How to wash cloth diapers written for the Examiner:
Washing cloth diapers seems to be what scares people off from using them. Many people think it is gross, or that it will be a lot of extra work, or possibly expensive. I have not found those to be a problem at all. It hasn't been a lot of extra work to me to add 2 loads of laundry a week and the added utility usage has not been noticed at all.
The first thing to know about washing cloth diapers is what NOT to do. When you put a large investment into something you want to be sure you are taking the best care of it.
What not to do:
1. Do not use bleach; it breaks down the fabric and it is bad for baby's skin
2. Never use fabric softeners; it makes the fabric repel fluids
3. Do not use natural soaps; it builds up like soap scum on the fabric
4. Do not use a lot of detergent in the wash; it causes build up that can cause bacterial growth and smells
5. Be careful what rash creams you use, they can cause staining, I recommend Aquaphor.
Know that you know what not to do, what kind of products should you use? Generally, most detergents work fine in moderation, as long as you are careful to avoid things with fabric softeners, and some people recommend avoiding citrus products in the detergent, also, to avoid allergies. Most infant detergents contain softeners.
What are safe options for cleaning products?
1. Detergents that do not contain soap, citrus, fabric softeners or bleach
a. Allen's Laundry detergent
b. Tide
c. Soap Nuts
d. Bi-O-Kleen
e. Planet Ultra Powdered Laundry Detergent
2. baking soda
3. vinegar
4. Dawn dish soap, original
5. Eucalan "no rinse" Wool Wash
Generally, it is a very easy task to wash the diapers, with minimal extra steps. You have the option of storing the used diapers in either a wet pail (soaking diapers) or a dry pail (no water) with a pail liner. However, I strongly recommend not using a wet pail because they are a drowning hazard for young children, the breed bacteria, and they break down the waterproof materials in diapers and liners. A standard wet bag works well for storing diapers, and goes right in the wash with the diapers.
Exclusively breastfed baby poop does not need to be rinsed out at all, just toss the diaper in the bag, the poop will dissolve completely in the wash. After a baby is introduced to solids or is on formula, the poop just needs to be dropped out into the toilet, no need for dunking, what isn't solid enough to fall off easily washes out. However, if you prefer, you can get a sprayer that attaches to the toilet to rinse off all feces before storing the diaper for washing.
When you are ready to wash, generally every 2 to 3 days in the beginning, you only need to dump your diapers out into the washer along with the bag.
How to wash cloth diapers:
1. dump the diapers in the washer
2. run a cold rinse to remove waste
3. run a hot wash with 1/4 the amount of detergent used for clothing
4. run an extra rinse to remove all suds, add vinegar for odor removal and a natural fabric softener
5. dry the diapers on the line or in the dryer
6. fold and go!
Drying the diapers out in the sun is the best way to preserve the life of your diapers. But it has another benefit; the sun removes stains and odors! Any stains that didn't wash out will be bleached out by the sun. The sun is a natural anti-bacterial product and perfect for preventing odors, plus it is a much cheaper way of drying. Here in Minnesota, it isn't always possible to dry outside, so sometimes using the dryer is necessary. Dryers can lead to an early break down of fabrics and it sets stains in for good if you don't catch them.
Jennifer's Cloth Diaper Boutique has offered my readers a 5% discount with the code trycloth, plus free shipping on all orders over $49.
Washing cloth diapers seems to be what scares people off from using them. Many people think it is gross, or that it will be a lot of extra work, or possibly expensive. I have not found those to be a problem at all. It hasn't been a lot of extra work to me to add 2 loads of laundry a week and the added utility usage has not been noticed at all.
The first thing to know about washing cloth diapers is what NOT to do. When you put a large investment into something you want to be sure you are taking the best care of it.
What not to do:
1. Do not use bleach; it breaks down the fabric and it is bad for baby's skin
2. Never use fabric softeners; it makes the fabric repel fluids
3. Do not use natural soaps; it builds up like soap scum on the fabric
4. Do not use a lot of detergent in the wash; it causes build up that can cause bacterial growth and smells
5. Be careful what rash creams you use, they can cause staining, I recommend Aquaphor.
Know that you know what not to do, what kind of products should you use? Generally, most detergents work fine in moderation, as long as you are careful to avoid things with fabric softeners, and some people recommend avoiding citrus products in the detergent, also, to avoid allergies. Most infant detergents contain softeners.
What are safe options for cleaning products?
1. Detergents that do not contain soap, citrus, fabric softeners or bleach
a. Allen's Laundry detergent
b. Tide
c. Soap Nuts
d. Bi-O-Kleen
e. Planet Ultra Powdered Laundry Detergent
2. baking soda
3. vinegar
4. Dawn dish soap, original
5. Eucalan "no rinse" Wool Wash
Generally, it is a very easy task to wash the diapers, with minimal extra steps. You have the option of storing the used diapers in either a wet pail (soaking diapers) or a dry pail (no water) with a pail liner. However, I strongly recommend not using a wet pail because they are a drowning hazard for young children, the breed bacteria, and they break down the waterproof materials in diapers and liners. A standard wet bag works well for storing diapers, and goes right in the wash with the diapers.
Exclusively breastfed baby poop does not need to be rinsed out at all, just toss the diaper in the bag, the poop will dissolve completely in the wash. After a baby is introduced to solids or is on formula, the poop just needs to be dropped out into the toilet, no need for dunking, what isn't solid enough to fall off easily washes out. However, if you prefer, you can get a sprayer that attaches to the toilet to rinse off all feces before storing the diaper for washing.
When you are ready to wash, generally every 2 to 3 days in the beginning, you only need to dump your diapers out into the washer along with the bag.
How to wash cloth diapers:
1. dump the diapers in the washer
2. run a cold rinse to remove waste
3. run a hot wash with 1/4 the amount of detergent used for clothing
4. run an extra rinse to remove all suds, add vinegar for odor removal and a natural fabric softener
5. dry the diapers on the line or in the dryer
6. fold and go!
Drying the diapers out in the sun is the best way to preserve the life of your diapers. But it has another benefit; the sun removes stains and odors! Any stains that didn't wash out will be bleached out by the sun. The sun is a natural anti-bacterial product and perfect for preventing odors, plus it is a much cheaper way of drying. Here in Minnesota, it isn't always possible to dry outside, so sometimes using the dryer is necessary. Dryers can lead to an early break down of fabrics and it sets stains in for good if you don't catch them.
Jennifer's Cloth Diaper Boutique has offered my readers a 5% discount with the code trycloth, plus free shipping on all orders over $49.
1 people think my kids are qtpies:
Thanks for the tips and the help. It is good to know.
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