Autumn Beck is a 30 year old SAHM to 3 gorgeous children. She has been married for 10 years to a chiropractor and entrepreneur extraordinaire. Autumn began cloth diapering in 2005. Over this time she has made mistakes and learned the secrets and strategies to successful cloth diapering. When asked what her interests and hobbies are; homebirth, breastfeeding, and shopping top her list…shopping for cloth diapers that is! 
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Fabric Softener on Cloth Diapers *gasp*
By Autumn Beck | May 17, 2008
Yes!!! You can do it!
I was e.l.a.t.e.d. to discover this. When it comes to adding anything to my laundry routine, I am a chicken to try it on my own. I wait for permission from some other brave cloth diapering mama. Then when it works for her, I dive in.
What is it that makes traditional fabric softener harmful to you, your child and cloth diapers?
For information on health risks associated with traditional fabric softeners check out this link.
In addition to that, Anderson Laboratories’ chemical analysis of the airborne emissions of five different kinds of commonly available fabric softeners was reported in the May, 2000, issue of The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Their study revealed that the fabric softeners emitted toluene, styrene, phenol, thymol, xylene, and trimethylbenzene, among other chemicals, many of which cause acute respiratory tract irritation and inflammation.
Fabric softener causes cloth diaper materials to lose their absorbency. When microfleece is on the inside of a diaper it will repel moisture when rinsed in fabric softener. If your diaper cover is made of fleece this wouldn’t be a problem, it would actually enhance its purpose. However, the health risks still stand. PUL breaks down faster causing wicking to occur.
No one likes crunchy diapers though. Brand new diapers come to you squishy soft then after a couple of months of washing and using they become stiff and rough. Hemp, terry, cotton and velour are the worst at hardening over time. There are alternatives to chemical-laden fabric softeners.
The most basic household remedy for softening your cloth diapers is White Distilled Vinegar. Vinegar acts like a magnet collecting the free electrons that lead to static cling. Fabric is softened when these electrons are removed and the molecules are balanced. It can be added to a Downy ball and tossed in the washer. More is not better when it comes to using vinegar. (In my book The Ultimate Guide to Cloth Diapers I describe the other uses for this amazing household product.)
For a more fragrant softener the options are ever expanding. I am currently using Mrs. Meyers Lavendar scented Fabric Softener. Other cloth diaper safe, “green” softeners include: Ecover, Simplicity (found at Walmart), or Seventh Generation. These use vegetable-based surfactants, salt, and natural ingredients (essences and essential oils) for scent.
I use fabric softener every other time with my fitted cloth diapers and inserts.
The best part of using fabric softener is having that new silky feel back in my diapers. My Goodmamas, Clovers and Loveybums all have that new silky feel to them. I remember using Kissaluvs on Paisley when she was a newborn. Then they got crunchy after a few weeks. How nice it would have been to have a healthy fabric softener to keep them softer longer.
So here’s your permission you’ve been waiting for. Try one of the softeners I listed. No more crunchy diapers!
Topics: cloth diapers, fabric softener |
May 18th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
What about Method? They make softner and dryer sheets? They are vegetable based and I would think if the others are safe these would be too?
May 21st, 2008 at 1:22 am
Virginia, after tons of research I found this review to be the most helpful:
http://www.sustainablescoop.com/2006/07/25/for-yummy-laundry-use/
May 21st, 2008 at 1:28 am
and the post she’s referring to at the end:
http://www.sustainablescoop.com/2008/03/21/14-dioxane-efffffffff/
May 25th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
This article has been included in the latest edition of Mom’s Blogging Carnival.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:14 am
I just wanted to pass on this information that I recently found.. 7th Generation and Method products both have been found to contain detectable levels of carcinogens. They didn’t specify their fabric softener, but Method did come out and say that they say they are naturally DERIVED but are not necessarily natural or organic, so I would beware purchasing Method products.
http://www.brandweek.com/bw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003726559
May 30th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
[...] presents Fabric Softener on Cloth Diapers *gasp* posted at All About Cloth Diapers. Autumn teases us with the hint: “What once was a big no-no [...]
May 31st, 2008 at 3:23 am
I recenlty discovered dryer balls. I bought some last week and used them in my dryer with each load. They work very well! They soften your clothes, dry your clothes faster, prevent wrinkles and static cling, and no chemicals! I bought a lot of them for a great deal. If any of you are interested in trying a set I will give them to you at my cost.
July 15th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I want to second the dryer ball comment… I was using the dryer balls from Bed Bath and Beyond (they’re available other places) and those were fine… but then I switched to using 12 — yes 12! — tennis balls in my dryer and WOW. What a huge difference. Everything is coming out softer, not just diapers, but everything. Towels are fluffier, it’s been great!
I’ve been seeing other diapering mavens suggesting green fabric softeners in the past few months, but I can’t quite bring myself to try it… I may still, but I’m pretty happy with how the tennis balls are working!
September 4th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
So I just went to wal mart and bought some of the Simplicity fabric softener…I just wanted to check before I did anything. It can be used on the cotton and velour diapers…but can I use it on pockets with microfleece inners or not? Thanks!
September 4th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Fabric softener shouldn’t be used on microfleece. It can cause it to repel which will cause leaking. I would wash the diapers together a full cycle, take out the pockets and do a second rinse with the fitteds. Add the fabric softener to the second rinse.