Washing Cloth Diapers

Diapers in wash machine Washing and caring for cloth diapers can be somewhat tricky. The best advice I can give you is to start off using small quantities of everything and then adjust your routine as necessary until it becomes something that works for you. Not everyone's routine is the same! However, below are several "tricks of the trade" to get you started.

Steps of Washing Cloth Diapers

Take a small amount of detergent. (I take 2 tsps of regular Tide.)
Turn your washer to the cold setting. (I run through once on cold.)
Run diapers through.
Now, run through again using the hot setting. (During this wash I also add 2 tsps of Vinegar to the load. I place it in the Fabric Softener Dispenser.)
Run through again.
Throw everything into the dryer, or hang to dry. (Hanging to dry helps with stains.)
- Dryer drying covers with Pul is a good idea at least once a month.

Extra Tips and Tricks for the Washing and Care of your Cloth Diapers:

I do not shake poop off (or use a diaper sprayer) the diaper, before washing. Though some people do swear by this method. It is ok to do both, or okay to try both methods. (To do that, simply shake over the toilet, you can also get a diaper sprayer [a diaper sprayer is a sprayer that hooks up to your toilet].)
I like to use vinegar in my wash routine. This helps to ensure the diapers are rinsed thoroughly. Vinegar helps with the care of cloth diapers when you have "soft water."
You can also use Tea Tree Oil or Baking Soda to help eliminate odor problems.
Most if not all "natural detergents" contain soap. Soap is not recommended in the care of cloth diapers. Soap can cause a foam build-up while washing your diapers. I recommend the cheapest detergent you can find. They tend to work best anyway!
You will not need to wash your covers after every diaper change. They can be used for a day or so, when you let them "dry" in between changes. (Most people use 2 covers a day, changing between the two off and on all day.) Once they become smelly or dirty, fold over the aplix (aplix is a form of Velcro) and throw in the dry pail. (I use an 8 gallon trash can for my dry pail, lined with a pail liner.)
DO NOT use BLEACH in your diaper wash. Bleach is not a good way to care for your cloth diapers. It can cause your diapers to break down prematurely. (Frankly the sun can do more than bleach can anyway in terms of removing stains.)
Please do not use fabric softener in the care of your cloth diapers. This can cause MAJOR build-up in your diapers, creating a film that will be almost impossible to rinse out later.

There are two kinds of "pail" methods for dirty diapers. I use the dry pail method (which is simply a "pail" or trashcan that is where the dirty diapers go). The reasons behind this decision are pretty simple. Number one and most important to me; having a wet pail (a wet pail is a diaper pail that has water in it, believed at one time to help with staining) in the house, even in a high level is or can be very unsafe. It is just not worth it to me, because you always encounter risks when you choose to have even small buckets with water and kids around, and a diaper pail is NOT a small bucket. Number two, if you do have your pail up high or locked inside a door, it can be a BIG pain with a baby, dirty diaper and then trying to OPEN or climb up to where the pail is. The third reason is that, people who have tried both methods report that using a dry pail is just as effective in keeping away stains if you wash every 2-3 days!

If you need further help, or help in adjusting your routine, please don't hesitate to ask. We are always happy to help!