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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.
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Details | He Safe | Recommended? |
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Great for uniforms and work wear.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Great for uniforms, hunting clothes, and work wear.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Best for babies with sensitive skin, however, doesn’t clean very well!
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Although there are no brighteners, the label reads “Not recommended for military uniforms”.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Allen’s Naturally liquid laundry detergent requires only 1/4 oz for HE Machines.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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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.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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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.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
 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.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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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.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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The liquid brand is a good choice
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Moms report cloth diapers are clean, and no funky smell. Commonly used on both pocket diapers and prefolds.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Plant Derived, GMO Free, Cruelty Free & Sulfate Free makes this an excellent choice.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
 Sweet Pea Laundry Detergent |
Contains plant-derived surfactants, Borax and essential oils of Geranium, Orange, Jasmine, Coriander, Rose and Bergamot.
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He Safe? No | Recommended? Yes |
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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.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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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!
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? No |
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There are several other websites (as of May 15, 2019) such as :
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.
Screenshots of DiaperJungle, Homequicks, and ArmyStudyGuide. |
He Safe? N/A | Recommended? Yes |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? No |
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Cost effective, additive free, and great results. Use 1 cap in the prewash and 2 caps in the main wash.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Cost effective, additive free, and great results. Use 1 scoop in the prewash and 2 scoops in the main wash.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Plant-based and rather weak. It would take a lot of product to accomplish a good clean.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? No |
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Phosphate-free, chlorine-free, enzyme-free, borine-free, cocamide DEA-free, dye-free, and free of petroleum ingredients.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? No |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? No |
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He Safe? N/A | Recommended? Yes |
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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.
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He Safe? No | Recommended? Yes |
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Great for hard water! Start with 1/2 cap prewash and 2 caps main wash, increase as needed for your washer & water conditions.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Eliminates tough odors – including smell caused by sweat, bacteria, mold, and mildew!
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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A light, fresh scent that doesn’t linger.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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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.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Contains vegetable-based surfactants including those derived from coconuts
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? No |
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Contains Seed & Pulp Extracts, Orange Peel Extracts, Surfactants from Coconuts.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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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.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? No |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Does not contain surfactants.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Does not contain surfactants.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? No |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Although this is an excellent product, it ships from Canada so if you are in the USA shipping is outrageous!
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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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.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Rinses completely and decomposes almost immediately in the environment leaving no toxic by-products or phosphates to the water table.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Not an effective detergent.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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From Austin, Texas; No phosphates, sulfates, petrochemicals, animal by-products, chlorine, perfumes, dyes, allergens.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Fantastic for hard water
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Fantastic for hard water
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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This product is not really a detergent, it is mainly water softeners and salt. Not recommended for cloth diapers as it contains no surfactant.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Very expensive. Reports of burns and rashes by users of this detergent.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? No |
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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.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Plant-derived enzyme stain removers. Certified Cruelty Free. From Vermont; 0% fragrances, dyes, or artificial brighteners.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Reports of burns and rashes by users of this detergent.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? No |
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The free and clear variety does not contain synthetic fragrances. Ingredients in this detergent are problematic for build-up/repellency issues with cloth diapers.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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Contains fabric softener which can buildup and cause repellency issues with cloth diapers.
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? No |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? Yes |
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He Safe? Yes | Recommended? No |
