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How to Wash Cloth Diapers Quick and Easy Washing Instructions.
Everything You Need to Know about Washing Cloth Diapers.
Happy Heiny's Pocket Diaper Washing Instructions
Bummis Diaper Cover Washing Instructions
Aristocrat Wool Soaker Washing Instructions
How to Lanolize your wool soaker
Troubleshooting by Bummis
Quick and Easy Washing Instructions.
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- Empty your diaper pail into your washing machine. If you used wet method you can spin off the excess water.
- Do a cold pre-wash or short wash using 1/4 of the amount of regular laundry detergent.
- Do a hot regular wash using 1/4 of the amount of regular laundry detergent.
- Dry your diapers in the dryer or on the line.
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Tips - no bleach and no fabric softener. Many families find the least expensive, basic laundry detergents work the best.
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Everything You Need to Know about Washing Cloth Diaper.
Before You Start – Very Important!
Wash your diapers in hot water with a small amount of zero residue detergent before first use to make them absorbent. If your diapers are made of unbleached fabric, you will need to wash and dry them at least three times to remove their natural oils and waxes (wash other products separately). Test your diapers’ absorbency by pouring a small amount of water onto one. If the water beads at all, you will need to wash again.
Please check carefully the washing instructions for the product you have purchased as they may differ from these.
Diaper Storage
Dirty diapers and diaper covers can be stored dry in a diaper pail for 2-3 days before washing. Lining your pail with a washable bag can make transport to the washing machine easier.
Remove diaper and cover from baby. Flush away Bio-soft liner or shake off excess poop into the toilet. You can skip this step if your baby is exclusively breastfed, as the poop will wash out easily.
Put wet or soiled diapers in the pail, to be stored until laundry day. Dirty diaper covers can go in the pail too (never soak them!) Secure any velcro type tabs by sticking them to the fold back tabs (on the inside back of the diaper cover or diaper)
Washing Diapers
Unfold your diapers before washing, and separate any liners or inserts. Nylon diaper covers (such as the Bummi Original or Whisper Pant) will need to be washed separately by hand or in a cool wash cycle.
Run a cold pre-wash (or a short cycle with no detergent).
Do a regular wash in hot water with zero residue detergent (stick to the lower end of the recommended amount if you have a front loader or HE machine.) If you are using anything other than zero residue detergent, use a maximum ½ of what the detergent package tells you to use (1/4 if you have a front loader or HE machine.)
Rinse diapers in lots of water to avoid build-up of detergent, bacteria or urine.
Dry in the dryer or outside on a clothesline - sunlight is a natural brightener and disinfectant! Reduce drying time by doing an extra spin cycle and/or throwing a dry towel or dryer balls into the dryer with your diapers. Once washed, your diapers should not smell like urine or detergent! If they smell of detergent, wash them again in plenty of hot water and less detergent. If they smell like urine, either straight out of the wash or once your baby wets them, make sure that you are using enough hot water and enough detergent.
You may need to adapt your washing routine to your washing machine, water supply etc. Always check the care instructions on the label of your products, and follow manufacturers’ washing guidelines if they vary from these.
Soaking
Do not soak diapering products – except for cotton prefolds, (they have no elastic, velcro, laminate or snaps!) To soak prefolds, dissolve a very small quantity of oxygen bleach in half a pail of water. Your diapers can be soaked for up to 4 days. Make sure your pail fastens well for safety’s sake. On washing day, dump your pail contents into the washing machine, spin out liquid and wash as usual along with your diaper covers.
Front Loaders & HE Machines
Since your machine uses so little water, set your water levels to high to make sure your diapers are cleaned and rinsed properly. You can also increase water levels by tossing a wet towel in the wash with your load to make it heavier. An extra rinse is also recommended.
Stains
Stains don’t mean your diapers are dirty! A cold pre-wash helps keep stains from setting- but if you do have unwanted stains, try drying wet diapers in direct sunlight. Please do not use chlorine bleach. A small amount of oxygen bleach in your wash is okay if it contains no additives and is well rinsed.
Washing Products
Click here to view the Detergent List for Cloth Diapers Chart.
Choose a detergent that does not contain any of the following additives, as they can create residue problems, which will lead to leaking, diapers that do not absorb properly, and stinky covers.
- Fabric softeners
- Natural oils
- Perfumes
- Dyes
- UV brighteners
- Stain guard ingredients
- Enzymes
Bummis recommendations for safe washing products are:
Sensi-Clean and Sport-Wash (www.atsko.com)
Charlie’s Soap (www.charliesoap.com)
Country Save (www.countrysave.com)
Allen’s Naturally (www.allensnaturally.com)
Mountain Green Baby Free & Clear (www.mountaingreen.biz)
* Seventh Generation Delicate Care (www.seventhgeneration.com)
*Nature Clean Powder or Liquid (www.naturecleanliving.com)
*Claudia’s Choices (www.claudiaschoices.ca)
*Wonder Wash (www.wonderwash.net)
If you decide to use a bleach alternative (always sparingly!) for prefold soaking or occasional stain removal, it should contain no ingredients beyond sodium carbonate or sodium percarbonate. We recommend:
Oxy-Boost Oxygen Bleach (www.oxyboost.com)
*Nature Clean Oxygen Bleach (www.naturecleanliving.com)
*BioVert Oxygen Bleach (www.prolav.com)
*easy to find in Canada
Detergent Residue
If your diaper covers leak right through, you likely have a detergent residue problem. You will need to “strip” your diapers by doing several hot washes with no detergent, and adjust your washing routine. Other signs of residue are smelly or yellowed diaper covers, and diapers that do not absorb properly.
Click here to learn more about detergent residue.
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The above instructions are courtesy of Bummis. You can visit them at www.bummis.com |
Products that have been damaged by natural cleaning products or by detergent residue can often be saved! Instructions on how to “strip” your diapers and diaper covers can be found in the troubleshooting section.
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Store wet and dirty diapers in a dry pail. Older babies’ solid waste can be removed by gently shaking the diaper over a toilet. The fleece will release solids easily – there is no need to rinse them before washing.
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- Remove the inserts
- Cold Soak for 10-20 minutes depending on the level of dirt
- Wash on hot with slightly less than 1/4 cup of detergent
- You can add a downy ball of vinegar to the wash if the diapers have a heavy urine scent. I recommend a downy ball because it releases the vinegar at the right time - no need to wait by the machine.
- Rinse well to ensure all detergent is removed from diapers.
- Dry on high heat. The high heat of the dryer will keep your Happy Heiny's Pocket Diaper functioning like new. We personally dry our PUL products on high heat and although we have had prolonged use with these products we have not noticed any break down of our PUL.
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Happy Heiny's Recommended detergents:
We recommend Tide, Sunlight, Cheer, Era, and Clout (Costco brand). These are not made with any of the natural oily substances which leave residue on fleece.
Happy Heiny'sDetergents to avoid:
Natural soaps often contain various oils. These should NOT be used because they will leave a residue on fleece, causing it to repel liquids.
The following detergents will cause a soap build up. Do NOT use them.
- Dr. Bronner’s Soap
- 7th Generation
- Bio-Kleen
- Ivory Snow
- Dreft
- Any ALL free detergents.
- Sport-Wash and Sensi-Clean – These have the potential for detergent burn in babies.
Never use fabric softener of any kind on reusable diapers. Liquid fabric softeners and dryer sheets both leave a waxy residue which causes fleece to repel urine and decreases the absorbency of other diapers.
Diaper rash creams can also cause repelling. For best results either place a small wash cloth on top of the fleece or use a liner.
Happy Heiny's Instructions forStripping Diapers:
Build up refers to residue left by detergents, fabric softeners, and other substances used to clean diapers. In rare instances, baking soda will react with certain minerals in water and also cause build up. If you notice a decrease in the absorbency of your diapers, build up may be the culprit.
Stripping is the process of removing residue from your diapers. To strip diapers:
- Hand wash your diaper with regular dish soap to remove any oils.
- Put a small amount of dish soap on the fleece layer.
- Rub vigorously or use a medium bristle scrubbing brush to scrub the fleece.
- Turn the diaper inside out and repeat.
- Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear.
You may use this method at any time you notice repelling or as a preventative measure once a week. If you are still having problems, try these special cleaning agents to strip your diapers:
- 2 scoops of Oxyclean in a very hot wash
- 1 ball of RLR (found at Wal-Mart in the laundry aisle hanging on a clip) in a hot wash
Bummis Diaper Cover Washing Instructions
Diaper covers can be re-used until soiled or smelly.
Simply rinse off any urine residue and air dry in between uses.
Rotate your covers after each change.
Check the care instructions on the label of your cover!
The following products should be washed in lukewarm water and hung to dry or air dried at a low setting in the dryer:
Bummis Whisper Pant
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Bummis Original Diaper Wrap
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The following products can be washed in hot or warm water and dried at a regular setting in the dryer. Do not over dry.
Bummis Super Whisper Wrap
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Bummis Super Snap Cover
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Bummis Whisper Pant
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Bummis Super Brite
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Always close the Aplix™ closures before washing
Don’t use bleach or whitening agents. They will breakdown the fibers of your diapers and covers and are also very harsh on your baby’s skin and the environment
Never soak your covers! This will interfere with their waterproof qualities.
Please note that some models of diaper covers should be washed separately from diapers.
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Aristocrat Wool Soaker Washing Instructions
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- Hand wash in lukewarm water, 37°C (98°F)
- Use soap powder, mild soap, baby shampoo or wool wash
- Gently squeeze garment, do not rub or wring. Add 1 Tbsp. vinegar to last rinse.
- Roll in towel and squeeze out excess moisture.
- Hang dry away from strong heat or sunlight.
- Lifespan and performance of the diaper cover will be enhanced by adding lanolin. Dissolve 1/8 of a teaspoon in hot water and add to last rinse. This only needs to be done occassionally.
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Do not machine wash your Aristocrats 100% Wool Diaper Cover. Gentle handwashing only is recommended for all our wool products. Felting and shrinkage of wool fibres will result from excess friction, especially when the fabric is wet. However, unless soiled, your Aristocrats 100% Wool Diaper Cover will usually only require laundering about every 1-2 weeks.
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How to Lanolize your wool soaker
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Place your Aristocrats 100% Wool Diaper Cover, inside out, into a sink of warm water and Eucalan.
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Swish your cover around a few times and let soak for 15 minutes (or longer).
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Melt a 1" long tube squeeze of Lansinoh® Brand Lanolin in a cup of very hot water.
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Pour over your diaper cover still soaking in the sink of warm water.
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Swish your cover around a few times and let soak for 15 minutes (or longer).
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Squeeze out excess water (do not twist) and then further remove water by rolling in a towel.
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Hang to dry.
Do this any time your covers seem to loose their water resistant properties. The frequency will depend on your washing method. Washing with Eucalan will decrease the frequency that lanolizing is needed.
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Troubleshooting by Bummis
- If your diapering system is the right size and absorbency for your baby, you shouldn’t have any problems with leaking. If you do, make sure that:
- You have done all the pre-washes necessary for your diapers, and they have reached full absorbency (water absorbs on contact with fabric – no beading!)
- Your prefold diaper is not tucked under the flap on the inside front of the diaper cover
- The diaper is completely tucked into the diaper cover around legs, back and belly (any bit of fabric peeking out can cause wicking of moisture onto clothes)
- You are not using ointments containing petroleum or fish oils
- If using any diaper cream such as zinc oxide, you are using a liner to protect the diaper from the cream
- The diaper cover fits snugly and you are using the correct size of diaper and cover for your baby. Even the best diaper cover will not work if your diaper is not absorbent enough.
- You are changing your baby’s diaper often enough. Newborns need to be changed about every 2 hours!
If you notice leaking right through the fabric of the diaper cover, you have a detergent residue problem and will need to “strip” your diapers and change your washing routine. Other signs of detergent residue are smelly or yellowed diaper covers, and diapers that are not absorbing properly.
How to “Strip” your diapers and diaper covers:
- Run your diapers and diaper covers through a wash with only hot water.
- Run a second wash using ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup vinegar in the wash – and ½ cup vinegar again in the first rinse cycle.
- Run a second rinse cycle with plain water.
- Repeat entire process.
For more information on striping diapers - especially pocket diapers click here for Happy Heiny's instructions for striping diapers.
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