Cotton Babies

• All Free and Clear – Military Version
• Allen’s Naturally Powder/Liquid Standard & HE compatible
• Country Save Powder Standard & HE
• Mountain Green Free & Clear Standard & HE
• Mountain Green Free & Clear Baby Standard & HE
• Nellie’s All Natural Laundry Soda Standard & HE
• Planet Ultra Liquid
• Planet Ultra Powder Standard & HE compatible
• Planet 2X Ultra Standard & HE

The Diaper Jungle
This site has a pretty nice chart with a rating system. I counted their highest rated detergents as a “vote.” Even then, I was still overwhelmed by the sheer number of recommended detergents. Geesh! I’m not going to add new detergents to the voting poll below, only count the ones here that are already listed, otherwise this is just going to get ridiculous. So if it’s on this list, and not on the one below, keep in mind it has one vote, okay?

• Mountain Green Free and Clear
• Allen’s Naturally Powder
• Arm & Hammer Essentials Free
• Bio-O-Kleen
• Charlie’s Soap
• Country Save
• Drops
• Ecos Free & Clear
  
• EnviroRite
• Lifekind
• Maggie’s Soap Nuts
• Nature Clean
• Nellie’s Laundry Soda
• Oxy-Prime
• Penguin
• Planet
• SensiClean
• Sport-Wash
• Sun and Earth
• Trader Joe’s
  

Overall “Votes” for Detergents:

1. Rockin’ Green Cloth Diaper Detergent (Classic)
   Votes: 1
   Cost per load: $0.31
2. Country Save
   Votes: 3
   Cost per load: $0.24
3. Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin
   Votes: 1
   Cost per load: $0.06 (if you use 1/4 of the normal amount as recommended)
4. Thirsties Super Wash (I currently use)
   Votes: 0
   Cost per load: $0.31



5. All Free Clear + Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
   Votes: 2 (+ 1 negative vote = so perhaps that makes 1 vote?)
   Cost per load: $0.06 + $0.27 = $0.33 (1/4 strength detergent plus 1/2 cup soda)
6. Charlie’s Soap
   Votes: 2
   Cost per load:  $0.19
7. Allen’s (5lb powder)
   Votes: 2
   Cost per load: $0.13
8. Mountain Green Free & Clear (Baby)
   Votes: 2
   Cost per load: $0.33
9. Nellie’s All Natural
   Votes: 2
   Cost per load: $0.19
10. Planet (powder)
    Votes: 2
    Cost per load: $0.29

*Note: I did not include shipping costs on my prices, since many of these are available at cloth diaper stores or regular stores.

Conclusion:

Several detergents got more than one vote, but the only one that got 3 votes from the top sites I visited was Country Save. Interestingly enough, I did not find one recommendation for Thirsties Super Wash. My friend just ordered Classic Rock and we are going to compare it to Thirsties by trading some detergent. When my Thirsties runs out, I want to try Country Save, because it’s so popular, or Allen’s because it’s so inexpensive. I haven’t decided yet… Which one do you think I should experiment with next? Do you have a personal favorite? Where do you find the best deal?