6 Best Detergents for Cloth Diapers in Hard Water

best detergents for cloth diapers in hard water

Best Detergents for Cloth Diapers in Hard Water: Hard water can impact your cloth diaper laundry routine because it is not all detergents that are designed to work well with hard water. Hard water is a normal occurrence across North America, and it affects over 85% of households in the United States.

Best Detergent for Cloth Diapers in Hard Water
Our Pick

Our top pick for the best laundry detergent for hard water is Rockin' Green Natural Laundry Detergent Powder. This safe detergent for cloth diapers is specifically designed to prevent hard water minerals from redepositing on clothes during the washing cycle, helping them last longer and look better.

We ♥ honesty! Diaper News earns a commission through the following hand-picked links at no extra cost to you.

Hard water makes it difficult to do cloth diapers laundry as the mineral deposits they leave behind to affect the cleanliness level. The mineral deposits buildup traps bacteria and also leaves terrible odors and stains which can irritate your little one’s skin. Washing cloth diapers in hard water could be challenging especially if you use the ineffective detergents, which are not made for hard water conditions.

The good news is that you can manage this situation by buying detergents that are suitable for hard water.

How Does Hard Water Affect Detergent?

How Does Hard Water Affect Detergent?For laundry, hard water has a damaging effect in general. LAS (Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate) is the primary surfactant used in laundry detergents (mainly in low-grade brands). This surfactant loses efficacy when used with hard water, which will result in lower performance.

To counter this issue, manufacturers add unique ingredients to the detergents. However, if the water hardness is extremely high, these special ingredients would not be sufficient to neutralize the Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg) ions in the hard water.

How to Choose the Best Detergent for Cloth Diapers in Hard Water?

1. Know the Hardness Level of the Water in Your Area

hardness in waterAs mentioned earlier, there is a level of water hardness in most regions of America. You can know the degree of hardness of water in your area through a water stripping test or in a pet store. According to the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, you can classify hard water as moderately hard, hard, and very hard. You can measure it in parts per million (ppm) or grains per gallon (gpg).

  • Moderately hard water measures 62 to 120 ppm or 3.6 to 7 gpg.
  • Hard water measures 121 to 180 ppm or 7.7 to 10.5 gpg.
  • Very hard water measures over 180 ppm or 10.5 gpg.

The best detergents for cloth diapers, especially on hard water, should able to neutralize the minerals and avoid redepositing them onto clothes. Also, you will know what to buy and how much detergent you need to use when you identify the level of hardness of water in your area.

2. Liquid vs. Powder

laundry detergent powder vs. liquidMost of the ingredients in powdered detergent attach to the minerals instead of cleaning the diaper when you are washing in hard water. This makes the detergent less effective.

  • A study revealed that the volume of powdered detergent needs to be increased when washing a standard soiled fabric in 100 ppm hard water to clean the fabrics effectively.
  • If the powdered detergent has a built-in water softness, you can reduce the amount of powdered detergent.
  • Liquid detergent performs well both in soft and hard water as the non-ionic surfactants that they contain make them resistant to water hardness.
  • Also, liquid detergents lack ionic groups, so they dissolve equally well regardless of the conditions and the water temperature, so liquid detergents are the best choice when doing cloth diapers laundry in hard water.

6 Best Detergents for Cloth Diapers in Hard Water

Here are the best detergents for cloth diapers:

1. Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent Plus Oxiclean, Fresh Scent

The first hard water liquid detergent is explicitly designed to remove stains, and mineral build up from cloth diapers.

Arm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Detergent Plus OxiClean, Fresh Scent, 70 loads

  • Not only does it fade the stains it also eliminates up to 101 stains.
  • This laundry detergent for cloth diapers helps to remove all the stains without damaging the fabric and color.
  • This best detergent for cloth diapers can last for an extended period, and you can use it for up to 70 times of wash loads.
  • This laundry soap for hard water is HE washing machine efficient, and it can be used to clean your baby’s diapers in hard water.
  • It helps to leave a fresh and pleasant smell on your diaper, so there is no urine or poop smell.
Pros
  • Protects the quality of diapers.
  • HE efficient.
  • This best laundry detergent for hard water effectively removes stains and bad odor.
Cons
  • It may irritate some baby’s skin.
Check Price at Amazon

2. Tide Original Scent HE Turbo Clean Liquid Laundry Detergent

The next best laundry detergent for cloth diapers is from Tide. Tide is a leading manufacturer of laundry detergent, and this product has useful features that can make your baby’s diapers neat and clean in the hard water.

Tide Laundry Detergent Liquid, Original Scent, HE Turbo Clean, 50 oz, Pack of 2, 64 Loads Total (Packaging May Vary)

  • They also design it for HE washing machine that requires HE active detergent.
  • This best laundry soap for hard water reduces the time it takes to clean the cloth diapers as they are faster than other detergents.
  • It helps to fight bad odors, and it gives the diaper a pleasant smell both in hard or soft water.
  • This cloth diaper laundry detergent does not distort the quality and the color of your baby’s diapers.
  • You can get up to 32 loads of clothes cleaning with one container of this product.
Pros
  • This best cloth diaper detergent reduces the time for cleaning.
  • 6x effective diaper cleaning.
  • It leaves a pleasant smell.
  • This hard water laundry detergent removes stains and protects the color.
Cons
  • It may irritate the eyes.
Check Price at Amazon

3. Rockin’ Green Laundry Detergent for Hard Water (Recommended)

This is another favorite and top-rated powdered laundry detergent that is very effective in cleaning cloth diapers.

Rockin' Green Hard Rock Laundry Detergent for Hard Water (90 Loads), Plant based, Natural Laundry Detergent Powder, Biodegradable Odor Fighter, Safe for Sensitive Skin, 45 oz (Unscented)

  • This laundry detergent for hard water comes with a lavender mint revival scent that helps to keep your diapers freshly cleaned.
  • The materials used in this product are safe for your kids, and they won’t cause any allergic reactions.
  • This cloth diaper detergent is suitable for use in HE washing machine.
  • It is made with environment-friendly plant-based biodegradable materials.
  • It does not contain paraben, phosphates, or optical brighteners.
  • You can use one bag for up to 90 loads of clothes washing.
Pros
  • Performs effectively in hard water.
  • It is HE efficient.
  • This cloth diapering laundry detergent causes no skin problems.
  • No harmful elements used.
  • This cloth diaper detergent is the best laundry detergent for hard water hands down! You can’t go wrong with this cloth diaper detergent.

Cons
  • None.
Check Price at Amazon

4. Eco Nuts Organic Laundry Detergent for Cloth Diapers

The next laundry detergent for the hard water is an organically formulated product that you can use for heavy loads of cleaning your cloth diapers.

Eco Nuts Organic Baby Liquid Laundry Detergent for Cloth Diapers and Formula Stains, 16 Ounces for 96 Loads

  • This is a toxin-free detergent that won’t irritate your baby’s skin after using the product.
  • This detergent for cloth diapers removes bad smell, stains, and it also softens the cloth.
  • It cleans every unwanted thing from the diapers leaving no residues.
  • With one bag you can get up to 360 loads of clothes washing.
Pros
  • USDA approved organic detergent.
  • Harmless for baby skin.
  • It softens the fabric.
Cons
  • It may leave an unpleasant odor.
Check Price at Amazon

5. Charlie’s Soap Fragrance-Free Laundry Powder

If you are looking for an inexpensive and efficient detergent for cloth diapers in hard water, Charlie’s Soap Fragrance-Free Laundry Powder is another solid option.

No products found.

  • You can wash a large load of diapers and clothes with just one tablespoon powder.
  • This best cloth diaper laundry detergent removes odor, stain, dirt, and every other unwanted thing in the diaper.
  • It protects the diaper, and it does not distort its color and quality.
  • It rinses spotless and your baby’s diaper will feel softer after washing.
  • This product is hypoallergenic and non-toxic so it won’t irritate your baby’s skin and it is safe for the environment.
  • With one bag of this product, you can get up to 100 loads of clothes washing.
Pros
  • It collapses suds faster.
  • It removes bad odor and stains.
  • It is a powerful cleaning solution that requires less to clean.
  • It is suitable for standard fabrics.
Cons
  • It may leave a bad odor sometimes.
No products found.

6. Grovia Mighty Bubbles Laundry Treatment for Baby Cloth Diapers

The last laundry detergent in our list is an excellent solution for cleaning cloth diaper in hard water.

GroVia Mighty Bubbles Laundry Treatment for Cloth Diapers (10 Count)

  • It has a unique formula that helps to treat urine buildup and cloth stains in cloth diapers wisely.
  • Each pod in this product works as a powerful cleaner, and it fully dissolves in the washing machine for proper cleaning.
  • It is easy to apply as you just need to pour one pod of this product in the washing machine water.
  • This product gives bright results as there won’t be any stains left in the diapers after using it.
  • It is also HE efficient, and it works with all kinds of the washing machine.
Pros
  • Easy to use.
  • No harmful chemicals.
  • Each pod provides better cleaning.
  • It gives a superb result for regular washing.
Cons
  • Lots of suds.
Check Price at Amazon

Don’t let hard water hold you back from cleaning your baby’s cloth diapers. You can manage this situation well by choosing any of the above products we have selected. They are perfect for washing cloth diapers, and they are all relatively inexpensive.

Hopefully, this guide helped you to select the best laundry detergents for hard water.

Key References

  • “USGS Water-Quality Information: Water Hardness and Alkalinity”. Accessed February 02, 2019. Link.
  • “Hardness – Scale deposits are a typical indicator of hard water” by Water Quality Association (WQA). Accessed February 02, 2019. Link.
  • “Detergent Considerations for Consumers: Laundering in Hard Water—How Much Extra Detergent Is Required?”. Accessed February 02, 2019. Link.
  • “Non-Ionic Surfactants – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics”. Accessed February 02, 2019. Link.
Spread the love

LEAVE A REPLY