Cloth Diapers - Laundering

How To Wash Cloth Diapers

Wash in warm or hot water on normal cycle, an extra rinse may be necessary. Non-chlorine bleach when needed. Tumble dry on medium heat or line dried. All cloth diapers will become more absorbent after they are washed and dried a few times. NOTE: Unbleached fabric will need to be washed and dried up to 5 times before they are primed. Do not use bleach, fabric softener or any laundry detergent that has stain protectors in it. It will leave a waxy build up and lower the absorbency of the diapers.

Do and Do NOT Of Washing Tips From Parents Like You

Dos

  1. Follow manufacture's washing and care guide.
  2. Diapers will need to be washed and dried a few time priors to use to reach their maximum absorption ability. Non-treated fabric may require a few more washings.
  3. Diaper covers can be aired to dry in-between uses, unless it is soiled or smells of urine.
  4. Covers should be washed separate from diapers to extend the life of the cover. Rinse stool off the soiled diaper covers as soon as possible. Most covers can be washed with other clothes unless they have special washing instructions such as WOOL cover, Always follow manufactures care guild. Most covers can hang to dry in a short amount of time.
  5. To help prevent staining rinse the soiled diapers in COLD water. Hot water will set stains. Use products like Arm & Hammer Washing Soda or Borax in your diaper pail (for safety reason only use a pail with a locking lid) to prevent staining and odors. Diaper liners can help prevent staining and makes for easier clean ups.
  6. It is recommend to use only ¼ to ½ of the suggest amount of laundry detergent. I feel it is a key to rash free cloth diapering.
  7. Use an extra rinse cycle. Set your washing machine to an extra rinse cycle. If you machine does not have an extra rinse setting, you can manually move the dial to the rinse cycle. Add ¼ a cup of white vinegar to the first rinse. If your washing machine does not have a rinse dispenser you can use one of the fabric dispenser balls.
  8. By using an extra spin cycle after washing a load of diapers it will reduces the drying time up to 25%. Add a dry towel in to the drying to decrease drying time even more. Line dry diapers to save on drying cost. The sun will naturally disinfect and will remove some stains. If diapers are a little stiff put them in the dryer for 5 minutes to fluff up the fabric.
  9. Turn All-In-Ones Pull-On Pants and all training pants inside out prior to laundering.

Do Not

  1. Do not use fabric softener because it leaves a waxy coating on the fabric, which will reduce the absorbency and may cause rashes.
  2. DO NOT USE CHLORINE BLEACH- Chlorine bleach is hard on fabric and will prematurely breaks down the fabric and it will irritate your baby's skin causing rashes.
  3. Do not use laundry detergents that contain perfume, dyes, chlorine-bleaching agents, or any stain guard ingredients.
  4. Do not use bucket without a lid locks on it to soaking your diapers in. Children can drown in as little a ½ of water.
  5. Do not use high heat or over dry all-in-ones.