Cloth Diaper Washing Basics

So you are wanting to switch to cloth diapers…or you already have, but are unsure on how to wash them.

Here are the steps I personally do to wash our diapers…remember less is more!

We keep dirty diapers in a wet bag that zippers- a simple garbage bag in a pail works just as well. No need to keep them ‘soaking’ in water as your mother or grandmother may have done in the past-it’s unnecessary!

Soiled diapers? Simply allow any solids ‘fall’ into the toilet and flush away and put the diaper in with the rest until wash time-any residue will come off in the rinse cycle. Some people have ‘mini sprayers’ connected to their toilets. I have never had a need for one during the past four+ years of using cloth diapers.

Wash time! I simply take the wet bag to the washer zip it open and let everything just fall into the tub without having to touch a diaper. Then I set the washer on a Quick Wash cycle with cold/cold water. I add a half cap of plain ole Purex liquid laundry detergent or the brand you can get at Aldi’s for around $4 for a gigantic bottle.

When the quick wash is done I run a regular wash cycle with hot/cold water and again fill the fabric softener area with distilled vinegar (or you can add a Downey ball filled with the vinegar vs. Downey). I do not add any other detergents at this time.

Dry Time! Simply hang them on the line or throw in the dryer on medium if you are in a hurry or lazy like me

Remember–Do not use bleach or any fabric softeners (including laundry detergent with ‘built in softeners’. Fabric softener ‘coats’ the fibers of the diapers not allowing them to absorb to their fullest potential. Vinegar is a perfect alternative to fabric softeners and a much cheaper! We use vinegar in all of our laundry loads and our towels/clothing are fluffier and softer then ever!

If you are in need of wet bags or would like to check out some of the items like diaper sprayers, natural laundry detergent, or some of the amazing cloth diapers I highly recommend Kelly’s Closet!