We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn More..

Detergent Index | Your Cloth Diaper

Updated: December 28, 2019

What is a Detergent Index?

Our detergent index is continuely updated to bring you the most accurate and up to date information. Please keep in mind, what works for one person may not be suitable for you or your cicumstances. It’s best to test the recommendations below and use your own judegment.
A detergent index is an alphabetical listing of laundry detergent products with references to the usage, type, amounts, recommendations, etc., Our detergent index could be used by nearly anyone researching detergent usage however our main goal was to bring you a detergent index for the purpose of determining which detergent products would be best for your modern cloth diapers!

 

Detergent Index Recommendation Criteria

A detergent is generally not recommended if it contains any of the following:

  • Fabric Softeners: Fabric Softener is a big no-no. It will cause diapers to repel wetness and leak everywhere. Fabric softeners can also leave harsh chemicals on your cloth diapers which will irritate your childs tiny tush!
  • Soap-Based Detergents: You’ll want to make sure you use a detergent, not a soap. Soap will build up and cause them to repel.
  • Bleach: Bleach will slowly wear down the fibers and cause irritation and rashes. Be careful when using a bleach alternative such as OxiClean, it will break down any waterproof layer and make covers and AIOs leak! It can be useful for soakers and prefolds, though. The main ingredient in OxiClean is very similar to a powdered form of hydrogen peroxide, so don’t use Clorox 2 on anything waterproof.
CLICK FOR
MORE INFO
Details He Safe Recommended?

Active
Active Wear Detergent (Optim)

Great for uniforms and work wear.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

All Free And Clear Liquid Military
All Free And Clear Liquid Military

Great for uniforms, hunting clothes, and work wear.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Allens 150x150
Allens Naturally Powder

Best for babies with sensitive skin, however, doesn’t clean very well!
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
  • Rinses well in cold water
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Allens Powder 150x150
Allens Naturally Ultra Powder

Although there are no brighteners, the label reads “Not recommended for military uniforms”.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Allens Liquid Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent 150x150
Allens Naturally Liquid

Allen’s Naturally liquid laundry detergent requires only 1/4 oz for HE Machines.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Attitude Baby Fragrance-Free
Attitude Baby Fragrance-Free

Good plant-based option. Use half a cap in prewash and a whole cap and a half in the main wash. Wash on hot and add a water softener if your water is at all hard.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • Awesome for sensitive skin and eczema!
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Attitude Ylang Ylang And Tangerine Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent Liquid 1800ml 4
Ylang-Ylang & Tangerine

Good plant-based option. Use half a cap in prewash and a whole cap and a half in the main wash. Wash on hot and add a water softener if your water is at all hard.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • Good Value For Money
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Lavendar Grapefruit Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent
Attitude
Lavender & Grapefruit

Good plant-based option. Use half a cap in prewash and a whole cap and a half in the main wash. Wash on hot and add a water softener if your water is at all hard.
  • No Optical Brighteners
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Baby Ganics Laundry Detergent Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent
BabyGanics Loads of Love 3X, Fragrance-Free

Loads of Love is an unscented detergent that has none of all the “bad stuff” in regular laundry detergent. This means that it is free from petrolatum, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, and parabens.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Chlorine, phthalates, phosphates, synthetic fragrances, or dyes
  • No Dyes
  • No Phthalates
  • No Fragrance
  • No Phosphates
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Babyganics
BabyGanics 3X Lavender liquid

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Chlorine, phthalates, phosphates, synthetic fragrances, or dyes
  • No Dyes
  • No Phthalates
  • No Synthetic Fragrance
  • No Phosphates
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Closeup Detergents H240
Bio-O-Kleen Liquid Laundry Detergent

The liquid brand is a good choice
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Perfumes
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Biokleen Laundry Powder Free And Clear 10 Lb Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent
Bio-O-Kleen Powder Free & Clear

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • Contains Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Bumgenius
BumGenius Powder

Moms report cloth diapers are clean, and no funky smell.  Commonly used on both pocket diapers and prefolds.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Bumgenius Liquid
BumGenius Clean & Gentle Liquid

Plant Derived, GMO Free, Cruelty Free & Sulfate Free makes this an excellent choice.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Laundry Detergent Caldrea Sweet Pea Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent
Caldrea
Sweet Pea Laundry Detergent

Contains plant-derived surfactants, Borax and essential oils of Geranium, Orange, Jasmine, Coriander, Rose and Bergamot.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
He Safe? No Recommended? Yes

Charlie Banana Detergent Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent
Charlie Banana Powder Fragrance-Free

No lingering chemical-based fragrance. It’s completely free from perfume or parabens. It dissolves quickly in cold water, and you won’t have to worry about residues on your clothes after rinsing the soap off. This works great for babies and individuals who suffer from allergic reactions to certain components in regular laundry soaps. Safe and effective for all fabrics including silk, wool, linen, cotton and high-tech microfiber athletic and waterproof gear.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Charliessoap Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent
Charlie’s Soap Powder

Similar to Allen’s Naturally, however ingredients are proprietary. Extensive studies by Clemson University have shown it leaves no residue. Biodegradable. Technically a “detergent” (not soap, despite its name). Complaints of chemical burns and rash have been reported!
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • Essential oil fragrances
He Safe? Yes Recommended? No
Cheer Powder He Detergent Box There are several other websites (as of May 15, 2019) such as :
  1. Diaper Jungle who claims Cheer Free and Gentle has no optical brighteners, this statement is FALSE! – (link to manufacturers ingredient list)
  2. Homequicks claims Cheer and Cheer Free are optical brightener free. this statement is FALSE! – Cheer (ingredient list) and Cheer Free (ingredient list)
  3. ArmyStudyGuide.com list multiple forms of Cheer (as well as other detergents) as “Optical Brightener Free”, however, these statements are FALSE!

I have done extensive research, with 1,000’s of man hours for this post, combing through ingredients and this variety of Cheer is the ONLY one that is optical-brightener free!  .PDF Ingredients from the manufacturer.

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners

Screenshots of DiaperJungle, Homequicks, and ArmyStudyGuide.

He Safe? N/A Recommended? Yes

Clorox Green Works Liquid
Clorox Green Works Liquid

  • No Optical Brighteners
He Safe? Yes Recommended? No

Countrysave Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent
Country Save Liquid

Cost effective, additive free, and great results. Use 1 cap in the prewash and 2 caps in the main wash.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Country Save Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent
Country Save Powdered

Cost effective, additive free, and great results. Use 1 scoop in the prewash and 2 scoops in the main wash.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Droppsl
Dropps Liquid Laundry Pacs – Fresh Scent

Plant-based and rather weak. It would take a lot of product to accomplish a good clean.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • NPE Free
  • No Phosphate
  • No Chlorine
He Safe? Yes Recommended? No

Ecosfree Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent
Earth Friendly Products Baby Ecos Disney Laundry Detergent, Lavender and Chamomile

Phosphate-free, chlorine-free, enzyme-free, borine-free, cocamide DEA-free, dye-free, and free of petroleum ingredients.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
He Safe? Yes Recommended? No

Earthview Laundry Detergent Fragrance Free Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent
Earthview Laundry Detergent

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • Biodegradable
  • Healthy Child Compliant
  • No Animal Testing
  • HE Safe
  • Methylisothiazolinone-free
  • Fragrance-Free
He Safe? Yes Recommended? No

Envirorite Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent
EnviroRite Clearly Clean

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? N/A Recommended? Yes

Foca Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent
Foca Powder

Great for hard water! For hard water households, use 1/2 cup in prewash and 1 1/2 cups in the main wash. For soft water households, use 1 – 1 1/2 cup in main wash only. Lots of suds. Works better than some of the pricier detergents.
  • No Dyes
He Safe? No Recommended? Yes

Foca 2
Foca Liquid

Great for hard water! Start with 1/2 cap prewash and 2 caps main wash, increase as needed for your washer & water conditions.
  • No Enzymes
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Hex Performance Advance Laundry Detergent Free And Clear 1 350x200
H-E-X Performance Anti-Stink Free + Clear Liquid

Eliminates tough odors – including smell caused by sweat, bacteria, mold, and mildew!
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Hex Anti Stink No Optical Brighteners
H-E-X Performance Anti-Stink Fresh Clean Scent Liquid

A light, fresh scent that doesn’t linger.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Honest Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent 529x1024
Honest Company liquid

Plant-based. Contains sodium cocoate, which can build up in diapers, trapping bacteria and causing repellency issues. This baby laundry soap has a neutral pH level, which means it does not irritate the skin.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Kirkland Signature Environmentally Responsible Ultra Clean Liquid Laundry Detergent
Kirkland Signature Environmentally Responsible Ultra Clean Liquid Laundry Detergent (eBay)

Contains vegetable-based surfactants including those derived from coconuts
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • Biodegradable
  • Safe for Septic Systems
  • Not tested on Animals
  • No Phosphates
He Safe? Yes Recommended? No

Lifekind Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent 1024x1023
Lifekind Naturally Safer Triple Concentrated

Contains Seed & Pulp Extracts, Orange Peel Extracts, Surfactants from Coconuts.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Maggiessoapnuts125 150x150
Maggie’s Soap NutsMaggie’s Soap Nuts

100% natural – Grows on Trees!!! Perfect for hunting camo! This is actually a natural soap, not a detergent and can build up on fibers and cause repelling issues. Perfect for regular laundry.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? No

Laundrydeterfc.1 1 476x1024
Mountain Green 3X Free and Clear

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • Fragrance-Free
  • PETA acceptable product
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Mollys Suds All Sport Wash
Molly’s Suds All Sport Wash Liquid

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Mollys Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent 2 813x1024
Molly’s Suds Oxygen Whitener Powder

Does not contain surfactants.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • Essential oil fragrances
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Mollys Suds Sensitive Skin No Optical Brighteners
Molly’s Suds Sensitive Skin Powder

Does not contain surfactants.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? No

Natureclean 2 1 498x1024
Nature Clean liquid

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Nellie's Laundry Soda
Nellie’s Laundry Soda

Contains coconut oil based ingredients. Not considered strong enough to properly clean a dirty diaper. Too expensive to be able to use enough to get a proper clean.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Oxy Prime Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent 1 1 639x1024
OXY-PRIME Powder

Rinses completely and decomposes almost immediately in the environment leaving no toxic by-products or phosphates to the water table.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Planet 150x150
Planet Ultra Powder

Not an effective detergent.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Puracy Natural Liquid Laundry Detergent
Puracy Natural Liquid Laundry Detergent

From Austin, Texas; No phosphates, sulfates, petrochemicals, animal by-products, chlorine, perfumes, dyes, allergens.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Rockin Green Watermelon Classic Rock
Rockin Green Classic Rock Formula, Smashing Watermelons

Fantastic for hard water
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • Essential oil fragrances
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Natural He Powder Laundry Detergent By Rockin Green Perfect For Cloth Diapers Classic Rock Formula For Normal Water Up To 90 Loads Per Bag 45 Oz Unscented 0
Rockin Green Unscented

Fantastic for hard water
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrances
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Ruby Moon Laundry Detergent Small 150x150
Ruby Moon Cloth Diaper Detergent- Warm Vanilla Sugar

This product is not really a detergent, it is mainly water softeners and salt. Not recommended for cloth diapers as it contains no surfactant.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • Some varieties have fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Sensiclean 150x150
Sensi Clean Liquid

Very expensive. Reports of burns and rashes by users of this detergent.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? No

Seventh Generation Natural 4x Concentrated Free And Clear Unscented
Seventh Generation Natural 4X Concentrated Free and Clear Unscented

Use 1/2 cap in your cloth diaper prewash and 1 1/2 caps in the main wash. Wash on hot; add a water softener, such as Calgon if your water is at all hard. Does contain essential oils.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Seventh Genration Detergent Baby No Optical Brighteners
Seventh Generation Baby

Plant-derived enzyme stain removers. Certified Cruelty Free. From Vermont; 0% fragrances, dyes, or artificial brighteners.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Perfumes
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Product Sportwash 150x150
Sport-Wash Residue Free

Reports of burns and rashes by users of this detergent.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? No

Sun Earth Cloth Diaper Detergent 1024x806
Sun and Earth Unscented

The free and clear variety does not contain synthetic fragrances.  Ingredients in this detergent are problematic for build-up/repellency issues with cloth diapers.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance

Ingredient PDF

He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Ever Spring Laundry Detergent
Target Free & Clear Everspring

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Perfumes
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Tide Pure Clean
Tide PureClean Liquid, unscented

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Traderjoesclothdiaperdetergent 150x150
Trader Joe’s Liquid

Contains fabric softener which can buildup and cause repellency issues with cloth diapers.
  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Enzymes
  • No Dyes
He Safe? Yes Recommended? No

Vaska 150x150
Vaska Baby

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Vaska Perfect
Vaska Perfect

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
  • No Fragrance
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Woolite Baby
Woolite Baby

  • No Optical Brighteners
  • No Dyes
  • No Softeners
He Safe? Yes Recommended? Yes

Woolite Darks
Woolite Dark Midnight Breeze Scent

  • No Optical Brighteners
He Safe? Yes Recommended? No