Homemade detergents

You’re considering making your own detergent for cloth nappies? It’s a common thought, especially with the rise in DIY solutions for many household needs. While the appeal of saving money and using ‘natural’ ingredients is strong, when it comes to washing cloth nappies, homemade detergents can actually do more harm than good.

Common ingredients in homemade detergents

Homemade detergent recipes typically contain a mix of soap (like liquid Castile soap, grated soap bars or Lux Flakes), washing soda, bicarbonate of soda (bicarb), borax and essential oils.

Traditional soap

Traditional soap is a saponified triglyceride. It is a very mild surfactant and works for spot stain removal. When a soap-based detergent is used inside a washing machine it reacts with minerals in water and forms soap scum. This is the same soap scum that builds up in showers and baths.

Soap scum on fabrics traps bacteria and ammonia. Soap is not recommended for washing clothes unless you are using a washboard.

Washing soda and Borax

Washing soda (sodium carbonate) and Borax (Sodium tetraborate decahydrate) are water softeners. They do not clean or remove soiling.

Washing soda is used in commercial detergents to bind to minerals in water and prevent minerals from binding to surfactants. Harder water contains more minerals, which is why powders are more suitable for harder water areas

Bicarbonate of soda

Bicarb or baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a pH adjuster. Bicarb is not a water softener and does not have any surfactant qualities.

Essential oils

Essential oils do not emulsify properly in water-based homemade detergents. This means they don’t disperse evenly and can cling to fabric fibres, leading to concentrated spots of oil that can cause significant skin irritation and allergic reactions on your baby’s delicate skin.

The difference between homemade and commercial laundry detergent

The primary issue with most homemade detergent recipes is a fundamental one: they lack effective surfactants.

Surfactants are the magic behind effective cleaning in commercial detergents. They lower the surface tension of water. This allows it to penetrate fabrics more easily. Additionally, they encapsulate dirt and oils. This prevents them from redepositing onto your laundry. Without them, you’re just rinsing your nappies in a solution that can’t remove and wash away the messes.

The hidden dangers of homemade nappy detergents

Here’s why relying on homemade detergent for your cloth nappies is problematic:

• Inadequate cleaning: Cloth nappies are subjected to some of the most challenging messes a washing machine will encounter. The mix of wee, poo, and barrier cream creates a complex cleaning task. Without proper surfactants, homemade detergents struggle to break down these substances, leading to nappies that aren’t truly clean. This can result in lingering odours, staining, and, most importantly, hygiene issues.
• Build-up on fabrics: The ‘soap’ component in homemade recipes, whether grated bar soap or liquid castile soap, can easily lead to a waxy residue or ‘soap scum’ accumulating on your nappies. This build-up traps bacteria and odours, making your nappies less absorbent and potentially causing rashes for your baby. Over time, this can also damage the fabric fibres, shortening the lifespan of your expensive cloth nappy stash.
• Reduced absorbency: As soap scum builds up, it coats the absorbent layers of your nappies, making them less effective at wicking away moisture. This means your nappies will leak more easily, requiring more frequent changes and defeating one of the main purposes of using cloth.
• Hard water woes: The problems with homemade detergents are compounded if you live in an area with hard water. The minerals in hard water react with the soap to form even more soap scum, exacerbating all the issues mentioned above.
• Potential for skin irritation: While ‘natural’ sounds appealing, the residues left by homemade detergents can be irritating to a baby’s sensitive skin. Unrinsed wee and poo matter, trapped by soap scum, create an unhealthy environment against your baby’s skin, increasing the risk of rashes and infections.

Making the right choice for your cloth nappies

While the intention behind homemade detergents is often good, the science of cleaning cloth nappies demands a more robust solution. Invest in a reputable commercial detergent that is free of fabric softeners, dyes, and excessive perfumes (which can also cause build-up and irritation). Your nappies, your washing machine, and most importantly, your baby’s comfort and health will thank you for it.

We have reviewed 216 different detergents, including plant-based ones. We include dosing guidance for detergents that are suitable for cloth nappies.