Introductions to Cloth Diapers Series: Post #3
Disclaimer: Of course, I must mention you should always use the diaper manufactures recommendations for washing methods!
Washing Routines
I have found these to work for myself and leave our fluff clean and fresh!
1. Knock off solids into the toilet.
Breastfed babies usually have liquid poop that does not need to be rinsed off. It will rinse clean in the wash. For formula fed babies and babies on solid food, you can use flushable, biodegradable liners to help catch the mess. Another helpful tool is a diaper sprayer. No need for dunking, just spray the poop off!
2. Toss your dirty diapers into a waterproof pail.
This can be a hanging bag or a trash can lined with a waterproof bag. No need for to place any water in your cans. You can also lessen bacteria by keeping the bag or lid open. Bacteria like dark, wet places!
3. Place cloth diaper, wipes, inserts and pail liners into washing machine.
4. Rinse with cold water or do a cold soak.
The initial cold rinse or soak helps to get rid of the stuck on solids and helps to get the urine out of the diapers.
A cold soak is hard to do in HE washers so a cold rinse is used instead and I can state from experience it works just fine.
5. Add cloth diaper friendly detergent. (More or Less is needed for different size loads.)
Cloth diaper friendly detergent will be listed in the next session.
6. Wash on Hot/Hot or Hot/Cold cycle with the largest amount of water possible.
Do NOT use the sanitize cycle because this could ruin your diapers. You also want the highest water setting on your regular hot cycle. On my HE washer, I use the heavy duty cycle.
7. For extra dirty loads or if you put too much washing detergent in, you can do an additional cold rinse.
Most of the time I go ahead and push the extra rinse button on my washer. It only adds 5-7 minutes.
8. Line dry or tumble dry on low in your dryer.
Do not use your highest setting for regular dryings. Line dry whenever possible. The sun acts as a natural disinfectant and stain remover!
Cloth Diaper Detergents
Again, I am just passing along information I have found helpful. Always use the detergents recommended by your cloth diaper manufacture.
Cloth Diaper Friendly Detergents:
- Rockin’ Green
- FuzziBunz
- Charlie’s Soap
- Allen’s Nartually
- bumGenius Cloth Diaper Detergent
- Vaska
- Country Save
- Soap Nuts
(Visit www.KellyWels.com for a list of detergents. She keeps an ongoing up-to-date list.)
No-No’s of Detergents for cloth diapers include
- No Bleach (Except on very rare occasions. When bleach is recommended it is usually just for microterry inserts, not for the shells.)
- No baby detergents such as Dreft
- No “Free and Clear” detergents
- No Natural Detergents
- No Fabric Softeners
- No detergents with additives like bleach, whitening, enzymes, or fragrance
Creams
If you need to put cream on your baby’s bottom, it is important to use only cloth diaper safe creams or use a liner. The liner will help protect the cream/ointment from getting on the inner lining of the diaper. If non cloth diaper safe ointment gets on the diaper, it will repel water.
Here is a short list of cloth diaper safe cream companies:
Do you have any cream, detergent, or washing tips to add?
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