How to Wash Cloth Diapers
Washing cloth diapers is not as intimidating as you may think! Start out simple and tweak it as needed. Here are the general steps you can use as a starting guide.
1. Pre-rinse: Before washing your cloth diapers, it's helpful to rinse them in cold water to remove any excess waste (easy to do over a toilet). You can do this by using a diaper sprayer or simply holding them under the faucet.
2. Storage: Wring the diaper and store them in an open pail until the wash day. Avoid putting the pail in a damp area such as a bathroom and place in a area with a good airflow to minimize the mildew or mold issues.
3. Wash Cycle: Once you have enough diapers to fill the washing machine (no less than 2/3 full, no more than 3/4 full), wash them using the longest cycle with extra rinse (if available) in hot water
4. Detergent: Use the appropriate amount of detergent for the drum size recommended by the manufacture. Some of our favorite (non sponsored) detergents are Tire Original Powder, Tide Free and Clear, Kirkland Powder Laundry Detergent. Avoid any detergent mixed with fabric softener as it will plug the fabric and cause leak issues.
5. Second Rinse: Once the first wash cycle is complete, it's important to rinse your cloth diapers thoroughly to remove any remaining detergent. Run them through another full wash cycle using hot water
6. Drying: Once your cloth diapers are clean and rinsed, make sure they smell clean (no hint of strong detergent smell or ammonia) before drying. You can either hang them outside to dry or put them in the dryer on a low heat setting. Avoid using fabric softeners or dryer sheets, as these can also cause irritation to your baby's skin and cause leak issues
7. Stains: Certain foods like blueberries and breastmilk poop is likely to cause stains even after the wash. Remember, a stained diaper does not mean a dirty diaper! Try laying them under the sun (or by the window) while it's still wet. The stains should fade by the time they are dry.
Remember that no wash routine is one size fits all. If you find a wash routine online that ends up not working out for you, don't be discouraged! Please do not hesitate to contact us for trouble shooting at info @ petitecrown.com. We also have a Facebook group Petite Crown Family Chat full of cloth diapering moms who are ready to support (and I truly mean support, no judgement!) you in your cloth journey.