Frequently Asked Questions

Find all the answers you need, right here. Click on the subject you are interested in to read more.

Troubleshooting

• + What if I have hard water?

• Hard water solutions

   

  Hard water has a lot of minerals in it, namely calcium and magnesium. Detergents don’t work as well in hard water because they often work at softening the water instead of cleaning the clothes. This can lead to buildup issues, stinky and dingy diapers, and diapers that don't work very well.

  You will know if you have hard water if you find a white powder ring around the inside of your pots when boiling water, or limescale buildup in your bathtub, shower, or sinks. Soap will not lather very well if you have hard water. To determine the hardness of your city water, you can call your city water department. If you have a well or other source, you can go to a local pet shop for a water hardness test kit.

   

  For very hard water, you will need a water softener. Here are some options:

  1. Make sure you are using the recommended amount of cloth diaper safe detergent. Hard water may require a bit more.

   

  2. 1/4 cup of baking soda can be added to a wash load, in addition to the detergent, to soften laundry water adequately. Please add the powder to the water and agitate before adding your diapers.

   

  3. Add ¼ cup of Calgon Water Softener to your diaper laundry. You can start by doing this once a week, and adjust the frequency as necessary.

   

  4. Magnetic water treatment is a new method of water softening. The magnetic field in the softening device has an effect on the structure of water molecules or the properties of water.

    Here is an example:    http://www.ddchem.com/clear.htm

                                       

  5. You can purchase a water softening tank that you attach to your water supply. This is an expensive option, but will be noticed throughout your household, from cleaner dishes to shinier hair.

   

  Make sure you aren't overloading your washer. Those diapers need a lot of room to move around to get clean. An optimal load is 18 M/L or 24 XS/S diapers, plus any washable liners, doublers and cloth wipes.

  For HE machines, we suggest a load of 12-15 diapers. Diapers need a good amount of water to clean them properly, and HE machines use less water. Here are some tricks to adding water to your HE diaper load:

  1.  Adding a wet bath towel to your diaper laundry will trick the washer into adding more water. You will use this in the prewash cycle, and leave in for the wash and rinse cycles.
  2. Select the Soak option to fill the washer with water, and then spin the water out. This will wet the diapers, making them heavier. In turn, that will trick the washer to use more water.
  3. Spray the diapers with a diaper sprayer before putting into the diaper pail. This will wet the diapers, making them heavier. In turn, that will trick the washer to use more water.

  Acidity in the form of mineral buildup in your water heater is also culprit to deteriorated components, so please clean your water heater as recommended by the manufacturer.

   

  For a US map of the United States with a visual breakdown of concentration of water hardness: http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/2008/12/could-you-have-hard-water.html

• + Help! My baby has a diaper rash!

• Diaper Rash

  A diaper rash is inflamed skin. It can be very alarming for parents, although usually more of an annoyance to baby! Causes can include dirty diapers, introduction of new foods, irritation from product ingredients, bacterial or yeast infections, teething, and clothes or diapers that are too tight.

  -First, let baby air out. Use only a gentle soap and/or lotion on baby for bath time, with no perfumes or dyes.

  -Use cloth wipes, and water or a wipes solution, instead of disposable wipes. Most disposable wipes contain chemicals and perfumes that can irritate baby’s skin. Thirsties Fab Wipes are very soft on baby’s delicate skin, and Thirsties Booty Luster will help to aid in healing and keeping diaper rash at bay.

  -We recommend keeping a good wash routine with a cloth diaper-safe detergent. Please refrain from using any products containing ingredients such as bleach, fabric softeners, brighteners, enzymes, dyes, and fragrances.

  Our cloth diaper detergent of choice is, of course, our very own Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash! Thirsties wash solutions contains probiotics which actually introduces good bacteria-the only wash of its kind! Our washes are entirely non-irritating (will not cause diaper rash) and they do more than just clean your cloth diapers. Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash work hard to reduce odors and naturally whiten and brighten your cloth diapers.

  -Follow diaper changes with a cloth diaper safe rash cream if needed. Our first recommendation would be our very own Booty Love diaper ointment. Made with certified organic oils to moisturize and nourish your baby’s sensitive skin, and natural herbs to relieve dry skin and rashes.  It can also be used to aid in the healing of minor cuts, burns and skin irritations.

  If Thirsties Booty Love is not available, some other good brands to use are:

  Angel Baby Bottom Balm (Diaper rash, cuts, scrapes, insect bites, burns)

  Baby’s Bottom Butter (Diaper rash, thrushy / sore nipples, bug bites, cuts, healing perineal tissue, chapped skin)

  CJ’s BUTTer (Eczema, rash, chapped skin, cuts, burns)

  Magic Stick (Diaper rash, skin irritations)

  Motherlove (Diaper rash and thrush)

  Northern Essence Diaper Salve (Diaper rash)

  Northern Essence Better Butter Cream (Diaper rash and yeast infections)

   

  -If a diaper rash is persistent or painful, please speak to your pediatrician to rule out a yeast infection, food allergy, or other condition.

  We have also compiled an in-depth article on diaper rash, using many trusted sources. If you would like a copy of this article, please e-mail us at support@thirstiesbaby.com.

• + I have been using the same Thirsties diapers for months without any problems. In the past week, we seem to be leaking more often. Why is this?

• Usually this is an indication your baby is growing and so is his/her bladder. Infants tend to urinate frequently and in smaller amounts. As your baby develops, he/she will begin to reserve urine and release it all at once. At this stage in development, you may need to increase the absorbency of your usual system by adding an insert such as Thirsties Hemp Insert. On occasion, leaks can be an indication of detergent or mineral build-up which causes your diapers to repel liquid. Please review our Laundering Tips to be sure you are properly caring for your cloth diapers.

• + Why do my diapers smell?

• There is nothing like a smelly problem diaper to deter moms from using cloth diapers. It can be very frustrating, but the problem is normally very easy to fix.

  Even if you follow all the recommended washing tips, you still might end up with occasional stinky and less absorbent diapers due to detergent, diaper rash ointment, and/or water mineral residue.

  First, you need to take a look at your detergent. What works for one person may not work for another. We recommend our own Thirsties Prewash and Wash for cleaning your diapers. You can also find some other recommended detergents here. You may be using to little detergent or water.

  Here is the wash routine we recommend:

  1. Collect soiled or wet diapers in a lined DRY plastic pail.  Wet pails hold odor.
  2. 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. You can also spray a washcloth with tea tree oil or lavender and place at the bottom of the pail to control odors.
  3. For optimum cleanliness, limit the size of your load to no more than 18 M/L or 24 XS/S diapers.  As a general rule, the fewer diapers per load, the cleaner they will be. Use the highest water level on your machine.

  For HE machines, limit the load to 12-15 diapers. If the washer has a weight sensor, add a wet bath towel to the load of diapers to allow the washer to add more water. If the machine does not have a weight sensor, rinsing the diapers before putting in the diaper pail, or doing a short cycle to wet the diapers before the prewash will help.

  1. Prewash on cold with Thirsties Pre-Wash, or 2 Tblsp. of detergent.  If you do not have a pre-wash cycle on your washer, then consider running your diapers through an initial short cycle.
  2. Then, run a HOT wash on a heavy cycle (No sanitize cycles) with the highest water level setting.  If using Thirsties Prewash and Wash, you will use the recommended ½ ounce for all types of machines. Yes, our detergent is HE safe!  Avoid all soaps and all “Free & Clear” and/or popular baby detergents. These detergents will leave a residue on your diapers that will affect the absorbency and may cause leaking, ‘stinky’ diapers and/or diaper rash.
  3. Add an extra warm or cold rinse. You can add a few drops of Tea Tree Oil or Grapefruit Seed Extract to the final rinse to disinfect your diapers. Please be careful as some natural oils can cause build-up if used too much.
  4. Whenever possible, dry your diapers outside in the sunlight.  Hang drying helps to preserve our environment and also preserves the textiles of your diapers. It is also great for getting rid of stains and odors, as well as disinfecting.  Hang drying will leave your cotton diapers somewhat stiff. To soften sun-dried diapers, you may choose to use the dryer for the last 15 minutes.
  5. Even if you follow all the rules above, you still might end up with occasional stinky diapers and less absorbent diapers due to detergent and/or mineral residue, or diaper rash ointment. In this case, you will want to strip your diapers.
  6. Finally, if your diapers are in need of a thorough deep cleaning, you can use the recommended amount oxygen bleach in place of your regular detergent. Dry oxygen bleaches contain ingredients that become hydrogen peroxide, and liquid oxygen bleaches are simply hydrogen peroxide and stabilizers. Oxygen bleach is not chlorine bleach, and is preferable for the environment because it will naturally degrade into oxygen and water. This should only be done once a month or less, as it can be harsh on your diapering products.

  Ammonia smell?

  This can be caused by one or more of the following and may just be temporary.  Urine gradually turns into ammonia as it sits…a little smell is inevitable for everyone and diaper pails almost always smell like ammonia.  But a strong ammonia smell in a freshly worn diaper may be an indication of something that needs to be remedied.  Causes of the smell include:

  1. Build-up and residue on the diapers - SOLUTION:  Strip diapers/change detergent.
  2. Washing in HARD mineral water - SOLUTION:  Add ¼ cup Calgon Water Softener to the wash cycle. Start with once every 3 washes, and increase as needed.
  3. Dehydration - SOLUTION:  Drink more water.
  1. is naturally occuring (urine is ammonia)  SOLUTION:  see below for tips on improving body's PH
  1. Antibiotics - SOLUTION:  Rebuild healthy flora with pro-biotics (available at local health food store).
  2. Urinary tract infection - SOLUTION:  Contact your pediatrician (other symptoms will occur, as well, if this is the problem).

  Excessive ammonia release can occur when the body is too acidic. Ammonia smell is from the body excreting large quantities of ammonia, a very alkaline substance, to try to maintain a proper pH balance. A possible solution to this problem is to eat more alkaline foods, such as:

  Bananas

  Chocolate

  Figs

  Mineral water

  Orange juice

  Potatoes

  Spinach

  Watermelon

  Dandelion Greens

• + Why are my diapers leaking?

• Below we offer a few of the most common reasons for leaks & their corresponding solutions:

  1. The fit may be too big. It is tempting to purchase diapers a bit larger than what you need in order to get longer use out of them. If you size-up to soon, the diapers will not fit properly and will end up leaking. Check to see if the waist and legs are snug against baby. If they are not snug, and the fabric does not touch the skin, the diaper will not be able to absorb the liquid before it makes its way to the openings. Please check your baby's measurements against our sizing chart at: http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/customer-center/size-chart/

  Solution: Use smaller size

  2. The diapers may be worn for too long between changes. Cloth diapers need to be changed more frequently than disposables, and on average will need replacement every 2 hours. If you find you need additional absorbency, add a cotton doubler or hemp insert.

  Solution: Change more often and/or use an insert or doubler.

  3. Baby boy? Be sure to point his privates downward when changing his diaper. If he is aiming to the side or up, it can cause leaking out of the diaper or cover.

  4. Leaking due to repelling…

  How do you know if they are repelling? If the fit is correct, and the absorbent part of the diaper is not wet, then you may have residue that is causing the liquid to repel. This can be due to detergent or mineral residue, fabric softeners, or diaper creams or ointments.

  Please note: some ingredients in diaper creams and ointments can be very hard if not impossible to remove from fabric.

  Solution: We recommend to first run a Hot wash or two on the highest water level with no detergent. If that does not take care of the problem, you can strip your diapers by replacing your detergent with 1-2 Tablespoons of Dawn dish soap. (For HE machines, you will use only 2 TEASPOONS to strip, and add another rinse. Please check with the manufacturer as using dish soap may void your warranty.)

  • Using the wrong detergent can lead to build-up and will make your diapers repel. Due to factors including water mineral content and alkalinity, what can work for some will not work for others. Our very own Thirsties Prewash and Wash is safe for your diapers, your baby, and the planet we share. Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash is a bit more costly than store brands, but some detergents can come free with a headache (can cause stink and repelling), and can actually ruin your diapers. Please read our Care and Use info for complete washing instructions. http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/customer-center/care-use/.

               Solution: Change detergent.

  5. The diaper does not meet the absorbency needs of your baby.

  Solution: If the sizing is correct, consider adding a cotton doubler or hemp insert to every change.

  6. The waterproof lamination is comprimised. Soaking PUL products can eat away at the lamination, causing de-lamination or tiny holes in the PUL. If you feel that the liquid is coming through the fabric, examine the lamination for cracks, holes or peeling. If this is the case, please refer to our replacement warranty at: http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/customer-center/return-merchandise-authorization/.

  If you do not see any flaws, you can test the lamination. Put your cover face up on the counter and lay a folded, wet washcloth into the cover. Make sure not to touch the binding or elastic – this will cause the water to wick onto the fabric. Let the washcloth sit for a minute, and then take out. Examine the outer fabric to see if the liquid came through. If not, please refer to the above reasons for leaking.

  Solution: An occasional 15 minute tumble in the dryer on high is actually beneficial to the waterproofing layer. This may reseal tiny pin holes in the lamination.

• + I really don't think my diapers are leaking. I think the waterproof barrier is defective. What should I do?

• We have had a few very rare cases where the waterproof lamination is actually snagged, cracked, or pulling away from the fabric and causing leaks. Most often the diapers are just leaking. When this happens, it does seem as thought the liquid is coming straight through, but it is not...it is just wicking along the reverse side of the fabric. In this case, please see these tips for stopping leaks on the FAQ above.

  There is an easy way of checking to be sure the lamination is intact. Flip the diaper inside out to reveal the laminated side of the exterior fabric. Examine the lamination to see if you see any separations or cracks in the places where you have noticed leaks. Next, place a light absorbent pad within the diaper or cover. Try pouring a slow stream of water onto the dry cover or diaper to simulate a pee. Do you see the liquid coming through the fabric? If yes, then the lamination has been compromised. But 99.9% of the time, the liquid is properly suspended and the problem is actually wicking due to leaks. If you still have trouble after reading our leaking solutions, please contact our customer service team so we can troubleshoot a solution with you.

• + I have received a defective Thirsties product...what do I do now?

• Defects are rare, but they do occasionally occur and we apologize wholeheartedly if you have received a defective Thirsties product. We stand behind our products 100% and are happy to hear of your problem so that we can work together to a resolution so you can start using your Thirsties item again!

  Our Warranty

  • Your product is under limited warranty for possible repair or replacement up to 1 year after the original purchase date.
  • Defects include loose stitching, holes discovered upon arrival, broken snaps, etc.
  • Staining, fading, holes that develop with use, and potential residue build-up are all considered normal 'wear and tear' and do not qualify for replacement.
  • Leaks are not considered a defect. Please search our database at http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/faq.php for detailed instructions in battling leaks or call us and we will be happy to troubleshoot with you to ensure successful cloth diapering.

  
  How to Proceed
  Please send an email to support@thirstiesbaby.com
  Include all the following information in your email. We are not able to process your request unless we have all the information below: 

  1. EMAIL SUBJECT LINE: Thirsties RMA
  2. Provide your name & complete shipping address:
  3. Email Address:
  4. Phone:
  5. Defective Product: (product name, size, color, & LOT number).
     Please specify if your product has an aplix or snap closure.
  6. Problem you are having:
  7. Detergent Used:
  8. Date of original purchase:
  9. Place of original purchase:

  What to Expect Next
  Once you email us with all the requested information above, your Return Merchandise Authorization information will be reviewed and a customer service rep will be in contact with you shortly. Defects covered under the warranty will be quickly replaced at no cost to you. Included in the replacement package will be a prepaid return label to mail your defect to us. Just place your defective product in the same reusable shipping package and attach the prepaid label and place it in the nearest United States Postal Service mailbox for pick up.

  All returned merchandise is reviewed for ongoing product improvement, then repaired (if repairable) by our sewers, and donated to charity organizations.

• + I would like to use cloth diapers, but I cannot afford the up-front investment. Do you offer donations or low-income assistance?

• It can be tough initially to make the leap to cloth diapers. But you can save over $2000 by choosing reusable diapers over disposables over the course of birth to potty. Purchasing cloth diapers is a wise investment!

  Here are a few tips for making cloth diapering as affordable as possible:

  1. Locate a local cloth diaper bank in your area.
     
  2. You may find some great deals in our Outlet Store.
  3. You can save BIG by purchasing used diapers from:
     Baby Cotton Bottoms
     Cloth Diaper Outlet
     Cotton Babies
     Diaper Daisy
     Diaper Junction
     Diaper Jungle forum
     Diaper Swappers
     Kelly's Closet
     Jillian's Drawers

  When your baby grows out of one size, you can also resell your own cloth diapers fee-free at the Diaper Jungle forum, or Diaper Swappers. Many times you will be able to resell them for a return of 50% or more of your original investment! Turn that money around to help purchase the next size up.

Laundering Tips

Print a copy of our care instructions. Hang a copy next to your washing machine to encourage the whole family to help with the laundering!

• + Do I need to wash my diapers before using them for the first time?

• Yes - All Thirsties diapering products must be prepped before use by washing and drying at least once.

  Thirsties Hemp products need to be washed and dried at least three times before use to rid the fibers of the natural oils. This is done separately from your other diapering products for the first 3 washes. Our hemp products will be fully primed and at their maximum absorbency after 8 wash cycles.

• + At what temperature should I wash my cloth diapers?

• We advise pre-washing your cloth diapers in COLD water prior to a full cycle wash to help lift stains and rinse away waste. Ideal washing temperature is WARM or HOT: between 85-130°F. Water temperature in your washing machine depends mostly on your hot water heater settings. An easy way of making sure your water temperature does not exceed the maximum recommendation is to adjust your hot water heater to no more than 130°F. Alternatively, you can use a candy thermometer to check the water temperature in your machine.

  Warning: Please do not use the sanitize cycle on your High Efficiency machine for any diapering products with elastic, hook and loop products, or lamination. The high temperatures can damage these components and can void your warranty on them. Sanitize cycles are fine for natural fiber diapers or inserts without components, such as prefolds, inserts, and doublers.

• + Can you recommend a detergent for washing cloth diapers?

• Most mainstream detergents on the market will leave a residue on your diapers that will affect the absorbency and will cause odors and diaper rash. Please avoid soaps and Free and Clear detergents, as well as additives such as chlorine bleach, fabric softeners, brighteners, enzymes, dyes, and fragrance. These can not only harm your diapers, but your baby's sensitive skin as well.
  
  Please avoid using the following:
  
  Sanitize cycles
  Pure Soap
  Vinegar
  Washing Soda
  Chlorine Bleach
  
  These practices and/or additives can void the warranty on your Thirsties products.
  You may use sanitize cycles, vinegar, Borax, and washing soda on natural fiber diapers and inserts without components.

  Note: Washing soda is acceptable in the formulations used in powder detergents, but not used in pure concentrations. We have found washing soda to clean very well, but is harsh on your diapering products, especially those with hook and loop fasteners.

  Our very own Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash were specifically formulated for use on cloth diapers, and are 100% natural and safe. They are also made in the USA, and are HE compatible. http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/accessories/
  
  If you do not have access to Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash, here is a list of detergents we find to be safe to use on all Thirsties products:

  Allens Naturally Liquid*

  Arm and Hammer Essentials

  Country Save Liquid

  Mountain Green Ultra Baby *

  Planet Delicate Laundry Wash Liquid

  Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash *

  Vaska

  *HE compatible

  
  Liquid detergents are generally less harsh on diapering products.
  
  For Hard Water:
  We recommend either a powder detergent or adding a water softener for households with hard water. Calgon Water Softener may be added to the wash load if using a liquid detergent.

  Here are some recommended powder detergents:

  Allen’s Naturally Powder*

  Country Save Powder*

  Planet Powder*

  Rockin Green*

  -Soft Rock

  -Classic Rock

  -Hard Rock

  -Funk Rock

  (Please do not "Rock a Soak" for more than 10 minutes for diaper covers.)

   

  For Thirsties recommendations on how to wash your diapers, please go to: http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/customer-center/care-use/

• + How do I wash my Thirsties cloth diapers?

• Before Wearing

  Wash all diapers at least one time before use, using a cloth diaper safe detergent such as our Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash.

  Thirsties hemp products can be used after 3 wash/dry cycles, and will reach maximum absorbency after 8 wash/dry cycles. You will need to wash Thirsties hemp products separately from your other diapering products for these initial cycles.

  Diaper Changing Station

  Shake solids into toilet after each diaper change. Store your soiled Thirsties Cloth Diapers in a DRY diaper pail. A standard 52-quart garbage pail with a lid works great and can be purchased at your local department store. Be sure to line your pail with a Thirsties Deluxe Diaper Pail Liner to avoid having to clean your pail on every laundry day.

  Stow your stash of Thirsties Fab Wipes in an accessible location to your changing table along with some fresh water for wipe dipping. Toss soiled wipes into your pail along with your diapers.

  Pre Wash

  *Although soaking can aid in stain removal, we do not recommend soaking anything but natural fiber diapers for any longer than 10 minutes. This is due to the fact that it can eat away at lamination, and lock in odor.

  For optimum cleanliness, limit the size of your load to no more than 18 M/L or 24 XS/S diapers and wash every other day (plus inserts and wipes). You will need to use the highest water level on your washer for your diapers. Use COLD water for the pre-wash cycle with 1/2 ounce Thirsties® Pre-Wash solution, to help pre-clean your diapers. If you do not have a pre-wash cycle on your washer, a short or quick wash cycle will work just as well. You may alternatively use 2 TBLSP of detergent in the prewash cycle (2 TSP for HE machines).

  For HE machines, we suggest a load of 12-15 diapers. Diapers need a good amount of water to clean them properly, and HE machines use less water. Here are some tricks to adding water to your HE diaper load:

  1.  Adding a wet bath towel to your diaper laundry will trick the washer into adding more water. You will use this in the prewash cycle, and leave in for the wash and rinse cycles.
  2. Select the Soak option to fill the washer with water, and then spin the water out. This will wet the diapers, making them heavier. In turn, that will trick the washer to use more water.
  3. Spray the diapers with a diaper sprayer before putting into the diaper pail. This will wet the diapers, making them heavier. In turn, that will trick the washer to use more water.

  Wash

  Choose a HEAVY cycle and wash on HOT for the main wash, using the highest water level possible. Please be sure not to use temperatures over 130 degrees for any item with components. Use 1/2 ounce Thirsties Super Wash or the recommended amount of cloth diaper safe detergent per load. Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash are HE safe and have been custom formulated for use on cloth diapers. For hard water, use 1 ounce of Pre-Wash and Super Wash.

  Most detergents on the market will leave a residue on your diapers that will affect the absorbency and will cause odors and diaper rash. Please avoid soaps and Free and Clear detergents, as well as additives such as chlorine bleach, fabric softeners, brighteners, enzymes, and dyes. These can not only harm your diapers, but your baby's sensitive skin as well.

  Please avoid using the following for diapers or covers with components such as elastic, Aplix, and lamination:

  Sanitize cycles

  Pure Soap

  Vinegar

  Washing Soda

  Chlorine Bleach

   

  These practices and/or additives can void the warranty on your Thirsties products.

  Rinse on warm, adding an extra rinse.

   

  Dry

  Hang your cloth diapers to dry or dry in dryer on low. Inserts, flats, and prefolds may be dried on higher settings.

  *Routine drying in the dryer will hasten the life of any diapering product - especially on diapers or covers with components such as hook and loop fasteners and elastic.

  Add a dry towel or wool dryer balls to the dryer to speed the drying process.

  A hot, 15 minute dryer cycle once a month is beneficial to lamination.

  Drying in direct sunlight is the very best method for drying and disinfecting, and at getting rid of stains. However, take care not to leave diapers out longer than neccessary, as UV rays and high temperatures can also have an ill effect on diapering products. Cotton and hemp diapers will be somewhat stiff when hung to dry. One option to soften sun-dried textiles made from natural fibers is to use the dryer while still slightly damp.

  Stripping

  Even if you follow all of our Care and Use instructions, you still might end up with occasional stinky and less absorbent diapers due to water mineral residue. In this case, we recommend running your diapers through a HOT wash with no detergent, followed by two rinses. You may need to change detergents. If you are still having trouble, you will need to strip your diapers of the residue causing the problems. Following are the instructions for diaper stripping. Strip only as needed, as it can be harsh on your diapering products.

  Standard machines:

  Maximum load size is 18 XS/S or 24 M/L diapers.

  Starting with clean diapers:

  1. Fill machine with Hot water on the highest water level.

  2. Add 2 Tablespoons of Dawn Classic dish soap to the wash water and agitate for about 10 seconds. 

  3. Add diapers and run wash cycle, adding an extra warm rinse.

  4. If the rinse water is slimy or has any bubbles during the second rinse, you should add another rinse.

  HE machines:

  Dawn dish soap is NOT low sudsing. Please check with the manufacturer of your machine as to whether this can void your warranty.

  Maximum load size is 12 XS/S or 15 M/L diapers.

  Starting with clean diapers:

  1. Put diapers into the machine.Use one of the tricks above to add weight to your diaper load.

  2. Wash on Hot with 2 Teaspoons of Dawn Classic dish soap on the highest water level.

  3. Add an extra warm rinse.

  4. If the rinse water is slimy or has any bubbles during the second rinse, you should add another rinse.

  Important:

  If you have residue on your diapers, you will want to strip the diapers but also take care of what is causing the problem. First make sure you are using the correct wash instructions above.

  If you are not using a recommended detergent, you will want to strip your diapers and change to a cloth diaper safe detergent such as our Pre-Wash and Super Wash.

  Make sure that if you use a diaper cream that it is cloth diaper safe. You may want to use a liner when using diaper creams.

  For hard water, you will need to use a water softener such as Calgon Water Softener to your wash load.

• + How do I disinfect my cloth diapers?

• How To Disinfect Your Diapers

  Simply washing your diapers on HOT (130-150 degrees Fahrenheit) with a good detergent, and putting them in the sun to dry will routinely help to disinfect diapers. Please make sure that you are using the highest water level to wash your diapers, that you are not overloading your machine, and using our special washing instructions fif you have an HE machine.  Drying on high heat will also kill germs, but is not recommended as a routine for diapers with components. Yeast will effectively be killed at temperatures above 122 degrees Fahrenheit. 

  If you are following the recommended washing instructions and still have diaper odor, below are some remedies that may help:

  Oxygen Bleach – Use recommended amount of oxygen bleach in a HOT wash, along with your detergent. This will disinfect as well as help remove stains. Some brands to try are OxyClean Baby, and Bac-Out Oxygen Bleach Plus. This is for a one time treatment, and not to be used at every wash load.

  Grapefruit Seed Extract - Tests have shown that GSE is dramatically more effective than Colloidal Silver, Iodine, Tea Tree Oil and Clorox bleach against five common microorganisms. In studies performed by Dr. John Mainarich of Bio-Research Laboratories in Redmond, WA, samples of each of the common antimicrobials or sanitizing agents were evaluated for effectiveness against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus faecium and E. coli. The other antimicrobials tested were considerably less effective than the GSE.  http://drjaygordon.com/breastfeeding/thrush.html

  2 teaspoons added to the washer while filling should suffice.

  GSE is also an ingredient in our Thirsties Super Wash.

  
  Tea Tree oil is another option.  Add 2 Teaspoons to the washer while filling. Make sure you are using 100% tea tree oil and not a cheaper mixture.

  You want to look at the Cineole and Terpinen-4-ol numbers.

  Cineole: The lower the number the better. Tree oils with high cineole content are thought to be of poor quality and more likely to cause skin irritation.

  Terpinen-4-ol: The higher the number the better. Terpinen-4-ol appears responsible for most of the antimicrobial activity of tea tree oil.

  Vinegar is known to kill germs, although it does not kill yeast. Vinegar is also not recommended for diapers with components or lamination, or microfiber. You would use ½ cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle after a hot wash with detergent. Follow with a high heat cycle in the dryer.

  **Please be sure to check with manufacturer's washing instructions (and warranty information) before starting any disinfecting routine.

• + What are the ingredients in your Pre-Wash and Super Wash cloth diaper detergents?

• PRE-WASH INGREDIENTS:
  Sodium Bicarbonate
  Acid Neutralizer
  Endosperm of corn kernel extract
  Citric acid
  Natural flower nectar
  Purified Water

  SUPER WASH INGREDIENTS:
  White Camellia Sinensis
  Cetyl Alcohol
  Ascorbic Acid
  Saccharomyces/Lysate Extract
  Other natural and organic ingredients

  Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash removes residue, stains, and odors, and has been proven to work better than anything else on the market without harm to the environment or to humans. Once the product is activated with hot water, it cleans and dissipates to nothing. It is truly as harmless as rainwater and 100% toxin-free!

• + Why is it against Thirsties' recommendations to use oxygen bleach at every wash?

• An oxygen bleach additive, such as Ecos powder or Biokleen powder, is OK for an occasional deep clean. But extended and frequent use will yellow the velcro and elastic of your diapers and more importantly, will deteriorate the waterproof lamination of your diapers. Rather than using an oxygen bleach, we recommend using Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash and try and hang dry your diapers in the sun as much as possible. Our washes are completely safe for everyday use and for your baby.

Sales & Support

• + Are Thirsties products PVC (vinyl), phlatates, and lead free?

• Yes!

• + Can I tuck my prefold diaper under the flap of Thirsties Diaper Covers?

• The flap is a facing and is designed to cover the stitching holes of the tummy velcro. Tucking a diaper beneath the flap may cause wicking through the holes created by the stitches.

• + How long will my Thirsties products last? Can I expect my reusable diapers to last through multiple children?

• We take care to choose high-quality USA-made fabrics and components that have been proven to withstand the test of time. Purchasing reusable diapers is an incredible investment that can rack up thousands of dollars in savings over disposables. However, as with any apparel item, nothing lasts forever. Reusable diapers go through a considerable amount of use and abuse and are laundered far more frequently in comparison to other attire items.

  A fair life expectancy of Thirsties diapers is approximately 180 washings. This translates to about 12-18 months when laundering your diapers every 2-3 days. You can extend the life of your reusable diapers by laundering with a very gentle yet thorough detergent such as Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash. Drying in the dryer will hasten the retirement of any apparel item, therefore we always recommend hang drying whenever possible.

• + Can you recommend a good 'starter kit'?

• You will need this many diapers if you are washing every other day:

  Newborn: 20-24 diapers
  6-12 months: 14-18 diapers
  12-24 months: 12-16 diapers
  Potty Learning: 4-8 diapers

  You will need this many covers if you choose a two-piece system:

  
  Newborn-9 months: 1 wrap for every 3 diapers
  9 months-18 months: 1 wrap for every 4 diapers
  18 months to potty: 1 wrap for 5 every diapers

  (A single Thirsties Duo Wrap or Thirsties Diaper Cover can be wiped clean and reused several times before requiring a full washing.)

  Not all diapers require a cover. Many diapers include a waterproof shell. Diapers that do require a separate cover include Flats, Prefolds, Contoured, and Fitted.

  Here are a few bundling options that provide a good stash to start out with for a newborn:

  Bronze Package: Most affordable
  20-24 Prefolds or Stay-Dry Duo Inserts
  7 Duo Wraps
  Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash detergent
  5 pkgs. Fab Wipes
  1 8 oz. Booty Luster
  1 4 oz. Booty Luster
  1 Deluxe Diaper Duffle
  1 Deluxe Diaper Pail Liner
  1 13 gallon (52 quart trash) pail (available at your local department store)

  Silver Package: Mid-range:
  20-24 Thirsties Duo Fab Fitteds
  7 Duo Wraps
  1 pk. Hemp Inserts
  Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash detergent
  5 pkgs. Fab Wipes
  1 8 oz. Booty Luster
  1 4 oz. Booty Luster
  1 Deluxe Diaper Duffle
  1 Deluxe Diaper Pail Liner
  1 13 gallon (52 quart trash) pail (available at your local department store)

  Gold Package: Most convenient
  20-24 Duo Diapers
  1 pk. Hemp Inserts
  Thirsties Pre-Wash and Super Wash detergent
  5 pkgs. Fab Wipes
  1 8 oz. Booty Luster
  1 4 oz. Booty Luster
  1 Deluxe Diaper Duffle
  1 Deluxe Diaper Pail Liner
  1 13 gallon (52 quart trash) pail (available at your local department store)

   

  Following the proper care and use directions is vital to cloth diapering success. You can find our care and use instructions as well as many other helpful tips in our FAQs.

   

• + Do I need a cover for every fitted diaper in rotation?

• Fitted, contoured, prefolds, and flat cloth diapers are not waterproof. But you do not need a cover for every diaper. We recommend 1 cover for every 3-6 diapers in rotation. You can use the same cover several times and wipe it down between uses before it will be fully soiled. During the newborn stage, you will find you need more covers in rotation because your baby will soil them more often. For the first few months, 1 cover for every 3 diapers changes is the minimum recommendation. Once your baby is 18 months old, you will likely get away with only 1 cover for every 6 diapers in rotation. The number of covers you will need also depends on the type of diaper you choose. For instance, a fitted diaper provides very secure fit. Therefore your cover will stay cleaner and can be used more times before a full laundering will be necessary. You will need more covers in rotation if you choose a prefold or flat diaper which doesn't provide quite the same secure coverage.

• + How many covers/wraps do I need in rotation?

• A single Thirsties Duo Wrap or Thirsties Diaper Cover can be wiped clean and reused several times before requiring a full washing.
  Newborn-9 months: 1 wrap for every 3 diapers
  9 months-18 months: 1 wrap for every 4 diapers
  18 months to potty: 1 wrap for 5 every diapers

  Please Note: Not all diapers require a cover. Many diapers include a waterproof shell. Diapers that do require a separate cover include Flats, Prefolds, Contoured, and Fitted.

• + How many diapers do I need in rotation?

• Newborn: 20-24 diapers
  6-12 months: 14-18 diapers
  12-24 months: 12-16 diapers
  Potty Learning: 4-8 diapers

• + Should I fasten my prefolds with pins or Snappi before covering with your cover?

• You do not have to use pins for your prefold diapers...we do recommend Snappis when pairing a prefold cloth diaper with Thirsties Diaper Covers. When using Thirsties Duo Wraps, you can choose to fasten your prefolds or simply trifold them, lie them in the wrap, and fasten around your baby. Thirsties Duo Wraps are trimmer fitting than our original Diaper Covers and will hold a trifolded prefold in place without shifting and sagging.

• + What type of dyes are used in the Thirsties products?

• We use low impact reactive dyes and processes that are eco-friendly. Our textile dying processes meet or exceed criteria set forth by the European Union. No heavy metals, toxic substances, or environmentally destructive practices are used in dying our fabrics.

• + Where are Thirsties products made?

• 100% of Thirsties products are manufactured in Denver, CO, USA! We do not stop at just making our products in the USA. We go through great lengths to find sources of fabric and components made in the USA, as well. To date, over 90% of our fabric and components are also manufactured domestically! Even our new hemp jersey fabric is knitted in the USA...which was a hurdle and an accomplishment we are so proud to have achieved! Thirsties is committed to fair and sustainable labor practices, providing people in our own communities with much needed jobs, and doing our part in boosting our local economies!

• + Do you offer wholesale sales to co-ops?

• No, we sell wholesale only to fully registered businesses with storefront or online stores only.

• + Do you sell seconds?

• We do occasionally come across a slightly defective diaper or cover. When we do, we list it in our outlet store: https://www.thirstiesoutlet.com. All the diapers listed in our outlet store are fully functional. Most often they have a slight mis-stitch or spot on them.

• + How can I order Thirstie's products?

• You may purchase from any of our fine retailers located throughout the world:http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/where-to-buy/retailer-locator/. We have over 400 locations worldwide so you are likely to find one near to you! Nothing beats getting a hands-on feel for modern cloth diapers.

• + Our retail sales policies

• To find a Thirsties retailer, please go to: http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/where-to-buy/retailer-locator/.

   

  About our Outlet Store:
  We do occasionally come across a slightly imperfect diaper or cover. When we do, we list it in our outlet store: https://www.thirstiesoutlet.com. Most often they have a slight mis-stitch or spot, but are fully functional.

• + I'd like to resell Thirsties products. How do I receive information on opening a wholesale account?
• We appreciate your interest in carrying Thirsties in your own business. Please apply for wholesale information here: http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/where-to-buy/wholesale. Your company must be fully established and registered with your state or province before applying for an account. We will not disclose our policy and pricing information until we can verify your business status with a Resale Tax ID. Here is a great resource with information on how to start your own baby/cloth diaper business: http://www.diaperdecisions.com.