Washing Info
It may take some time to get into your wash routine! What works for one, may not work for another. So you may need to tweek a little to get it just right for you. This includes which detergent to use. Let us know if you have any questions, or if something just isn't working and we’ll see if we can help you get it right!
Prior to washing:
If it is a wet diaper or EBF (exclusively breastfed) poo diaper, simply place it in the wet bag or diaper pail until wash day (EBF poo is water soluble and will simply wash out). If it’s poopy (formula fed poo or solids poo), then rinse the poo off in the toilet before placing in wet bag/diaper pail. A wet pail is not necessary.
There are different methods to rinsing the poo off the diaper. Dunk and swish, plopping, scraping, rinsing with a diaper sprayer, and flannel or flushable liners are the most common options people choose.
Even when using disposables, you should dump the poo in the toilet before throwing the diaper away. Why? Because human waste is not supposed to go to the landfill.
Ideally, you should wash every 2-3 days.
How to Wash:
Cold rinse with no detergent.
Long hot wash with detergent. For a top loader, use 1/2 of the recommended amount of detergent. For an HE machine, use 1/4 of the recommended amount. If it is a detergent made for cloth diapers, use the recommended amount in the directions.
Follow this by a cold rinse. You may do an additional rinse, but it’s not always necessary, it just depends on your washer.
Dry the diapers on either low heat in the dryer, or by line drying.
Read the directions for the specific diapers you own to see if there are special directions on how to wash or dry, noting the information on manufacturer warranties.
How to Prep diapers:
Synthetic fibers (such as microfiber) do not need to be "prepped" before use. Just do one wash, and they are good to go.
Natural fibers (cotton, bamboo, hemp) need to be "prepped" to become more absorbant. It typically takes about 10 hot washes before they become fully absorbant. However, you do not need to wash them 10 times before use. It is generally recommended to prep them by washing on hot (no detergent) 3-4 times. If you wish, you can skip the prepping and just wash once before using, just know that it will not last as long the first few times the diaper is worn, so you will need to change baby more often.
Detergent Information:
Some detergents are not safe to use with CD’s. Here is a link that has a list of detergents. I want to mention that Tide original powder is not recommended since it has enzymes, fragrances, dyes, and brighteners. However, many people use it with no problems. If your baby doesn’t have sensitive skin, it is something to consider if you prefer something you can buy at the grocery store. (Please note that using Tide will void the manufacturer warranties on some cloth diapers.) There are many that you can buy at the grocery store that will work just fine. If you have an HE machine, use HE formulated detergents. Some detergents are specially formulated for cloth diapers and can be found at several of our local CD retailers.
NEVER use fabric softeners or dryer sheets with CD’s. They will cause build up on the diapers, which will cause them to leak.
STAINS. They will happen. But they are really only a cosmetic thing, it does not mean the CD's are dirty. The best way to remove stains is to sun them! Just line dry the diapers, or lay them out, in the sun immediately after washing. Not only does the sun remove stains, but it is also antimicrobial.
Prior to washing:
If it is a wet diaper or EBF (exclusively breastfed) poo diaper, simply place it in the wet bag or diaper pail until wash day (EBF poo is water soluble and will simply wash out). If it’s poopy (formula fed poo or solids poo), then rinse the poo off in the toilet before placing in wet bag/diaper pail. A wet pail is not necessary.
There are different methods to rinsing the poo off the diaper. Dunk and swish, plopping, scraping, rinsing with a diaper sprayer, and flannel or flushable liners are the most common options people choose.
Even when using disposables, you should dump the poo in the toilet before throwing the diaper away. Why? Because human waste is not supposed to go to the landfill.
Ideally, you should wash every 2-3 days.
How to Wash:
Cold rinse with no detergent.
Long hot wash with detergent. For a top loader, use 1/2 of the recommended amount of detergent. For an HE machine, use 1/4 of the recommended amount. If it is a detergent made for cloth diapers, use the recommended amount in the directions.
Follow this by a cold rinse. You may do an additional rinse, but it’s not always necessary, it just depends on your washer.
Dry the diapers on either low heat in the dryer, or by line drying.
Read the directions for the specific diapers you own to see if there are special directions on how to wash or dry, noting the information on manufacturer warranties.
How to Prep diapers:
Synthetic fibers (such as microfiber) do not need to be "prepped" before use. Just do one wash, and they are good to go.
Natural fibers (cotton, bamboo, hemp) need to be "prepped" to become more absorbant. It typically takes about 10 hot washes before they become fully absorbant. However, you do not need to wash them 10 times before use. It is generally recommended to prep them by washing on hot (no detergent) 3-4 times. If you wish, you can skip the prepping and just wash once before using, just know that it will not last as long the first few times the diaper is worn, so you will need to change baby more often.
Detergent Information:
Some detergents are not safe to use with CD’s. Here is a link that has a list of detergents
NEVER use fabric softeners or dryer sheets with CD’s. They will cause build up on the diapers, which will cause them to leak.
STAINS. They will happen. But they are really only a cosmetic thing, it does not mean the CD's are dirty. The best way to remove stains is to sun them! Just line dry the diapers, or lay them out, in the sun immediately after washing. Not only does the sun remove stains, but it is also antimicrobial.
