How to Wash Infant Cloth Diapers
Methods of Washing to Maintain Absorbency and Reduce Stains
Jun 9, 2009
Parents might be hesitant to use cloth diapers because they think having to wash them is difficult or gross. With a little preparation and practice, parents can develop an easy routine for washing cloth diapers, diaper covers, and all-in-one diapers. For more information about the types of cloth diapers, please read Introduction to Cloth Diapers and Covers.
Infants, or babies still eating only breast milk or formula, will have the easiest diapers to clean. Their bowel movements will be soft, low in odor, and easy to clean. Toddler diapers require a little more work to clean.
Washing New Diapers
When you get new diapers, they need to be washed several times in hot water to get to their maximum absorbency. No detergent is needed in this step. They should be also be dried several times in a hot dryer to fluff them up, also to increase their absorbency. Another option is to boil the diapers for several minutes in a large pot filled with water. This is commonly called "stripping" the diapers, which removes any trace of residue. This can also be done at any point later on, if the diapers start to lose some absorbency.
The Correct Diaper Pail Set-up
For infants you will need a covered trash pail. One with a pedal that opens the lid will be easiest, so dirty hands won't need to open the lid. The lid should fit snugly, and it should be large enough to hold a few days worth of diapers. A 21 or 33 quart trash can should suffice.
You should purchase 2-3 waterproof laundry bags. These will serve as your diaper pail liners. By having multiple bags, you can take the whole bag full of dirty diapers out of the pail and immediately replace it with a fresh one. For extra freshness, sprinkle some baking soda in the diaper pail. This can be left in the diaper bag when washing because baking soda is a natural cleaner and brightener.
When changing diapers, simply open the lid, and drop in the soiled diaper. The waterproof diaper covers can be worn several times before washing, unless they get very dirty. The diaper pail needs to be changed at least every 2-3 days to minimize odor.
Extra Rinsing
When the diapers are placed in the washing machine, a plain rinse cycle should be run. This will remove any poop from the diapers, and rinse all the pee off. This step is essential unless you clean the solids off the diapers first. This step is often unnecessary with infant diapers.
Hot Water is a Must
After rinsing, add a small amount of dye and scent free detergent. It is important to use a gentle detergent since this laundry will be going on baby's most delicate parts. It is also important not to use too much detergent so that no build-up is left on the diapers. A build-up of detergent can hinder absorbency.
Run a regular, long wash cycle using the hottest water available. This will thoroughly clean the diapers and kill bacteria.
Line or Machine Dry
During the summer it is ideal to line dry diapers outside. Not only will this save money on electricity from the clothes dryer, but it gives clothing an unmatchable freshness. Drying in the sun will help kill bacteria and bleach any stains. Chlorine bleach should never be used on diapers. Diapers will inevitably get stained, so don't stress if there are stains that the sun can't get out.
As for most diaper covers, they should not be machine-dried. Since they are not traditional fabric, they should dry quickly on a line outside or on a drying rack inside. All-in-one diapers should be washed and dried along with diapers.
After the diapers are dry, put them back in the baby's room. With practice, your diaper washing routine will only be a couple simple steps more than regular laundry. Using cloth diapers will help to save the environment and be gentle to your baby's skin.
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