Many parents have heard, "Detergent build-up is just a myth!"—but is that really true? While cloth diaper wash routines encourage enough detergent to get diapers clean, detergent residue can still happen. Let’s settle the debate with science-backed guidance and explain why this matters for your cloth diapers and your baby’s skin.
What Is Detergent Build-Up?
Detergent build-up happens when residues from laundry detergent aren’t fully rinsed away during the wash cycle. This leftover detergent can cling to diaper fibers, making them less absorbent, causing leaks, and sometimes leading to skin irritation.
Why Does Detergent Build-Up Happen?
Using too much detergent—or too little water for rinsing—are the primary causes of detergent build up in cloth diapers. Here’s why this can occur, even with recommended routines:
1. Too Much Detergent: Overdosing detergent makes it harder for your washer to rinse everything away, especially in high-efficiency (HE) machines designed to use less water.
2. High-Efficiency (HE) Washers: These use less water per cycle, making full rinses more challenging—especially when combined with sudsy liquid detergents.
3. Liquid Detergents: Liquids produce more suds, which can linger in fabrics if not adequately rinsed.
4. Hard Water: Minerals like calcium and magnesium bind with detergent and lock residues into the fabric, making them even harder to rinse out.
How Can I Tell If I Have Detergent Build-Up?
A simple swish test will reveal if detergent is being left behind in your cloth diapers. Here's how to perform a cloth diaper swish test:
- Fill a bowl or basin with clean water.
- Submerge a clean, dry cloth diaper.
- Swish and gently squeeze the diaper for several minutes.
If you see lots of bubbles, suds, or a white film in the water, detergent residue is present—that means your diapers aren’t rinsing clean.
How Can I Fix Detergent Build-Up?
The good news: detergent build-up is easy to fix with thorough rinsing.
Rinse, Rinse, and Rinse Again: Run a series of rinse or wash cycles without detergent until the water runs clear and you see no more suds. You can do this in your machine, a bathtub, or a basin.
No Stripping Needed for Detergent Residue: Laundry “stripping” with additives isn’t necessary for excess detergent—save that for mineral or ammonia build-up caused by different issues.
A laundry strip won’t fix detergent build-up because stripping is meant to remove tough mineral deposits, fabric softener residue, and stubborn smells, not leftover detergent. Detergent build-up is just detergent that didn’t rinse out properly, and the best way to fix it is by rinsing diapers repeatedly with clean water until all suds and residue disappear. Stripping is harsher and not needed for detergent build-up, which is a simpler issue solved by extra rinses.
Adjust for Future Washes: Use the right amount of detergent for your water hardness and washer type, and ensure you’re running enough rinse cycles.
Key Takeaways
- Detergent build-up isn’t a myth: it can happen even with modern routines, especially in HE machines or hard water.
- Signs include diapers becoming less absorbent, leaks, or irritation—and visible suds in a swish test.
- Thoroughly rinse diapers to remove leftover detergent; check your routine and adjust to keep your cloth diapers clean and baby comfortable.
