| 1. Shake solids into toilet. Newborn
stools will be too loose to shake clean. In this case we recommend
using a diaper sprayer or for the most simple solution, set your
washing machine cycle for an extra initial short cleansing. Washing
machines with a pre-wash cycle make diaper cleaning even easier and
are the perfect solution to pre-rinsing. If you do not have a pre-wash
cycle on your washer, then consider running your diapers through an
initial short cycle followed by a heavy cycle. Use COLD water for the
first pre-wash cycle to help lift stains.
Please note: Do not pre-soak your
diapers for longer than 10 minutes. Presoaking will set the stink
deeply within the fiber of your diaper and will also wear away the
waterproof layer. Use a dry diaper pail for storing dirty diapers.
2. Collect soiled or wet diapers in a
lined plastic dry pail. You can purchase a special made diaper pail,
but we have found your basic plastic 52 quart garbage can and lid
works just as well, is more affordable, and is available at your local
department or hardware store.
3. You can optionally add a sprinkle of
baking soda to your diapers and pail to help neutralize odors. Once
mixed with water in your washer, the baking soda will help to lift
stains.
4. For optimum cleanliness, limit the
size of your load to no more than 24 diapers and wash every other day.
As a general rule, the fewer diapers per load and the shorter the time
between washes, the fresher your diapers will be.
5. Then, use HOT wash and rinse with
high water level. Use a mild detergent with no phosphates, and minimal
additives. Add only 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent for
top-loaders and 1/3 the recommended dose for high efficiency and
front-loaders. Avoid all soaps and many "Free & Clear" and/or popular
baby detergents. These detergents will leave a residue on your diapers
that will affect the absorbency and may cause 'stinky' diapers and/or
diaper rash. Below we compiled a list of some commonly found
detergents that are best for washing diapers and also the most
delicate on baby skin:
~ *Allen’s Naturally®
~ Arm & Hammer® - Essentials Free
~ *Charlie’s Soap®
~ *Country Save®
~ *Ecos® - Free & Clear Liquid
~ *Maggie’s Soap Nuts®
~ *Mountain Green® - Free & Clear
~ Planet® Ultra Powder
*Advertised as ideal for
high-efficiency washers and top loaders alike.
 For
a more complete list of detergents please visit
The Diaper Jungle's
Diaper Detergent Chart. In washing your cloth diapers, there
really is no right or wrong way to go about it. But there is a
RIGHT detergent to use. Please
take a moment and find one that will work for you.
5. Hang to dry or dry in dryer. Add a
dry towel to the dryer to speed the drying process. Occasionally you
may wish to dry in dryer on high heat to help with sterilization and
to reseal lamination. Drying in direct sunlight is the very best
method for drying and disinfecting. Hang drying also helps to preserve
the textiles of your diapers and is great at getting rid of stains.
Cotton and hemp diapers will be somewhat stiff when hung to dry. So to
soften sun-dried dipes made from natural fibers, you may choose to use
the dryer for the last 15 minutes.
6. Some parents like to add 1/2 cup
vinegar to the final rinse to reduce residue of detergent or hard
water. DO NOT use vinegar when washing cloth diapers made from
synthetic textiles...this includes most all diaper covers and some
brands of cloth diapers, including Thirsties® Fab Fitteds and Pocket
AIOs. Synthetic fibers tend to hang on to the vinegar smell. In lieu
of vinegar in the final rinse, we prefer plain lime juice. 1 Tsp lime
juice will aid in naturally disinfecting and neutralizing, and is safe
for all types of cloth diapers.
7. Even if you follow all the rules
above, you still might end up with occasional stinky and less
absorbent diapers due to detergent, diaper rash ointment, and/or water
mineral residue. Simply replace your regular detergent with 1/4 cup Calgon® water softener (found at your local grocers) or 1-2 Tbs Dawn®
or Ivory® dishsoap. This process is often referred to as diaper
stripping. Strip your diapers as often as needed, but not at every
wash.
8. Finally, if your diapers are in need
of a thorough deep cleaning, you can use a bit of OxyClean Baby® in
place of your regular detergent. Do this only when needed. If you hang
in the sun, you will find you never need to use OxyClean Baby®. |
