If you've spent any time in cloth diapering spaces, you've probably seen warnings about avoiding "detergent build up." Detergent build up is one of the most common cloth diapering laundry myths that's been passed around for years, and while it's not entirely made up, it's definitely been blown out of proportion.
TLDR: Detergent build up is not a myth, but it is way less common than forums make it out to be. It's much more likely for a cloth diapering family to under dose or choose the wrong kind of detergent than it is to over dose and experience build up.
The truth is, most families aren't dealing with detergent build-up at all. Instead, they're running into problems caused by too little detergent, not too much.
What happens when you under-dose your laundry detergent?
When you under dose detergent, or use too little, your laundry cycle will lack the cleaning power necessary to fully lift away waste, oils, and bacteria from your diapers. Over time, that leftover soil doesn't just rinse out, it builds up in the fibers of the fabric causing a variety of different issues.
Under Dosing Detergent Build Up leads to issues like:
- Persistent odors, especially after baby wets a diaper.
- Staining that doesn't budge, even after multiple washes.
- Significant greying of white fabrics.
- Skin irritation or rashes caused by leftover bacteria.
It's easy to mistake these symptoms for "detergent build-up", but they actually come from using too little detergent, or the wrong kind of detergent all together.
Modern Detergents are Clean-Rinsing
Modern laundry detergents are designed to rinse away cleanly, even in high-efficiency (HE) machines that use much less water. They are formulated with surfactants, ingredients that lift away dirt and oil from fabric and hold them in suspension until they're rinsed away. As long as your machine fills, agitates, and rinses properly, it's pretty hard to create real detergent build up. Unless you're going wild with full caps and scoops of detergent.
If you notice excess suds during a rinse, that doesn't necessarily mean you've overdone it with your detergent. It can simply be agitation or leftover bubbles from the sufactants doing their job.
Finding the Right Balance
So, what's the sweet spot? Most families do best using around line 1 to line 2 on the detergent's dosing cup. You want to use enough detergent to properly clean and remove the poop from your cloth diapers without leaving residue behind.
To check if your wash routine is on track, look for these signs:
- Diapers smell clean, no funk
- No visible residue or stiffness after drying
- Baby's skin is happy and free of irritation or redness.
If all of these boxes are checked, your wash routine is working.
True detergent build-up is uncommon. Modern detergents are formulated to rinse clean and the fear of build-up can lead to much bigger problems. For a list of our favorite detergents, check out this blog post. »
