DIY or Buy? Cloth Diaper Detergent

I had a lot of questions when I first committed to cloth diapering. Among those were the issue of washing your diapers - Can I use normal detergent?  If not, what do I need to make my own?  Will it be expensive?

Can I use normal detergent?

The answer to this is both yes and no.  Some readily available detergent brands offer options that are okay for cloth diaper use.  Others don't.  So what do you look for?

Avoid: Brighteners, Fabric Softeners, Dyes, Fragrances, and Enzymes
Brighteners purposefully leave behind a chemical residue in order to absorb light to make fabrics brighter, but this can cause skin irritation.  Fabric softeners are another component of detergents that, on purpose, leave behind residue - this time for making fabric feel softer.  However, fabric softeners also have the side-effect of causing fabrics to become water resistant - this can ruin the absorbancy of your diapers, effectively making them useless.  Dyes and fragrances in detergent are another potential source of skin irritation from harsh chemicals - and they are bad for the environment!  Finally enzymes, used as stain removers, can inadvertently attack your baby's skin if residue is left on your diapers due to their ability to breakdown organic materials.

Common detergents safe for use with cloth diapers
Some "free and clear" options from major detergent brands can be okay for use, though not ideal.  Many of them contain brighteners and/or fragrances, despite the "free and clear" label.  However, there are a few detergents that can work really well - like Arm & Hammer Essentials Free, which is free of dyes, phosphates, bleaches and fragrances.

What do I need to make my own cloth diaper detergent?

There are a lot of DIY recipes out there for cloth diaper use - many of which utilize very few ingredients and can be made easily at home.  The basic items in most of these detergents may include washing soda, borax, and baking soda.  Occasionally you'll see options that include the use of essential oils or other natural products as well.  Here are a few resources from The Eco-Friendly Family to check out and see if you'd be interested in trying your hand at DIY detergent:

Images (c) The Eco-Friendly Family

Will cloth diaper detergent be expensive?

It doesn't have to be.  You can certainly buy a boutique-brand detergent from a specialty store and end up paying a fortune for your cloth diaper detergent - However, most cloth diaper detergents aren't expensive at all.  DIY detergent can cost as little as $30 for 5 gallons of powder detergent that can last up to a year.  Brands like bumGenius offer cloth diaper detergent that costs under $15.00 for a supply estimated to last for 60-70 wash cycles.  Arm & Hammer Essentials Free is below the $10.00 mark for 50fl oz. 

So... DIY or Buy?

That's up to your personal preference - I've always been attracted to the idea of DIY detergent, but Cozy Hubby isn't comfortable with it, worrying that it won't sufficiently clean what we need it to clean.  Bottom line - Do what's best for you, your baby, and your diapers!