The right dosage
1. Look up the water hardness in your area
0-4dH = very soft water
4-8dH = soft water
8-12dH = medium hard water
12-18dH = fairly hard water
2. How much washing goes into your drum can be found on your washing machine
3. Dose for heavily soiled laundry according to the packaging of your detergent
4. For pre-wash, use half the amount of what you use for the main wash
If you use Blue Biotex in the pre-wash, you only need to use 10% normal laundry detergent of what you use for the main wash
Scroll all the way down for all our tested detergents + correct dosages
Extra tips
- Bear in mind that ML does not equal GRAM, so measure in ML or convert to GRAM if you prefer to weigh.
- Every washing machine is different and sometimes the dosage on the packaging is too high or too low. Reduce the dosage if soap residue remains.
Remember: odourless = perfect
- Choose one of the detergents below and never use anything extra (absolutely no fabric softener or vinegar). Often, bleaches in detergents for whites are too strong therefore only colour/universal detergents are suitable
- For a cold pre-wash, a liquid detergent is good to use. For hot main washes, it is better to use a washing powder. If you want to go for 1 product, choose a washing powder and run a warm pre-wash if this cleans it better. For (breastfeeding) poo nappies, a cold temperature often works best to get the nappies stain-free
Scroll down for an overview of all tested detergents and their dosages for the main wash
Pre-wash additions
Blue Biotex
Essential to get the nappies clean properly with a weak/ecological detergent such as Klok and AH Puur
- Some babies are hypersensitive to Blue Biotex… In that case, it’s best to go for a powerful detergent such as Ariel Color & Style or Persil Megaperls, as these do not require Biotex by the prewash
- Some children are (also) hypersensitive to certain detergents. In that case, it is best to go for the friendliest possible detergent that contains sodium PERcarbonate (an oxygen bleaching agent). You can also buy this product separately and mix it with an eco-friendly washing powder. It is a great product to give your laundry a deep clean and make it look like new! Some options are: Le Chat Sensitive, Biotop or Persil Megaperls Universal
Pre-wash dosage:
Soft-medium waterhardness: 80 ml
Hard water: 100 ml
90 ml = 68 gram
Bleach
A cheap alternative to Blue Biotex, but also with meconium, breastfeeding poo, medication or hypersensitivity to strong detergents, bleach may be needed to get the nappies clean properly
- How to use? Add the bleach to the detergent drawer only after 5 minutes, after the machine has filled with water. Directly after, you rinse the detergent drawer through with 1L of water
- How to dose? Start with 10ml of bleach and add more (up to 50ml max) until the laundry comes out clean and without any bleach smell + use 1/3 of the amount of detergent you use in the main wash in addition to the bleach
- Proceed carefully when adding bleach and do not add coloured fabrics to the wash to avoid colours fading. Always check that the percentage of bleach is less than 5% (this is indicated on the packaging)
Use of bleach = at your own risk
Liquid detergents (pre-wash option)
Ariel sensitive €0,37 per wash
Load 4-5kg
Soft: 85 ml
Medium: 85 ml
Hard: 115 ml
Load 6-8kg
Soft: 115 ml
Medium: 115 ml
Hard: 145 ml
Load 9kg
Soft: 140 ml
Medium: 140 ml
Hard: 170 ml
– For 8 kilograms and soft water, 40ml may be sufficient for the prewash, and 80ml for the main wash
Contains parfum
Fleuril Color Renew €0,37 per wash
Load 2-3kg
Soft water: 120 ml
Hard water: 135 ml
– Load >4kg = 50% extra doseren
Laundry dosing ball = 60ml, laundry dosing cap = 110ml
Contains parfum
Frisse Reus/ Color Reus
Load 4-5kg
Soft: 50 ml
Hard: 100 ml
Load 6-8 kg
Soft: 100 ml
Hard: 150 ml
– Load 9-10kg: +50 ml
Contains parfum
Laundry powders (suitable for pre-wash and main wash)
UNA Colour (shop by Aldi in The Netherlands)
Load 4-5kg
Soft: 105 ml
Medium: 130 ml
Hard: 150 ml
Load 6-8 kg
Soft: 155 ml
Medium: 180 ml
Hard: 200 ml
– Tip: Add a teaspoon of sodium PERcarbonate to make it a more powerful detergent. Put the powders in the detergent drawer of your washing machine and mix this oxygen bleach product well with your laundry powder
(Laundry dosing cap = 85ml/67,5gram)
Le Chat Sensitive (for sensitive skin, available in Belgium) €0,47 per wash
Load 4-5kg
Soft-medium: 160 ml
Hard: 190 ml
Load 6-8kg
Soft-medium: 255 ml
Hard: 300 ml
Klok Colour (weak detergent, shop by Albert Heijn in The Netherlands) €0,37 per wash
Load 4-5kg
Soft water: 90 ml
Medium: 100 ml
Hard: 110 ml
Load 6-7kg: +40 ml
– Tip: Add a teaspoon of sodium PERcarbonate to make it a more powerful detergent. Put the powders in the detergent drawer of your washing machine and mix this oxygen bleach product well with your laundry powder
AH Pure Colour (weak detergent, shop by Albert Heijn in The Netherlands) €0,25 per wash
Load 3-5kg
Soft water: 70 ml
Medium water: 90 ml
Hard water: 110 ml
Load 6-7kg: 50% dose extra
– Tip: Add a teaspoon of sodium PERcarbonate to make it a more powerful detergent. Put the powders in the detergent drawer of your washing machine and mix this oxygen bleach product well with your laundry powder
(1 dosing ball = 50 ml/ca. 40 gram)
Biotop (powerful eco-detergent) €0,33 per wash
Load 4,5kg
Soft/Medium: 62 GRAM
Hard: 68 GRAM
Load 8kg
Soft/Medium: 90 GRAM
Hard: 100 GRAM
– Tip: The recommended dosage is not always sufficient. It’s better to add a bit more (as long as no soap residue is left)
Ulrich Naturlich (eco-friendly powdered detergent, available in Germany) €0,82 per wash
Load 4,5kg
Medium water: 90 GRAM
– 65 grams may already be sufficient. Increase the dosage gradually if necessary.
(Measuring scoop = 10ml)
Ariel Color & Style (powerful powder) €0,65 per wash
Load 4-5kg
Soft water: 150ml
Hard water: 200ml
Load 6-8kg
Soft water: 200ml
Hard water: 250ml
Load 9+kg
Soft water: 250ml
Hard water: 300ml
– Note: Often, this dosage is too high, and it varies per washing machine what is ‘good.’ The laundry should come out clean, without soap residues, and with a neutral smell. Do not use Blue Biotex with this detergent to avoid a foam party. To keep the nappies bright, a teaspoon of sodium PERcarbonate can be added (mix well with the laundry powder and use the detergent drawers for this).
(100 ml on the measuring cup = 65 grams on the scale
Persil Megaperls Universal (favourite powder detergent) €0,56 per wash
Load 4-5kg
Soft water: 120ml
Hard water: 140ml
Load 6-7kg
Soft water: 165ml
Hard water: 185ml
For the prewash, you don’t need to use Blue Biotex with this detergent, and sodium percarbonate is also already incorporated into this super-powerful laundry detergent.
(1 scoop = 70 ml / 60 grams)
