Are Free and Clear Detergents Really That Bad?
This is a great question! We get calls daily about leaking/smelling cloth diapers. When we ask "what detergent are
you using?", 99% of the time it is one of the Free and Clear detergents listed above. When the diapers are stripped
and a different detergent is used, the leaks/smells go away. In our own local community, no one can use Free and
Clear detergents. Our diapers start smelling after two weeks due to detergent residue on the diapers (and that
horrible rotten egg, foul fishy smell)!
Does this mean that Free and Clear detergents won't work for you? No! Some customers use and love their Free
and Clear detergents. It really depends on the make-up of your local water supply. If you are currently using Free
and Clear detergents, and you are having no issues, then continue!
I've moved and my diapers started leaking!
This another testament to how much your detergent is dependent on your water-type! Several of our customers
have moved to another city/state and within a week their Free and Clear detergent that they've been using for years
with the same old washer and wash routine suddenly causes their diapers to leak/smell. It is amazing!
I have a friend that uses a Free and Clear detergent...
If you have a friend a few doors down from you that has been using Free and Clear detergents for their cloth
diapers for a while, chances are that you'll have success with it too, since you most likely have the same water
supply.
What is a Microbiostat?
Microbiostats are usually a type of fungicide or insecticide meant to inhibith the growth of microorganisms or kill
microorganisms in clothes. For those with sensitivities to dust mites, microbiostats keep their skin rash-free by
keeping their clothes free from microorganisms.
High Efficiency Washers
High efficiency washing machines pose a special challenge to cloth diapers because of the little amount of water
they use. The key seems to use only a tad of detergent and to run an extra rinse cycle with white distilled vinegar.
Some people will manually add a few gallons of water into their machine before washing or do several rinse cycles
afterwards.
Detergents for High Efficiency Washers
We have yet to find a detergent specifically made for HE washers that doesn't leave cloth diapers smelling or
repelling after a few weeks. Instead, we have had great success using regular detergents (Tide, Allen's Naturally,
Charlies, etc.) but in extremely small amounts. That means anywhere from 1/2 tsp - 2 TBL. However, if you use
any non-HE detergent, you may void your washer's warranty.
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