How to Wash Cloth Diapers

What's New

How to Wash Cloth Diapers

Tips on ways to launder reusable cloth diapers, with suggested wash routines and techniques for removing stains and smells without wearing out the diaper.

This basic wash routine utilizes the dry pail method, which means that dirty diapers are simply thrown into a pail where they sit until wash day. In general, you will need to wash diapers every two to four days, depending on how many diapers you go through each day ( I do my laundry after every 2 nights. Usually in the evening and hang out to dry at night so that the Diapers dries up faster by after noon on the following day ). When you are ready to wash the diapers, simply carry them to the washing machine, toss them in, and wash with hot water if possible, ( I am using just plain tap water with a top load machine).

Set the washing machine on the highest water setting available and depending on the usage of diaper you have in the machine.Diapers need hot water ( for front load machine ) /or clean tap water and plenty of room to agitate in order to get clean. Use only a small amount of detergent – about a tablespoon or two will do – since the leading cause of stinky diapers is excess soap left in the diapers. Allow the machine to run through the rinse cycle, and then dry the diapers in the dryer or under the sun for best bleaching / whitening stain removal ( this works best for me ). Pull out the covers and hang them to dry, since excess heat will cause covers to wear out faster.

VARIATIONS

Extra soak. Many parents find that diapers come out cleaner and less stained if they are allowed to soak for several hours or overnight . Place the diapers into the washing machine and fill with cold water. Allow the diapers to soak, and then run the spin cycle to drain the machine before washing. Please note that only diapers should be soaked, not covers especially if it is PUL cover . Soaking is hard on covers and will cause them to wear out faster.

Extra rinse. Oftentimes, one rinse cycle is not enough to completely rinse the soap residue from the diapers. If you notice that the diapers are stiff or stinky, or if you notice soap suds in the rinse water, you might consider running an extra rinse or two to ensure that all the soap gets rinsed out or add dettol for final rinse to disinfect the diapers. ( It is also not recommended to handwash cloth diaper unless you have the time to spend rinsing till the diapers have no more detergent residue ).

Rinsing poop. Breastfed Babies have poop that is completely water-soluble, meaning that it just washes right out in the laundry ( for breastfed babies, I rinse only soiled poop diaper under runnning tap water with liquid dishwasher ). Babies who are fed formula or who are eating solid foods have poop that isn’t quite as easy. This poop will need to be rinsed or scraped off the diapers before washing. Many parents find it easiest to simply keep a spatula in the bathroom and scrape the poop off the diapers and into the toilet. Other parents install a sprayer – similar to the sprayer installed next to most kitchen sinks – onto the toilet and spray the poop into the toilet. Whether you choose one of these methods, or devise one of your own, poop belongs in the toilet and not in the washing machine!

Hanging to Dry. Like all other clothes, diapers will last longer if dried on a clothesline rather than in the dryer. Additionally, the sun will work to bleach out any stains.

DETERGENT,FABRIC SOFTERNER AND LAUNDRY ADDITIVES

Be certain to never wash your diapers in baby detergent (which usually contains fabric softener) or with fabric softener. Fabric softener puts a coating on fabric and cuts down on its absorbency – exactly what you do not want for your diapers!

If you choose to bleach your diapers to remove stains ( not advisable for PUL ) , be certain to rinse them well and understand that bleach is hard on fabric fibers and will cause your diapers to wear out faster. ( If your diapers are stained, hanging them out to dry in the sun will get rid of the stains better than bleach and without the undesirable side effects.)

Some parents find that adding some sodium bicarbonate ( baking soda ) into the washing and a cup of vinegar to the final rinse helps keep the diapers from getting stinky ( I usually do this once a week or whenever I find the diaper has an ammonia smell ). If you have stinky diapers, you might try using vinegar. Vinegar helps cut through ( neutralize ) any leftover soap in the diapers (leftover soap causes stinkiness ).

Some parents enjoy adding essential oils to their wash routine. Tea Tree oil is antibacterial and can be added to the wash or rinse. Lavender leaves diapers with a nice fresh scent and can be added to the final rinse ( I also use the normal antibacterial DETTOL to my final rinse if / or whenever seems necessary ).

WET PAIL METHOD

Some parents prefer to use the “wet pail” method. Diapers are tossed into a bucket of water to soak until wash day, and the water is changed each day. If you opt to use the wet pail method, you will not need to soak the diapers in the washing machine on wash day. It is however not widely practice in our country yet.