Mildew can grow on your cloth diapers if left to sit to long before washing, if left in an airtight container, or if stored when still wet. Humid climates also present a challenge. Below we share how to remove mildew from cloth diapers and how to prevent it from happening again.
For Mildew Spots
Mixture of 2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. lemon juice. Mix into a paste and rub onto the mildew spots. Let sit for a half hour. Wash with the next cloth diaper load, and dry in the sun or put in the dryer for 15 minutes on high.
This should kill the mildew and get rid of the stain.
Vinegar
Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold. Pour 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle, spray on the area with mildew, and let set for a few hours. Wash with the next cloth diaper load and dry in the sun. You can also add ¼ cup baking soda and ½ cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle if they have odor.
This should kill the mildew, but the stain will still be visible.
Tea Tree Oil
Add 1 teaspoon tea tree oil to 1 cup water in a clean spray bottle. Shake to blend, and spray on mildew spots. Let sit overnight, and add to your next cloth diaper load. Dry in the sun.
This will disinfect, but the stain will still be visible.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Add 10 drops grapefruit seed extract to 1 cup water in a clean spray bottle. Shake to blend, and spray on mildew. Let sit overnight, and add item/s to next cloth diaper load. This will disinfect, but not get rid of the stain.
This will disinfect, but the stain will still be visible.
Oxygen Bleach Powder
Follow directions on package.
This should disinfect and remove the stain.
For a Stash of Mildewed Diapers or Covers
Start a prewash cycle in your machine with the lowest water level to cover the diapers. Let the tub fill with cold water, add ¼ cup baking soda, and ONE of the following: ½ cup vinegar, 2 tsp Tea Tree Oil , 2 tsp Grape Seed Extract , Recommended amount of Oxyclean Baby (use hot water) Let agitate, add the diapers, and then turn the washer off to let them soak for about 1 hour. Line dry outside or run a hot cycle in the dryer. After any kind of treatment, please wash your diapering products and rinse
thoroughly. Drying in the sun will aid in disinfection and stain removal. Please keep in mind that drying in the dryer will set any stains. To remove stains naturally, you can use a 50/50 solution of lemon juice and water sprayed on the stain. Put in the sun for a couple of hours. If stain is still visible, wash and repeat.
Tips on Preventing Mildew From Growing
Mildew grows in warm temperatures and humidity. There also seems to be a link to sugar in the growth of mildew.
- We recommend using a dry pail to store your diapers for washing – no soaking on a normal basis.
- Please do not keep any soiled or wet items in an airtight container for longer than a few hours.
- Humid climates have more trouble with mildew, and might need more frequent washings. You may need to use the dryer to keep mildew from forming, or put a de-humidifier in the laundry room where they are hung.
- Make sure that your diapering products are dry after laundering. Take them out of the washer and dryer as soon as the cycle is done. Check to see that they are totally dry before storing.
- A half cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle will help to clean and disinfect your diapers.
- A few drops of Tea Tree Oil mixed with ¼ cup of baking soda in the prewash cycle will aid in stain removal, disinfection, softening water, and cleaning of your diaper laundry.
- Dry in the sun! This disinfects, aids in stain removal, and conserves energy!
For any further questions, please contact Thirsties customer service at
support@thirstiesbaby.com.
Sources include: www.care2.com/greenliving/three-ways-to-kill-mold-naturally.html#ixzz1M9P4MXve, and www.ehow.com/how_4546575_remove-mildew-fabric.html
Have you had to deal with mold or mildew in your cloth diaper stash? Were you able to save your precious cloth and how did you do it? Let us know in the comments below.
Hello Melissa,
I am sorry to hear of the trouble! If the diapers are mildew/mold free before the wash, you might try cleaning the washing machine. Do you have an HE machine? They can hold on to a mildew smell, especially if the door is closed between uses. Treating the mold with an oxygen bleach should remove the odor but the spots can remain, but you can lighten them with the lemon juice. Also, do you live in a humid area? What type of detergent do you use on a regular basis?
You can also email me at support@thirstiesbaby.com, as well. Jessica
I left my diapers in the washer from middle of the night- washed them, the rinsed them throughout the following day. We didn’t get home till evening & by the time I went to hang dry, some of my natural fibers had spots. Would tea tree oil & vinegar be ok to use on my natural aio fiber diapers. But we have hard water so I’m nervous & an he machine
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I know this is an older post, but I am having a very persistent mold/mildew problem with my diapers. I keep my diapers in a dry hamper, wash every other day, and dry everything in the dryer. I use pocket diapers, prefolds, and covers. I don’t see anything before the wash but when the cycle is done I can smell the mildew and there are little black spots all over my diapers. I have soaked in oxygen bleach and I just went out and got some tea tree oil. and I plan on treating my entire stash as noted above with baking soda and tto. is there anything else I can do to prevent this from coming back. I still don’t quite understand why im having this issue but no matter what I cant seem to get rid of this problem. I am also going to try the salt lemon juice mix to remove the stains on my diapers. any insight would be greatly appreciated!! thank you for posting such a helpful article.
Thanks for the great information I never leave my wet diapers sit longer then 2 days and I don’t have any mildew problems yet
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