Laundering your Cloth Diapers

This is all the instruction you really need:

  • Store diapers in a dry pail or bag
  • Rinse on cold
  • Wash with 1/2 usual detergent, any temperature
  • No bleach or fabric softeners
  • Optional extra rinse
  • Dryer or clothes line

Normal Washing Routine

  • Empty your diapers into your washer. Start with a cold rinse cycle. This is the rinsing our mothers did by hand in the toilet. Let the machine do it! (See bottom of page if you have a front-loading washer.)
  • Start simple. The only thing you should use at first is detergent and plenty of water. At least 1/2 as much detergent as you would normally use. Detergent choice is VERY important. More about this later.
  • YOU CAN WASH DIAPERS IN COLD WATER. Personally I only use hot water if my child had a stomach bug or I’m doing one of my occasional oxygen bleach treatments. It’s a personal choice - you certainly MAY, but don’t feel that there’s some reason that you HAVE to wash in hot water.
  • After the main wash, most people do a second rinse. It depends on how effective your washer was with the first one. It’s just so imperative that ALL of the detergent is completely rinsed out. Detergent residue can cause a lot of problems, including weird odors and rashes. I’d always go for running more plain, clear water through diapers over more, better, or different laundry aids. With diapers, less is more. Most odor problems (like an ammonia smell after baby wets) and rashes are from detergent residue, and the solution is either less detergent, a different detergent, or better rinsing.
  • Everything can go in the dryer. It’s true that pocket diapers and covers will last longer if you take them out and air dry them, but if you do toss them into the dryer, you aren’t going to ruin them in the short run.

Front Loaders
The same people who cloth diaper are the people who care enough to save water when laundering. So I know a lot of you have front-loading high efficiency washing machines. Some people report no problems washing diapers in these, but some people do. I think the key is using more water when you’re washing diapers. Prewash or run a rinse cycle. Then use two short wash cycles rather than one long one so you get fresh clean water in. You’re still using less water than those of us with traditional machines. It’s also easier to use too much detergent in a front loader than traditional. And you know that initial rinse I recommend to get rid of waste? Front loaders don’t allow as much water to flow around the diapers, and rinsing that much solid waste may be asking too much. I strongly recommend flushable liners to cut down on the amount of waste that goes into a front loading washer.

Bumgenius Washing Directions

·        Fasten tabs to laundry tabs on inside of diaper (this is important).

·        Wash dirty diapers every other day.

·        For best results, remove solids from diapers before storing in pail (a diaper sprayer is helpful).

·        Wash cold with 1/4 cup detergent followed by a hot wash with 1/4 cup detergent.  If you have a front loader, decrease detergent amount to 1/8 cup.  Follow with a second rinse.  Tumble dry on the medium setting.

·        Use only detergent and water.  Once per month, you may use up to 1/4 cup of bleach in the hot wash cycle.

·        Always use detergent that does not contain perfume, dyes, whiteners, brighteners, or enzymes.  Do not use laundry additives (including vinegar, baking soda, and fabric softeners).

·        Do not soak your diapers.