Hard water can cause minerals to build up in your diapers, and those minerals can trap bacteria. This often leads to stink, leaks, or even rashes.
When it comes to caring for your cloth diapers, washing them properly is important for both absorbency and longevity, but also your baby's skin health. If you have hard water, it can be more difficult to get a good, thorough clean on your reusable diapers.
Many families overlook the need for a water softener when washing cloth diapers in hard water. If you have hard water, incorporating a water softening product—such as borax—into your wash routine can make a big difference in the cleanliness and lifespan of your reusable diapers.
In this blog post, we will explore why a water softener is necessary when washing cloth diapers when you have hard water, how water softeners work, and practical advice on its use with common detergents.
Signs you may need to add a water softening product to your wash routine:
- You already know that you have hard water
- Baby has developed a rash that clears up when switching to disposables.
- Diapers may have a slight or strong odor either after washing or immediately after baby soils them.
- Diapers may have significant staining that does not seem to fade easily.
What Is Hard Water and Why Does It Matter for Cloth Diapers?
Your water is considered hard if it contains high levels of minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. These minerals can interfere with the cleaning process by binding with detergents, which reduces their effectiveness. When washing cloth diapers in hard water, the minerals in the water can build up in the fibers of the fabric. This residue can trap dirt, detergent, and soil (like poop), leading to persistent odors and decreased absorbency, which is frustrating for anyone using cloth diapers for their baby.
Learn more about preventing and treating odor in cloth diapers here »
When washing cloth diapers in hard water, using a detergent alone is often not sufficient enough. The detergent can get “used up” binding with the minerals in the water instead of removing soil, stains and grime in the cloth diapers.
The Role of Water Softeners in Washing Cloth Diapers
Water softeners bind to or neutralize the hard minerals in the water, keeping them out of the way so that your detergent can effectively clean the laundry. This binding allows the detergent to stay active and work at full strength in cleaning the fabric. In essence, a water softener "disarms" the minerals, ensuring the detergent can break down stains, odors, and residues effectively.
There are two main types of water softeners commonly used in cloth diaper laundering:
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Non-precipitating softeners: These bind to minerals and hold them in solution, so they wash away easily. Brands like Calgon Water Softener and Cadies RLR Laundry Treatment fall into this category.
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Precipitating softeners: These react with the minerals to form solid particles that agitation removes during the wash cycle. Borax and washing soda are examples. Borax (sodium borate) is a powerful water softener and detergent booster widely used and safe for cloth diapers when used properly.
Why Use Borax and is Borax Safe for Cloth Diapers?
Borax is an all-natural mineral used as a detergent booster rather than a detergent itself. It helps raise water pH to neutralize odors, softens water by binding to minerals, and boosts the overall cleaning power of your detergent without harsh chemicals. When using borax safely as part of your wash routine, it will not damage the cloth or elastics in your diapers.
Borax is safe for cloth diapers when used according to directions—typically around 1/4-1/2 cup of Borax per load is sufficient. It can gently but effectively tackle the ammonia smells and other stubborn odors common in cloth diapers. Unlike bleach or vinegar, which can weaken fabric and elastics over time, borax maintains fabric integrity with consistent use. It also prevents detergent and mineral buildup by enhancing detergent performance in hard water.
Incorporating Water Softeners in Both Pre-Wash and Main Wash Cycles
For the best results when washing cloth diapers in hard water, it is important to add a water softening product in both the pre-wash and main wash cycles. When adding the water softener, you can place it directly in the washer's drum. Borax for example can be dissolved or added in powder form.
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Pre-Wash: Adding a water softener in the first, pre-wash cycle helps loosen and begin removing urine, solids, and residues without the detergent being hindered by minerals. This pre-wash step is important as it helps remove the bulk of the soil so that your diapers can get really clean in the second, "main wash" cycle.
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Main Wash: The water softener again boosts detergent efficiency in breaking down stains and odors deep in the fabric fibers. This second cycle is particularly important for families using cloth diapers with multiple layers of absorbency like inserts, all-in-ones and fitted style diapers.
We typically advise against adding an additional rinse cycle to your wash routine when washing in hard water. However, should you wish to complete a final additional rinse cycle, it is important to incorporate a water softening product in this final rinse as well.
Learn more about washing cloth diapers here »
Water Hardness vs. Detergent Guide:
| Hardness Level | ppm | Detergent Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Soft | 0–17 | Water lathers easily. Risk of oversudsing with powders → try liquid detergent first. |
| Slightly Hard | 17–60 | Still acts like soft water. Most detergents work well at this hardness level. |
| Moderately Hard | 61–120 | Most detergents work well at this hardness level. Powders work well. |
| Hard | 121–180 | Increase detergent by ~50%, or add a water softener. |
| Very Hard | ≥181 | Double detergent dose, and add a booster or softeners. |
Detergents with Added Water Softening Agents
If you want to simplify your wash routine, some laundry detergents have water softening agents incorporated in their formulas. This means they help combat hard water minerals on their own. Examples of such detergents include:
- Tide (some versions) — Tide is a well-known detergent brand with formulas that include ingredients to help soften water and enhance detergent performance. Many families prefer Tide Powder.
- Persil ProClean Power — Formulated with active enzymes that perform well in hard water environments.
- Arm & Hammer — Includes baking soda which acts as a water softener alongside stain removal power.
While these detergents can help, in cases of very hard water (above 180 ppm hardness), adding a dedicated water softening product like borax is still recommended for optimal cleaning.
Summary and Tips for Washing Cloth Diapers with Hard Water
- Hard water contains minerals that reduce detergent effectiveness and cause buildup in diapers.
- Water softeners like Borax bind to these minerals, allowing detergent to clean properly and keep diapers fresh, absorbent, and odor-free.
- Using water softeners in both pre-wash and main wash cycles is critical for effective laundering with hard water.
- Borax is a safe, natural, and budget-friendly water softening booster for cloth diapers when used as directed.
- Use about 1/4 - 1/2 cup of borax per load, increasing if necessary depending on water hardness.
Incorporating a water softening agent like borax into your cloth diaper washing routine is a simple yet powerful step to safeguard your diapers’ lifespan, improve cleaning results, and maintain baby’s comfort. Whether you’re new to cloth diapering or a seasoned pro, acknowledging hard water’s impacts and using a softener will make your washing routine more effective and stress-free.
Remember, happy, clean, and soft cloth diapers don’t just happen by chance—they happen because you provide the right conditions to clean them well. Hard water doesn’t have to complicate your cloth diaper journey when you add a little borax magic to your wash cycles!
