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• Cloth Diaper PatternsMama Care

The first question most new parents ask is how to wash cloth diapers. While your grandmother had to struggle when it came time to wash cloth diaper, modern cloth diapers are easy! These ain't your mama's cloth diapers! New fabrics and modern washing machines make washing diapers so simple.

These instructions will work for most types of diapers. It is always best to follow the manufacturer's instructions because diaper fabrics vary widely.

I recommend using the "Dry Pail" method for storing your diapers between washings. The wet pail method involves a pail of messy water sitting around breeding bacteria. Wet pails are hard on your back and pose a drowning hazard for young children.

To use a dry pail simply choose a diaper pail or trash can with a lid. It is ok if there is some air flow as this can actually reduce ammonia fumes. Store your diapers in the pail until you are ready to wash them. You can use a few drops of tea tree oil or other essential oil to reduce odors.

Breastfed baby poop will easily wash out. You can shake the diaper over the toilet to remove any solids from older babies before putting them into the diaper pail. Don't worry about removing everything, any remaiing mess will wash out. I recommend a diaper pail liner so you don’t have to scrub the diaper pail. You can also use a flannel or microfleece diaper liner to protect your diapers from stains and make them easier to clean. 

When you are ready to wash, the diaper pail liner can be used to carry the diapers to the washer. Simply push the diaper pail liner inside out to push the cloth diapers into the washer. Throw the diaper pail liner in with the diapers.

* Fill the washer with cold water and soak for 30-60 minutes or so. 

* Spin out all of the rinse water

* Set the washer to a wash cycle with warm or hot water. Add just a little less than ¼ cup of detergent such as Tide, Clout (from Costco), Era, Sunlight or Cheer.

* Use a little vinegar in the first rinse if you wish to help soften the diapers and balance the Ph levels. This can reduce the risk of yeast rashes and diaper rash.

* NEVER use natural soaps or fabric softeners as they leave a residue that will coat the diapers and make them repel water. Do not use any “Free” detergents, Ivory Snow or Dreft as these will also cause buildup.

* If desired, a second rinse will help make sure that there is no detergent residue to irritate baby’s skin.

* Line dry or use a dryer. 

Most diapers and covers do fine in the dryer despite the myths that surround PUL. PUL is actually very resilient and running it through the dryer on hot helps to seal any small holes that have developed in the waterproofing layer. Most pocket diaper and cover manufacturers recommend using the dryer to tighten up PUL from time to time. Some elastics do not do well in the dryer, so it is a good idea to follow the manufacturers recommendation here as well.

If you use wool diaper covers, hand wash them in a wool soap or baby shampoo. If you machine wash, make sure they are machine washable and dryable or you will end up teeny tiny covers.

If you are using hemp diapers, you will need to wash them alone several times to remove the natural plant oils. Don't wash fleece or suedecloth lined diapers or covers with hemp as the hemp oils leave a residue.

If your diapers start to smell funny, repel water (causing leaks) or are not as soft as they used to be, it may be necessary to strip them to remove any detergent residue. You can strip the diapers by washing them with a very small amount of dish soap such as Dawn and then rinsing them until the water no longer foams when the washer agitates.