CARE & CLEANING
Tips and tricks for clean diapers, every time.
Washing diapers
- Rinse in a COLD cycle. Just Water. (Addition of 1/4 cup baking soda is optional.)
- Wash in a HOT cycle with 1-2 Tablespoons of cloth diaper safe detergent. *
- ADD Extra-rinse feature in step 2 OR do a QUICK WASH/QUICK RINSE cycle. Just water.
- DRY in machine or LINE DRY*
*If you have extremely hot water, you'll want to take extra care with anything that has a waterproof layer (think pocket diapers, wet bags, wraps, etc). Use a warm temperature setting or remove these items for step 2. Only put these items in the dryer on low heat.
STORING THE Diapers
- REMOVE as much solids as possible prior to storing diapers. A diaper sprayer can help with this.
- Exclusively breastfed babies diapers DO NOT need to be pre-cleaned since their poo is water soluble.
- STORE in a hanging large wet bag or inside a large pail with a pail liner.
- Wash every 2-3 days.
- DO NOT soak in a bucket full of water! This is a drowning hazard. Wet diapers soaked from the diaper sprayer are okay.
FIRST TIME USE
COTTON, HEMP, BAMBOO: Wash HOT and DRY 3-5 times.
DIAPER COVERS & WRAPS: Diaper covers and wraps do not need to be pre-washed. They're ready to go.
- Test for absorbency by pouring water on the fabric. If it soaks up quickly, the diaper is ready to go! If it beads off, wash a few more times - until they absorb the water. Diapers will continue to become more and more absorbent as they get washed.
- Prefolds are made of cotton but have natural oils from the manufacturing process that need to be cleaned before they are used. It is normal for prefolds to shrink as much as 20% during this process.
DIAPER COVERS & WRAPS: Diaper covers and wraps do not need to be pre-washed. They're ready to go.
IMPORTANT WASHING PRINCIPLES
DO NOT use a sanitize cycle when you wash diaper wraps, AIO or pocket diapers.. The temperature is too hot and can ruin waterproof fabrics that are essential to the diapers functioning.
DO air dry the waterproof wraps or any waterproof layers if you can. It will extend the life of the waterproof materials and velcro.
DO use a cloth diaper safe detergent. If you don't, you'll be prone to stink, rash and other issues I am sure you don't want to encounter.
DO "strip" the diapers once every month or when they start to smell. Even the most cloth diaper friendly detergents can cause small residue buildup over time that will cause the stink and rash issues I just mentioned.
*If you have extremely hot water, you'll want to take extra care with anything that has a waterproof layer (think pocket diapers, wet bags, wraps, etc). Use a warm temperature setting or remove these items for step 2. Why? This will protect the waterproof fabric and maintain its effectiveness.
FRONT LOADER USERS: Though these are some of the most efficient washing machines, they simply don't use enough water. You'll need to ADD A SOAKING WET TOWEL to each load. Or a BUCKET OF WATER. Agitation and water are crucial components to getting clean diapers, so a wet towel will help with this.
DO air dry the waterproof wraps or any waterproof layers if you can. It will extend the life of the waterproof materials and velcro.
DO use a cloth diaper safe detergent. If you don't, you'll be prone to stink, rash and other issues I am sure you don't want to encounter.
DO "strip" the diapers once every month or when they start to smell. Even the most cloth diaper friendly detergents can cause small residue buildup over time that will cause the stink and rash issues I just mentioned.
*If you have extremely hot water, you'll want to take extra care with anything that has a waterproof layer (think pocket diapers, wet bags, wraps, etc). Use a warm temperature setting or remove these items for step 2. Why? This will protect the waterproof fabric and maintain its effectiveness.
FRONT LOADER USERS: Though these are some of the most efficient washing machines, they simply don't use enough water. You'll need to ADD A SOAKING WET TOWEL to each load. Or a BUCKET OF WATER. Agitation and water are crucial components to getting clean diapers, so a wet towel will help with this.
STRIPPING THE DIAPERS
Once a month or so... or if you suspect residue buildup, you'll want to "strip" the diapers. Here's how you do it:
- Wash on a HOT cycle 5-10 times.
- You can do the first load with a little baking soda or oxy clean... but use JUST WATER for the rest of the loads.
- RECOMMENDED with the purchase of PRE-LOVED DIAPERS