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Washing Cloth Diapers
If you haven’t tried cloth diapers before, washing them may seem to be a bit intimidating. That’s why they invented disposable diapers, right? So you wouldn’t have to spend hours washing dirty smelly diapers? Well, the myth is about to be busted. Washing cloth diapers isn’t as bad as you may think. There are basically two methods to try… to pail or not to pail. If you use a diaper pail, you can get a washable liner to put in it. Not only will it save you from soiling your pail, but you won’t even have to touch the dirty diapers on laundry day. Just haul the liner over to the washer, turn it inside out, pouring the dirty laundry into the machine and throw it in with the diapers. You can do a cold water soak if you like, or just run a cold wash cycle to prevent stains from setting. If you choose not to use a pail, and your washing machine is nearby, you can just keep throwing diapers into the empty washer as you change the baby. Occasionally run a rinse cycle… this keeps the diapers odor free. When you have enough for a small load, wash as usual! One thing that is terrific about washing cloth diapers is you don’t need one of those fancy expensive washing machines. A cheap simple top loader will do the job with little work from you. If you are buying a new machine, the only extra feature that will help with diapers is the ability to do a warm rinse… warm water rinses out detergent suds better than cold. With all the new laundry detergents to choose from, you may need to read a few labels. Avoid any detergent labeled as “has whiteners and brighteners” or “keeps clothes fresh longer.” The additives in these detergents do not rinse out, and will build up with each wash. They may cause rashes on your little darling’s bottom. There are many more organic choices online, but if you must buy at the local mega-store, go for the cheapest store brand powdered detergent. They usually have the least amount of additives. There are a few brands to watch out for, as they are very harsh on baby’s bottom: Arm and Hammer Fabricare Advanced Powder Detergent, Tide, Dreft, Ivory Snow and Oxy-Clean products (unless you use Oxy-Clean Baby). Now that you have your soap, you only need about a quarter of what is recommended on most commercial detergents. Add it to your hot water wash cycle. Don’t use bleach or whiteners. Bleach will break down your diapers, while whiteners will ruin your waterproof covers. Fabric softener will lessen the absorbency of your diapers. If you are worried about getting all the suds out, add a little vinegar to your rinse. Vinegar breaks down the soap bubbles, making it easier to remove. Do not use it on all-in-ones (AIOs) or on waterproof covers, as the acidity will ruin your waterproofing. If you notice the diapers get less absorbent or the detergent residue builds up in them, you may need to strip them. This means occasionally, you’ll need to do a quick handwash of the diapers in something like Dawn or Ivory dish detergent. Ivory rinses out better.
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