I’ve been asked about Mrs. Meyers Fabric Softener and cloth diapers three separate times today. I think it’s safe to say that other people might be wondering about it too. Is it on the fabled DO NOT USE on cloth diapers list? Will it make your cloth diapers smell pretty and buttery soft but leak like a faucet at the first pee? I’d like you to look at a few scientific studies showing evidence that unequivocally proves the safety of using plant based fabric softeners (like Mrs. Meyer’s or Ecover) on cloth diapers…
WAIT…there aren’t any.
A while back I shared how much I big puffy heart love Mrs. Meyer’s Lavender on my cloth diapers. I wrote about all the ingredients and what they did. I even explained exactly how to use it on cloth diapers. Now, I’m going to share with you the same answer I gave to the person who asked about it in our Facebook chat group.
Scientifically speaking, NO fabric softener is good for cloth diapers because by design it is meant to coat the fabric to make it soft. Per Mrs. Meyer’s website:
Q. Can I use your fabric softener on a “no softeners” fabric?A. We do not recommend using our fabric softener on clothing items that state to not use fabric softeners when laundering. Our Fabric softener works to soften and protect your clothing from static by coating the fabric. This action would render any quick dry fabric to not dry quickly.
WHAT? Is this stuff safe on cloth diapers or not?
Anecdotally speaking, thousands of people have used plant based fabric softeners (Mrs. Meyers or Ecover) on cloth diapers for years with no issues. Myself included. There are many, many sources also stating that it is safe to use on cloth diapers. The only precaution noted by some sources is to only use on natural fibers (no microfiber/fleece or PUL).
Here are a few of the sources I found:
- http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/ecover-the-answer-to-a-cloth-mamas-prayers/
- http://www.paddedtushstats.com/2012/10/11/is-ecover-fabric-softener-really-good-to-use-on-cloth-diapers/
Personally, I’ve never separated anything out in my cloth diaper wash. I’ve used both Mrs. Meyer’s and Ecover Fabric softener on all of my inserts (natural and synthetic) and pul/tpu covers and I’ve never had an issue. Maybe I’m just throwing caution to the wind. Could you have a problem? Possibly. Just because it works for anyone else, myself included, is no guarantee that it will work for you. If you are concerned that it could void your cloth diaper warranty, contact the manufacturer first. Always exercise good judgment, caution and go with what you are comfortable with and what works best for YOU and YOUR family.
I don’t recommend using it every wash. Also, you only need a tiny bit (1 oz per load). Check here for full instructions. Plant based softeners like Mrs. Meyers rinse out differently than commercially available synthetic softeners making occasional use safe for most cloth diaper users.
I highly recommend the Lavender scent from Mrs. Meyer’s. It’s heavenly! In case you are wondering, I have received no compensation whatsoever to write this post. However, I have included affiliate links for purchasing Mrs. Meyer’s Fabric Softener. Your purchases help to keep this website running and I appreciate it! But even without that, I would still tell you to try it.
I’d love for you to share your personal experience of using Mrs. Meyer’s or Ecover on your cloth diapers. If you did happen to have any issues, be sure to share exactly what you used, how much of it and on what type of material.
Jenn is a long-time cloth diaper educator and a passionate small business advocate. She has worked in the reusable diaper industry for over a decade, helping millions of families via her websites All About Cloth Diapers, Thinking About Cloth Diapers and Cloth Diaper Geek as well as hundreds of small businesses during that time. Her goal always to provide simple, reliable information.
Abbey says
Thank you so much for your research and post! I was curious if you have ever tried the Mrs Meyers detergent for cloth diapers?? I’m trying to find a more natural, plant based detergent!
Jennifer Reinhardt says
I haven’t personally tried the detergent on cloth diapers. I personally love Unicorn Clean. It’s my favorite natural detergent as it actually works really well without having to use huge amounts of it.
Yergyher says
I’m soooooo elated right now!!!! I was sad that my GMD prefolds and flats were getting rough because I have hard water (central CA) and even using calgon didn’t help much. Will be trying Mrs. Meyers or Ecover on my next wash. Thank you for posting this! Everywhere I’ve read they say absolutely no softener =/ so I’m glad I found your site =D
Jennifer Reinhardt says
Yay! Glad you found something that worked for you. Just remember a little goes a long way and you don’t need to use it all the time :)
Jessica says
What about using white vinegar as a fabric softener?
Laurie P says
Very informative, thank you! I’m a new fan of Mrs.Meyers, so I’m glad I got to read this post!
Dee Lafrenz says
From years of using cloth diapers, fabric softener, both liquid & sheets make the diapers soft, but yes, they are less absorbant. If you have a child like my son, who has very sensitive skin, without it he would break out. I could not use disposable diapers on him, he broke out from them. I checked my children frequently, and potty trained them early. I also used Dreft Detergent which made my clothes cleaner ( no baby food stains ), and whiter, great for white diapers!
Linda Manns Linneman says
Thank you for sharing. This was very useful information on this product for cloth diapers.
Amber Ludwig says
I have not cloth diapered yet but I am so happy to have you as a resource!! I have always been curious about mrs meyers as I see the brand at Traget all the time! Good to know that I have a good brand to use close to home :) Next baby is a cloth bum!
Jennifer Reinhardt says
Thanks for saying so Amber! I really appreciate it!
Michelle M. says
We use Ecover on our cloth diapers. We use PUL covers with cotton flats and prefolds, and have had no issues. It makes the flats and prefolds noticeably softer, and very lightly scents the covers. We also occasionally bleach our diapers, and it seems the fabric softener helps cut down on the bleached smell and feel afterwards.
deann says
I see that someone else said that they use Mrs. Myers dryer sheets. I assume that they are okay to use? I don’t think I would use them for my diapers but would use them for my other laundry in the winter. My husband complains his clothes have too much static if we don’t use dryer sheets. I told him we can use them if he cleans the dryer out before I dry diapers and he actually does!
Jennifer Reinhardt says
Hi Deann, This post is specific to the liquid fabric softener. I haven’t research the use of the dryer sheets or their ingredients. So I couldn’t comment on the safety of use on cloth. However, I’m sure they are fabulous for regular clothing.
andrea says
I use the liquid softener and the dryer sheets by Mrs Meyers. Basil is my favorite scent. (With the liquid, the only issue I had was a greenish tinge on the synthetic tabs of my simplex 2.0 diapers. Very odd! It has never washed out either… even with the occasional bleach soak.) I mainly use the dryer sheets now and my diapers are all just fine. I only use natural fiber diapers.
Chrystal S. says
I have also used Seventh Generation fabric softener on my diapers. I use prefolds and flour sack towels inside of pockets and covers. I use only half of the recommended amount with my water level at the highest in my top loading washing machine. I do not put my covers or pockets in the wash when using the fabric softener. I also use this fabric softener on my towels and clothing. The smell is light but not smelly and I don’t smell it over everything else like with Downey and Snuggle. I also use (gasp) Tide.
Anne Sweden says
I started using Mrs. Meyers occasionally after reading your first post on the subject because my old bamboo inserts were getting stiff and crunchy feeling. It worked really well, and I’ve continued using off and on for a while now with no problems. Thanks for your recommendation!
Jennifer Reinhardt says
I’m so happy that it worked for you Anne! Lots of people were mentioning on our Facebook page that the Basil scent is also amazing. I always stayed away because I thought it would smell…herby lol. But I think I will have to get some and try that out as well.
Sara B. says
After 18 months of use our cloth diapers (especially the bamboo/cotton velour lined pockets) were desperate for a softening. I got some Mrs. Meyers despite mixed recommendations. I have used it 2-3 times so far (trying to use it very rarely) and have had no issues. Boy does it make them SO much softer and nicer! Oh, and our flannel wipes sure needed it too! They were embarrassingly “crunchy” and uncomfortable to be wiping my baby with.
April H says
I’ve used Mrs. Meyers for nearly a year now on my diapers. I only use it about once a month (a little more in the dry winter) and have never had any issues with repelling, etc. :)
Ashley F says
I’ve used Seventh Generation fabric softener on diapers before (not ever load), but I used it on my flats in the summer just to help soften them (I line dry when it’s nice) and I didn’t have any issues. Just like every other detergent, there are a lot of factors (fiber types, water type, etc)