I get this question a lot; “How do I store my cloth diapers?” You may want to save your diapers in good condition for another
child.
It is pretty simple, but very important to store them properly. Here are our recommendations:
- Make sure the diapers are thoroughly CLEAN and DRY. Any stains left on the diapers during storage will most likely be there to stay. If the diapers are not dry, they may form mildew which will most likely ruin your diapers. Make sure you have used a cloth diaper safe detergent, with no additives, including perfumes. Any odor on them could be intensified. Of course, do not use fabric softeners.
- Ideally, use bags, containers, or boxes that won’t degrade and will seal out dirt, dust, rodents, insects, and moisture.
- Pack “loosely”, allowing air to circulate. Wrap each diaper in white tissue paper.
- Tuck a lavender sachet or cedar block into each container to help repel insects.
- Make sure that the temperate they are stored in is between 32 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. A cool, dry area is best. Attics may be to hot; unheated garages may be to cold; basements may be to damp.
For humid climates:
Make sure that the diapers are in a moisture-proof container. Store them right away after drying, with tissue paper layered between. Look for #5 plastic.
For dry climates:
If you’re storing in a clean, dry environment, a clean cardboard box works fine, as long as it is not subject to rodents or insects. If using a plastic container, look for #5 plastic.
You want to avoid dampness, extreme heat, and sunlight. Wherever your storage area is, do not let the diapers be exposed to direct sunlight.
If you have any questions, please send me an email at support@thirstiesbaby.com!

We are just getting to this point! I am literally boxing up my duo wraps and duo inserts today!
That is good info to have..
This is SO helpful! It should be a link on the FAQ page!
This is really helpful. As dumb as this is I would have never thought to pack them loosly. I would have shoved as many in as possible! Thank you!
I agree! This is very helpful information for a first time cloth diapering mom!
I have something to say about this. If you will be reusing your stash for another child within a year or two, I think this would be fine. However, if you have a large gap between your children, you may want to sell much of your stash. I say this because all my things with elastic in them were dead after being stored for 6 years. The elastic just died. The prefolds were totally fine, but all the covers had to be replaced. Bummer!
Thanks for this great article! I was wondering how to store them!
I would have done the same thing a previous commenter said…shoved as many as I could fit into one container to save space. Storage isn’t something my home was blessed with. I usually sell what no longer works so I can buy more fluff. I haven’t actually though about what I will do with them once my last potty trains.
So good to know!
I always just stored mine like clothes–put them in a box wherever I had space. But I don’t think mine have ever been stored more than a year or two, and it’s mostly prefolds and covers. I imagine if you have fancier diapers or were storing them longer, you’d want to go to more trouble!
This is my first baby, and we are close to potty training, so I’m very grateful for this post! Thanks!
This is super helpful! Thanks!
Very helpful tips! One question- should inserts and covers be stored separately or could they be put away ready to go with the inserts already inside the covers? I guess it wouldn’t really matter as you’d probably want to give them a quick wash before you use them again anyway.
Like has been said a couple times, I wouldn’t have thought to pack them loosely… good tips!
These are some great tips!
Thanks so much, this will come in useful.
This is great information! Thanks for posting.
Great tips!
Great tips! Now if only I could FIND the diapers I stored after the last baby.
Thank you for the tips!!! I never thought about wrapping each diaper in tissue paper!
This is very helpful info that I had been wondering about
I love this post, thank you! I have been buying NB diapers but am not due for a few months yet (I’m excited and a planner
) so this is good to know for how to store them before we use them.
This is great information! I am sharing this with friends who use cloth and will be holding onto their cloth for the next baby.
This is great! Thanks for sharing! With my first I just threw the few diapers I had in a bag…my second has a larger stash and knowing the proper way to store them will be WONDERFUL! Thanks!
Great tips! I didn’t even think of the tissue paper one. Thanks!
Great article! I dont look forward to the day I have to store the diapers away though!
Good to know!! Will be storing our diapers after DS2 is done, want to have another but want to wait a little bit longer. Thanks for the info.
this is helpful i have just put mine in a box in the basement i didn’t know about the tissue paper or the lavender, I guess I will have to go and get that stuff to repackage.
I would have never thought to use the tissue paper. Finally making the switch from size 1 to size 2 today!
This was really helpful. Since my daughter is still in cloth right now I had never even thought about it, but this will really come in handy in the future.
Great post, very helpful…..
This is great information! I will probably need to be doing this soon.
This is great information. I will definitely keep this in mind when it’s time to pack up for the next one.
I need to do this…right now mine are in a box, after just moving. I need to get them stored right though so this was very helpful!!
Great info! I will have to remember this for when we’re storing our cloth between babies! Thanks!
Great tips, need to start storing our diaper stash away!
I am having a hard time with deciding which diapers to keep and which to sell. We have 2 kiddos, and no plans for any more, but I am really attached to our diapers…
I think I may sell off my least favorite, and then store the others for a bit longer.
Thank you for this info! We are not yet ready to store any other than the newborn but it’s good to know the right way.
Wow, I just threw mine all in a plastic bin, guess maybe they need more TLC!
Thanks for the pointers!
Great tips! I will need to come back to this soon, hopefully…
Great advice! I am glad I found this as I will need to do this someday.
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