Many families that choose cloth diapers are also intersted in using more natural and affordable laundry additives to help keep their cloth diapers fresh and odor-free. Vinegar and baking soda are two common household laundry additives often mentioned in cloth diaper washing circles—but should you actually be adding them to your cloth diaper wash routine? Let’s break down what each does, when they can help, and when they can do more harm than good.
The Role of Vinegar in Cloth Diaper Laundry
Benefits: Vinegar is often praised for its natural deodorizing and fabric-softening properties. It can help neutralize mild ammonia smells and, in small amounts, may reduce mineral buildup in areas with hard water. Some parents use a diluted vinegar rinse occasionally to freshen up diapers that have a lingering odor.
Risks: While vinegar sounds harmless, we cannot forget that it is an acid—usually around 5% acetic acid—which can be too harsh for regular use on modern diaper fabrics and elastics. Frequent or concentrated use can degrade PUL (the waterproof layer in covers and pockets), damage and weaken elastics, and even weaken stitching over time. It can also react with certain detergents or hard water minerals, making residue and odor issues worse rather than better.
If you want to try vinegar, we recommend incorporating it sparingly—no more than one tablespoon in a rinse and only on occasion, not as part of your regular wash routine.
The Role of Baking Soda in Cloth Diaper Laundry
Benefits: Baking soda is a mild alkali, which can help lift stains, reduce odors, and soften water temporarily. It can give a boost to detergent performance in a one-time deep clean or soak when buildup has become noticeable.
Risks: However, baking soda can increase your wash water’s pH too much if used frequently, which can irritate baby’s skin and affect the diaper’s absorbent layers. Over time, it may also break down natural fibers like cotton and bamboo, shortening the life of your diapers. Routine baking soda use can also interfere with modern detergents that are already formulated to balance pH levels for effective cleaning.
In short, baking soda can help in a pinch—but it shouldn’t be in every wash cycle.
Why You Shouldn’t Mix Vinegar and Baking Soda
Even though both vinegar and baking soda offer laundry cleaning benefits on their own, mixing them together actually cancels out what each does best. Vinegar is acidic, and baking soda is alkaline—so when combined, they neutralize one another in a fizzy chemical reaction that leaves you with mostly water and trace minerals.
It’s like adding water to your laundry and expecting it to clean. You lose the odor-fighting acid of the vinegar and the stain-lifting alkalinity of the baking soda. So if you’re going to reach for either, do it separately and sparingly—never together.
While vinegar and baking soda both have their place in general household cleaning, cloth diapers require a gentler, more precise approach. A good detergent, correct water level, and an effective wash routine will do all the heavy lifting your diapers need.
Think of vinegar and baking soda as emergency tools—handy every once in a while, but not everyday necessities. Used sparingly and strategically, they can help refresh your stash without doing long-term damage.
