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How to I wash my cloth diapers?
Many cloth diaper sites offer their recommended methods for washing their diapers. After extensive research, and using multiple methods, I’ve created the following methodology for a more generalized washing approach:
I run my diapers through a cold pre wash cycle. During this cycle, you can add baking soda to help neutralize the smells.
I then run a large load of a hot or warm wash and a cold rinse cycle where I add my detergent (my favorite detergent is Charlie’s Soap). Some people like to add white vinegar to the rinse cycle to free their diapers of any soap residue. This is an optional step and depends on your baby’s sensitivity to detergents.
Dry on normal heat for 40-60 minutes. Green Tip: You can add a dry towel to the load to increase drying time.
If stains are an issue, you can naturally bleach your diapers by air drying them in the Sun. It is not recommended to use chemical bleach on your diapers.
Can I wash my diapers and covers in the same wash load?
You can do this with some covers, but it depends on the manufacturer. I wash my covers in the same load as my diapers. I simply put my used covers and diapers in the same diaper pail and it all goes into the washer at the same time. I also dry all of my diaper accessories together. I take care to close any Velcro tabs on the covers and diapers so that they don’t all stick together. However, my approach is to simplify the process so this works for me and I haven’t noticed any issues.
Can I wash my washcloth baby wipes in the same load as my diapers?
You bet. This is an added benefit to using cloth diapers with cloth wipes. You can wash them all together and it’s done in one load.
What do I do with the more solid stool prior to washing?
I actually keep an aluminum miniature trash pail with a lid next to my changing table. When I have more solid stool, I will place it in there. If it’s easier, you can also just toss it into the toilet. I found that lining my cloth diapers with toddler flushable wipes helps because you can flush these with the stool or toss it into your trash can and it is biodegradable. Tip: I let the wipes air dry first. If perfumes are an issue, you can rinse them out first and then let them air dry. Or you can buy rice paper for inserts.
Play the video below to see my cloth diapering setup: