Cleaning tips for cloth diaper

[Sissybabykatie]

Hi,

I’m fairly new to using cloth diapers

Any tips for cleaning them? Especially looking for tips on how to clean one after messing one?

 

[Cottontail]

What sort of cloth diapers?

Generally speaking: Get what you can off of the diaper and into the toilet, then wash according to the instructions. A hot wash is generally advisable to kill the germs. I wear cloth diapers almost exclusively, but I don't mess them very often. When I do, I usually do it on laundry day so that I can wash my messy diaper immediately. The wet ones go into a pail and get washed every 2-3 days, but I'm still a little squeamish about poop and would rather not have any sitting around.

 

[Sissybabykatie]

I use the rearz Omutsu diapers but legitimately had a #2 accident while wearing one. Never messed a cloth one before, I only wet the cloth.

 

[sbmccue]

Omutsu are pretty difficult to clean via the dunk-and-swish method. That’s why I always use a diaper liner in mine … it’s cheap protection. If I’ve made a mess, my CG or I can just lift out the liner and dump the contents into the toilet.

 

[Belarin]

This site link has some really good info on cloth diapering, from how to wash, what lingering smells can mean and how to strip, different types detergent needs and comparisons etc.

Best tip for cleaning after a messy one is to use a liner, there are a few fabrics you can use and the easiest is microfleece (make sure it's microfleece not polar), this stuff doesn't fray so needs no sewing and you can cut a shape to fit in your diaper, when it comes to changing you can take the liner out shake it into the toilet and then hold it under the running flush (or use a shower if it can reach) to remove the bulk then just put it in with the diapers to wash.

Microfleece also acts as a stay dry layer and dosn't let mess cling to it as much as some fabrics and is fairly cheap to buy (wazoodle sell it in the states).

As for actual washing to get it good and clean you will need to know the capacity of your washing machine for what is considered a full or partial load and also the weight of a wet diaper, using this info you can check on the detergent package for how much you need to use (too little they wont fully clean, too much and it can leave smells and buildup reducing capacity). You will also want a diaper safe detergent (there are several and that website can help you find one.)

The main things you'll want to do are:

1. Run a cold rinse cycle first, no detergent (your machine should have a quick rinse and spin setting for this). This gets rid of most of the urine and waste from the diapers so it is not floating around in the water on the wash cycle.
2. Run a full wash, with the right amount of detergent, the setting you use will depend on the diaper type but will most likely be a cotton setting and no more than 60 degrees (40 is fine) hot water is good for killing bacteria but too hot and it can cause damage to the diaper, especially with waterproof layers.
3. If your machine has the option to use extra water or add an extra rinse to a wash cycle use it, diapers are thirsty and need more water than regular clothes to clean them, this also help make sure all the detergent is out at the end.
4. Tumble drying is fine but not too hot again and make sure to follow any instructions, if using separate waterproof pants don't tumble dry them as it can cause damage/wear.
5. NEVER use fabric softener, it builds up in the diapers and causes them to lose capacity and become water resistant.

Getting cloth diapers properly clean can sound like a lot of things to figure out and a lot of work but it's actually not and once you have a routine figured out it's no problem and really easy.

 

[Ticore]

One great addition to your home if possible is a spray wand that attaches to your toilets water line to rinse them in the toilet right when you are changing.

 

[Belarin]

One great addition to your home if possible is a spray wand that attaches to your toilets water line to rinse them in the toilet right when you are changing.

I'd love to get a diaper sprayer but not sure how it would attach to mine (UK), also would draw questions about what it is for from people I'd rather not have asking.

 

[Sissybabykatie]

This site link has some really good info on cloth diapering, from how to wash, what lingering smells can mean and how to strip, different types detergent needs and comparisons etc.

Best tip for cleaning after a messy one is to use a liner, there are a few fabrics you can use and the easiest is microfleece (make sure it's microfleece not polar), this stuff doesn't fray so needs no sewing and you can cut a shape to fit in your diaper, when it comes to changing you can take the liner out shake it into the toilet and then hold it under the running flush (or use a shower if it can reach) to remove the bulk then just put it in with the diapers to wash.

Microfleece also acts as a stay dry layer and dosn't let mess cling to it as much as some fabrics and is fairly cheap to buy (wazoodle sell it in the states).

As for actual washing to get it good and clean you will need to know the capacity of your washing machine for what is considered a full or partial load and also the weight of a wet diaper, using this info you can check on the detergent package for how much you need to use (too little they wont fully clean, too much and it can leave smells and buildup reducing capacity). You will also want a diaper safe detergent (there are several and that website can help you find one.)

The main things you'll want to do are:

1. Run a cold rinse cycle first, no detergent (your machine should have a quick rinse and spin setting for this). This gets rid of most of the urine and waste from the diapers so it is not floating around in the water on the wash cycle.
2. Run a full wash, with the right amount of detergent, the setting you use will depend on the diaper type but will most likely be a cotton setting and no more than 60 degrees (40 is fine) hot water is good for killing bacteria but too hot and it can cause damage to the diaper, especially with waterproof layers.
3. If your machine has the option to use extra water or add an extra rinse to a wash cycle use it, diapers are thirsty and need more water than regular clothes to clean them, this also help make sure all the detergent is out at the end.
4. Tumble drying is fine but not too hot again and make sure to follow any instructions, if using separate waterproof pants don't tumble dry them as it can cause damage/wear.
5. NEVER use fabric softener, it builds up in the diapers and causes them to lose capacity and become water resistant.

Getting cloth diapers properly clean can sound like a lot of things to figure out and a lot of work but it's actually not and once you have a routine figured out it's no problem and really easy.

Thank you so much this such good advice.

 

[Ticore]

I'd love to get a diaper sprayer but not sure how it would attach to mine (UK), also would draw questions about what it is for from people I'd rather not have asking.

Yeah I don have one because of privacy as well. As long as you are able to unscrew your water lone from your toilet you could add one being in the UK shouldn’t be a barrier as its no different than adding a bidet (connection wise).

 

[Cottontail]

One great addition to your home if possible is a spray wand that attaches to your toilets water line to rinse them in the toilet right when you are changing.

I'd love to get a diaper sprayer but not sure how it would attach to mine (UK), also would draw questions about what it is for from people I'd rather not have asking.

Right, heh. We had a sprayer in the kids' bathroom when they were babies, and the diaper pail was right next to the toilet. That made things about as easy as they could be. I'd like to have one for myself, but I'd have to get it past Wife. I'm not sure she'd be thrilled by my justification!

 

[Zeke]

I wear cloth diapers 24/7 for dual ic. To ease cleanup I use a folded terry hand towel as a liner. When I change I do so in the shower equipped with a hand held shower head which makes cleanup far easier and I rinse out my diapers, soaker, and liner. Then they’re hung over my shower chair to drain before putting them in a dry pail (for which I use a plastic tote). When washing don’t use too much detergent (I use Tide powder) and I add Borax (helps detergent perform better with hard water) and a cup and a half of white vinegar in the first rinse to remove residual lime that results from my hard water. If you want to get stains out there’s nothing better than line drying in bright sunlight. It eliminates stains as well as acts as a disinfectant. Using a minimal amount of bleach once a month can also act as a disinfectant if you can’t line dry, but bleach is hard on the cotton fibers. OxyClean or other oxygen cleaners are safer for this than chlorine bleach.

 

[Zeke]

I'd love to get a diaper sprayer but not sure how it would attach to mine (UK), also would draw questions about what it is for from people I'd rather not have asking.

Tell them it’s a poor man’s bidet!

 

[OldTerry]

Soak in napisan for few hours then 60 degree wash

 

[Frungie]

I occasionally wear and mess cloth diapers, I should actually wear them more since I have them for economical reasons. My method is a pair of panties that contains most of my mess, then a disposable diaper liner, booster/soaker pad, then diaper and of course plastic or PUL pants. I rinse out the panties in the toilet, then another rinse including the diaper and plastic or PUL pants with detergent in the laundry tub, then in a waste basket that I use for a diaper pail. I wash them later. I hang up the plastic or PUL pants to dry and don't wash them in the washing machine. Writing this has motivated me to wear cloth diapers today after I change my wet and messy NS purple Supreme diaper. I won't have an opportunity to mess my diaper again because I will be around my wife (she is still sleeping now), and others. I will certainly wet and I always use several drops of baby powder scented oil to keep me smelling fresh and clean, no wet diaper odors for me, or others for that matter.