Today, we're going to talk about how you wash
your cloth diapers and how to get rid of stains!
How do you wash your cloth diapers?
In your regular home washing machine. Or a Laundromat if need be. Or, if you are really tight on money or don't have access to a machine, get flats and wash them by hand or in a camp style washer (bucket with plunger type of thing). I know some people can’t fathom the idea of washing a poopy diaper in the same washing machine that washes their clothes <gasp!>. Seriously, just get over it. When the disposable diaper blows out and your baby gets poop all over their onsie you don’t just throw it away. You rinse it and wash it. Same with cloth diapers. Rinse the poop away and put it in the pail. Then wash them ever other day or so.
If you were to ask 100 cloth diapering families about their wash routine, you'd likely get 100 different answers. Depending on your machine (top vs. front loader) and it’s settings you’ll have to figure out a routine that works for you. You could probably Google the type of machine you have + cloth diapers and there will likely be a lot of different threads and posts about how people clean their diapers.
Detergent use is well debated topic. Many cloth diaper companies will tell you that you must use a cloth diaper safe detergent without additives (or whiteners or brighteners) or it will void your diaper’s warranty. There are several brands – bumGenius, Rockin’ Green, Little Love Buns, just to name a few. For me personally (and a lot of other cloth diapering folks out there - especially those with hard water), the CD safe detergents just weren't getting my diapers clean enough. What works and for me is Tide Free & Gentle. I’m not overly concerned about the warranty on my diapers because I have a pretty large stash, but if you’re strapped for cash then you might want to try CD safe detergents first and see if they’ll work for you and your water type.
A safe bet for a wash routine is this: a regular cold wash without detergent, followed by a regular hot wash with detergent, then an extra rinse at the end. You can try this first and then tweak it to find what works best for you. Your diapers should come out of the washing machine smelling clean (or like nothing actually). If they don't, rewash them and consider changing up your routine or detergent.
Here is my typical wash routine (in my Samsung HE frontloader): Pre-rinse on COLD with no spin, then heavy duty wash on HOT with extra rinse (using Tide F&G up to the “1” line), then I do an additional rinse at the end. I hang the shells/covers and stained inserts out to dry (outside preferably) and tumble dry the other inserts and wipes. The whole washing process takes a while – like 2.5 hours – but I don’t mind doing diaper laundry for some reason. Just a quick note, I rinse every dirty diaper (pee or poop) before it goes in my diaper pail and I think it's prevented me from having problems with ammonia.
What about stains? Well, have no fear – the sun magically bleaches away most poo stains you will run into. Just place your freshly clean, wet diaper/insert/whatever out in direct sunlight and in a few hours the stain will be gone. Just make sure you place them cotton/suede cloth/fleece side up. Live in a cooler climate? No worries, just place your stained diapers in direct sunlight by a window and that will usually work too.
Join me tomorrow and we'll talk about how to prep your cloth diapers!
Ruth V. says
Hi Shea! Thanks for all your great comments! This is the drying rack I have: http://www.amazon.com/Moerman-Laundry-Solutions-Y-Airer-Folding/dp/B002KAOOXM/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1357320457&sr=8-9&keywords=drying+rack
It's a little pricy, but the one I wanted at Ikea was sold out. This one is worth it though - we hang a lot of our clothing to dry as well so it's been a great purchase so far!
Nathan, Julie, Lucy, Chico and one on the way! says
Quick ? When you say you rinse every dirty diaper how do you do this? I do not currently have a utility sink so what are some other options without having to disinfect a bathroom sink 10 times a day? I know this is gross, but I assume you wipe the solids off and flush them first and then do the rinse? I have heard of folks attaching a little shower head to their toilet but I didn't know how practical this is, and how easy to install on a regular toilet. Any advice?
Ruth V. says
Hi Julie! I currently do have a utility sink so that is what I use. If the solids are "solid enough" to knock into the toilet I do - we're just now getting to that point at 6 months. Otherwise I put on rubber gloves, rinse them/agitate it against itself in the sink and then put it in the pail. I try to get off as much poo as physically possible. Then I wash the rubber gloves as if they were my hands. Then wash my hands and spray out the sink with disinfectant if it's poo. If you don't have a utility sink you have a few options: 1.) Dunk and swish - dunk the diaper in the toilet and swish it around. (I personally can't get down with this method because I hate touching the toilet), or 2.) You can install a diaper sprayer. I bought one but couldn't get it installed on our current toilet because someone had welded all the joints shut. I think this would be a great method and most people that have sprayers love them! I think it's very practical - you can keep your diaper pail in there and then have a short trip to the sink to wash your hands. I'll be doing this in my next house if we don't have a utility sink. Oh, and did you see the other comments on the Moby Wrap post - looks like some size 16 mamas have had great luck with their Mobys!
Beth R says
I don't have a sprayer and just do it by hand. I have been cloth diapering for over 4 years with different children and it really isn't that bad. It is just baby poop lol. I just rinse it in the toilet and since I am cleaning my toilet once a day or every other day it isn't like it is super gross
Ruth V. says
Hi Ellen! I know what you mean, it is really confusing! For dampness around the legs, I'm assuming you mean that you're having small leaks where your baby's clothes are damp around the legs opening of the diaper? You shouldn't be having leaks so there are a few things you can do. 1.) Change more often - How often are you changing your baby? With most cloth diapers you'll want to change every 2 hours or so. 2.) Increase your absorbency - What kind of diapers are you using? Did they come with just one insert or with 2 (a newborn and a regular). If it came with two inserts use them both. If it came with just one then you can add additional microfiber inserts or use a natural fiber like hemp (which is more absorbent). If you use a natural fiber as a "doubler" you'll want to put that underneath the microfiber because MF absorbs more quickly. 3.) Test your inserts to ensure that they aren't repelling - do you have detergent build-up that is causing your diapers to repel/leak? You can test this by laying the insert out and pouring a bit of water on it - if the water beads up you may need to strip your diapers, if it absorbs just fine that it's not a repelling issue. 4.) Check the fit? Again, I'd kind of like to know what kind of diapers you're using. If they are adjustable (one-size) then you just may need to play around with the settings. You mentioned that your diapers are mostly microfiber so there is prepping that needs to be done for those - they are as absorbent as they are even going to be right out of the package (unlike natural fibers like cotton or hemp that need 7+ washing for a full prep).
How hot is too hot for your water? Well, Cotton Babies (bumGenius diapers) will tell you not to use water hotter than 104 degrees (which is not that hot). Most other manufactures will recommend around 130 degrees F. We had to adjust the temperature on our hot water heater because it was VERY hot coming out of the tap so you may need to do that too. Washing on warm might be okay for now, but you may get to a point where you have stink issues. I would probably adjust your water temperature and wash on hot.
For a 3 month old EBF baby you probably don't need to scrub out every poop. EBF poop is water soluble so it should come out just fine - but I'm a stain spazz and I like to rinse all of my diapers. And, I hang them in the sun all the time just like you 🙂
In terms of detergent, I use liquid Tide Free & Gentle. Personally, I haven't had any issue with liquid vs. powder, I'd use up what you have if you aren't having stink issues.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other issues or questions!
Ashley says
I recently purchased a bunch of used cloth diapers so this post is helpful on how to make sure they are clean before I use them on baby. I am new to cloth diapering and I have yet to experience cloth diaper laundry!
nataliehamp says
I wash my diapers exactly the same way except the detergent I use is home made and I have no dryer :-/ so they all get to hang! That way works though, and I don't mind diaper laundry either. I find that most of the work is in the initial rinsing right after changing my little one. Sure beats all that stinky garbage you get from disposables!
Viv Sluys says
I laughed when I read the bit about washing poo in the machine as that was one of my things to get over when I switched to cloth. We only do cloth part-time because I only have 9 diapers that fit our 7 month old. I am in need of more but I am trying to find bigger diapers for my big baby. With just breastfeeding and what little solids I can convince my baby to take, we don't even rinse
Ruth V. says
Well, you can dry them in the dryer but that will likely wear them out faster. I hope you win at least one or two of our giveaways this month to beef up your stash! I need to do a bit more research on EC and maybe try that!
Michelle Lee says
I have a big baby too (99th percentile height/weight) and around that age I was SURE his one-size diapers weren't going to fit much longer...and they are still fitting at 15 months (30 lbs, 34 in). I do find a MUCH better fit with side-snapping diapers though (great for chunky thighs). My favorites are Swaddlebees Simplex 2.0 (large) and Bottombumpers large. I'm going to try EC with baby #2. 🙂
Melissa Gilbertsen says
Talking about stains... up until winter I was sunning my diapers when needed and let them dry outside regularly (I only had a days worth stash). I now have 3 days worth of diapers but since it is winter I haven't been drying outside or sunning. I am noticing they are a bit, well, gross looking. I never thought of hanging them inside a window, I'll have to try that. But I have also been
Ruth V. says
Hi Melissa! I don't think the staining has much to do with not using enough detergent. If your diapers are coming out of the wash smelling clean (or like nothing at all) then you're using enough. If they stink then you need more. I think sunning inside might be your best bet right now. You can try some lemon juice too - that may help.