For best results, you should start with the detergent manufacturer's dosage recommendation, and then adjust down for very soft water or
up for hard water.
If you think this might be the case, try using a bottle of distilled water to see if the results improve, or test your
home for hard water to find out for sure.
Washing diapers isn't that hard, especially once you find a detergent and schedule that works, use
additives for hard water, and regularly bleach or strip to keep your diapers smelling fresh and working well.
Bonus: Rockin» Green also has
detergents for hard water, soft water and dishwashers, as well as formulas for babies, cloth diapers, bedding, athletic wear and more.
I now use Rockin» Green Soft Rock detergent for regular diaper laundering because of our soft water, but they also have a
version for hard water and one for regular water.
Simply fill out the blank spaces with detergent name, and any water softener additives such as Borax or Calgon (
for hard water over 180ppm).
Planet: recommended by
BumGenius for hard water (and several online resources) * Note on Planet — Planet does contain Borax in the list of ingredients.
I just made the cloth diaper soap and added some citric acid to
it for hard water and it's AMAZING!
For hard water, you will need to use a water softener such as Calgon Water Softener or 1/4 cup baking soda to your wash load.