Best Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergents of 2026

Nellie's comes in a 50-load pouch that looks almost too small for a diaper household, and that is exactly why we like it as a first powder. The formula is four simple ingredients, fragrance-free and dye-free, and it uses one tablespoon per load, so you can try the low-dose approach without buying a year's supply. It is also HE-compatible and septic-safe, which makes it easy to live with.

We found it best for small spaces and for families who wash a few diapers at a time rather than running a full diaper load every day. The pouch takes up less shelf space than a liquid jug, and the one-tablespoon scoop makes it hard to over-pour. It rinses clean and leaves no perfume, which is what we want in a diaper detergent. If you already know you like a simple powder, the small pouch is a smart trial size.

We also appreciate that the ingredient list is short enough to scan without a chemistry lesson. Set-in stains may still need a pre-treat, though that is true of most free-and-clear powders here.

Babyganics is the liquid we reach for when we want a bottle instead of a powder, and it is one of the few liquids here that says outright it is safe for cloth diapers. It is fragrance-free and made without optical brighteners, chlorine, phthalates, sulfates, or dyes. That last part matters: optical brighteners can make a diaper look clean while leaving a coating that repels water, so we were glad to see them left out.

The formula is plant-derived and stain-fighting, and it handled the everyday mess we threw at it without leaving a perfume trail. We did find that set-in stains need a pre-treat or a second wash. That is a real limitation for a diaper detergent, but it is not unusual among free-and-clear liquids.

The 60-ounce bottle is easy to store and easy to pour, and it works in an HE machine. If you are washing baby clothes alongside diapers, this is a sensible one-bottle solution. Just do not expect it to replace a dedicated pre-treater on blowout days.

all free clear is the liquid we keep around for the whole family, not just the diaper pail. It is free of perfumes and dyes, concentrated enough that a small dose goes a long way, and it works in cold water, which is useful when you are trying to keep utility costs down. The 110-load bottle is also one of the easier ones to justify if you want a single detergent for diapers and everyday clothes.

We liked that it rinsed without leaving a heavy residue, and the unscented formula is a good match for sensitive skin. It is EPA Safer Choice certified and contains no phosphates, so it is a reasonable choice if you are trying to keep the wash routine simple. The honesty check is that it is not specifically marketed for cloth diapers, so confirm it is on your diaper maker's approved list before you commit.

If you want one liquid for the whole household and your diaper brand allows it, this is the easiest switch. It is also a good choice for baby clothes and towels, so you are not buying a separate detergent just for diapers.

The budget powder we reach for is ARM & HAMMER's free-and-clear box. It is free of perfume and dyes, dermatologist tested, and built around activated baking soda for odors, which is a useful combination when you are washing diapers that have been sitting in a pail. The 100-load box is also one of the lower-cost ways to get through a full-time diapering routine.

We liked it for diaper-pail loads and everyday laundry, and the powder form makes it easy to dose by the scoop. The box is lighter and easier to store than a liquid jug, and it handles odors well, which is the main reason it earns a place here.

If you are already using a free-and-clear powder and want to spend less, this is the one we point to first. If you want the reassurance of a detergent that names cloth diapers on the package, pay the small step up to Charlie's or Nellie's.

The SkinSAFE certification is the detail that makes ARM & HAMMER Sensitive Skin stand out from the other budget liquids. It is free of dyes, perfumes, and preservatives, and it is dermatologist tested, so it is a reasonable choice for a household that reacts to scented detergent.

The 105-load bottle is priced like a budget pick, which matters if you are washing diapers every day. It is also HE-compatible and concentrated enough that you do not need a full cap for a normal load.

We liked it for everyday laundry and for sensitive skin, and it cleaned well enough that we did not feel like we were sacrificing performance for the price. It is not specifically marketed for cloth diapers, so check your diaper maker's list before using it on a full diaper load.

If you want a cheap liquid for the whole family and your diapers tolerate it, this is a practical pick. If you want an explicit cloth-diaper claim, Babyganics is the liquid to choose instead.

Molly's Suds sells its Original powder in two 79-ounce bags, 240 loads total, and that bulk size is the main reason to consider it. The formula is unscented, made with four simple ingredients, and free of artificial dyes and fragrances. For a large family washing diapers and everyday laundry together, the load count is appealing.

We liked the short ingredient list and the fact that it works in standard and HE machines. The powder is fine and easy to scoop. The bigger caveat is stain removal: it handled everyday soil, but set-in stains were hit-or-miss, so we keep a pre-treater nearby. That is a real trade-off for diaper laundry, where blowouts are part of the job.

If your priority is a simple, unscented powder that will cover a lot of loads, this is a solid value. If you want the strongest stain performance in this group, Charlie's is the better bet.

ECOS is the plant-powered liquid in this group, and it is a good fit if the ingredient list matters as much as the wash. It is free-and-clear, pH-balanced, and EPA Safer Choice certified, with no parabens or phosphates.

The two-bottle pack delivers 100 loads, which is a sensible size for a family that wants one detergent for diapers and everyday laundry. The formula is also vegan and made in the USA, details that matter if you are trying to keep the whole laundry shelf consistent.

We liked it for regular laundry and for sensitive skin, and it rinsed without a strong perfume trail. It is not our first pick for tough diaper stains: it struggled with set-in messes in a way that had us pre-treating or running a second wash.

If you want a greener liquid and your diapers are not heavily stained, ECOS is a reasonable choice. If you are dealing with blowouts and want a formula that names cloth diapers on the package, go with Babyganics or a powder instead.