PLEASE NOTE: These recommendations are for cloth diapers only. They are a basic guideline and results may vary. If any products seem to irritate your baby or are pre-maturely wearing out your diapers, discontinue use and try another method or cleaning product. Always follow cleaning instructions listed by your product’s manufacturer.
WET PAIL METHOD or SOAKING METHOD
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HOW TO:
Fill your pail about 1/2 full with cold water and 1/4 cup of vinegar, baking soda, BAC-OUT or Hydrox. Remove liner or shake off poop into toilet. Empty diapers and dirty water into the washer and set it to the spin cycle. When that is complete, start wash cycle. You can use a mesh liner for your pail to remove diapers from water and pour water into toilet, if you prefer. Pail liner can go into wash with diapers. Do not soak diaper covers.
DRY PAIL METHOD
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HOW TO:
*Some people use a washable laundry bag to line the diaper pail or by itself and hang it in a convenient place.
Sprinkle baking soda or Borax in bottom of pail/washable bag. Remove liner or shake poop into toilet. Put dirty diapers in the pail/bag. Every 2 days: Empty diapers into washer, throw in laundry bag, and do a cold-water rinse to keep stains from setting in before you wash the load. You can add ¼ cup of Bio-Kleen BAC-OUT or vinegar to the pre-rinse cycle to kill bacteria, if you want.
CLOTH DIAPER WASHING INSTRUCTIONS
- Wash diapers in hot water with 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent.
- Dry in dryer or outside.
TIPS FROM THE PROS:
- Wash new diapers 2-3 times before using for maximum absorbency. Unbleached diapers may need more washings to remove the natural wax on the fibers.
- Do not use chlorine bleach or whiteners. They will ruin diapers and covers. They can irritate baby’s skin too. Avoid “Free and Clear” products.
- Oxygenated bleach made from sodium carbonate is usually ok.
- Do not use fabric softeners or dryer sheets. They leave a build up on your diapers and covers.
- Natural cleaning products often contain oils or softeners that put a “coating” on your diapers and covers. This can ruin them.
- Do not use laundry detergents that contain perfumes, dyes, chlorine bleach or any stain guard ingredients.
- Use ½ the recommended amount of detergent.
- Sunlight is a natural whitener and disinfectant and it saves energy (sorry Seattleites!)
- Diaper rash creams, especially those made with fish oils can stain your diapers and compromise their effectiveness. Flushable liners can help protect diapers.
- An extra rinse cycle helps to remove detergent.
- Unfold diapers and Velcro any tabs before soaking or washing.
- Add a 1/2 cup of vinegar to the first rinse cycle in order to remove any residue when you feel it is necessary. Vinegar deodorizes, sanitizes and brightens diapers.
- Using vinegar in the final rinse can make your diapers smell funny.
- A clean dry towel in the dryer with your diapers can help reduce drying time.
- Make sure that your covers fit well and completely cover the diaper.
- Borax or Baking Soda diluted in a paste work well to pre-treat stains so you don’t have to pre-treat the entire load.
- Sprinkle Baking soda or Borax in your dry-pail to minimize odor.
Cleaning Products:
PLEASE NOTE: Washing cloth diapers and covers is very different from regular laundry. Products that work great on clothing may irritate you baby’s skin when it comes in to contact with urine or lessen the effectiveness of your cloth diaper/cover. Please keep this in mind as you read the lists below.
GOOD LIST (usually):
Remember: Less is better on ingredient lists.
- Tide (original)
- Cheer (original)
- Purex (original)
- Oxyboost
- Bio-Keen BAC-OUT
- Bio-Kleen laundry soap
- Hydrox
- Charlie’s Soap
- Countrysave
- Sensi-clean
- Borax
- Baking Soda
NOT SO GOOD LIST:
- Chlorine bleach (breaks down fabric and is harsh on skin)
- All Free and Clear
- other “Free and Clear” detergents
- Dr. Bronner’s Soap
- 7Th Generation laundry soap
- Dreft
- Ivory Snow
- "pure soap" products
- Oxy-Clean
