There are many, many detergent recipes available on the internet. Most uses various combinations of the same ingredients. This recipe is one I've adapted over time that works best at our house. I prefer a scented detergent, and no one in my family has any fragrance sensitivities. If your baby has sensitive skin, you will need to change out some ingredients, or switch to a store-bought, fragrance-free detergent.
The type of water you have, the type of washing machine you have, the style and brand of diapers you use, and your baby's own body chemistry can all affect how well a detergent works. Although this detergent recipe works perfectly in my home, it may require some tweaking for yours. Before using any detergent, homemade or not, you should check the manufacturer's instructions for your cloth diapers. Some detergent ingredients could void your diaper warranty, and some manufacturers may want you to avoid certain ingredients because they say they could damage your diaper components. As I've said, this detergent has worked very well for me and has not damaged my cloth diaper stash, but your experience could be different.
To begin, you'll need to gather your ingredients. I use:
- 2 bars of Dr. Bronner's Pure Castille Soap (Compare Prices on Pricegrabber.com)
- 1 box 20 Mule Team Borax
- 1 box Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not baking soda)
