FAQs
Please also see our Cloth Diapering Information and Articles page. How do I wash my cloth diapers? TOP
Washing is super easy! Some people have more involved routines, but I prefer to keep it simple:
- Empty your diaper pail into the washer.
- Run a cold rinse with no detergent. This prevents stains from setting.
- Run a hot wash (with cold rinse) with about 1/4 of the recommended amount of detergent. I use 2 T of Purex. Do not use anything with fabric softener, pure soap, or anything with citrus. Do not use bleach!
- Run the extra cold rinse, if your washer gives you that option.
- Dry in dryer, or hang on line. If drying in the dryer, DO NOT use a fabric softener sheet. It will coat your diapers and cause them to repel rather than absorb.
That's it! Since starting with cloth, I have added about 2-3 loads of laundry/week. In cloth diapers we do not have "blowouts," so Ella really only wears one outfit per day, as opposed to 4-5 when she was blowing out of disposables with every poopy! How do I store my dirty cloth diapers? TOP
If you are using pocket diapers such as Fuzzi Bunz, Wonderoos, Swaddlebees,
or Happy Heinys, then you will need a pail for your cloth inserts and a pail for
your pockets. Fitted diapers, contour diapers, flats, doublers and prefolds can
go in the same can with your inserts. For my inserts and other cloth, I
use a large
Bummis wet bag in a Sterilite garbage can that I got at Target. The pockets
go in a metal step-to-open garbage can (also from Target). If your baby is
completely breast-fed, just throw the inserts (or fitted diapers, etc.) in one
pail and the pocket in the other. If your child is eating solids, just as
with disposable diapers, you will need to dump the solids from the diaper into
the toilet. If the solids are not "dumpable," then use a stiff spatula to
scrape into the toilet or get a Mini-shower™ to spray the solids off.
On wash day, I pull out the Bummis bag and dump it in the washer, bag and
all. If there's room, I throw the pockets in too. Doesn't the diaper pail stink? TOP
Well, it doesn't have to stink! Your first line of defense is to keep
the lid closed and wash every 2-3 days. Some people swear that an open pail is
better- that odors will dissipate. Every time I try this, though, Nick
complains. Additional measures include:
- A sprinkle of baking soda in the bottom of the pail
- A sachet of baking soda taped to the inside of the lid of your pail
- A bit of terry cloth soaked with lavender essential oil tossed in your pail
- Specially made paper discs impregnated with fragrance and oils- I tried one
of the popular brands once, and the smell was so strong I felt sick to my
stomach every time I opened the pail! It was a very strong, floral scent and
combined with the urine smell, was a disaster.
- For older babies eating solids and toddlers, just as with disposables, you
will need to shake the solids out of the diaper and into the toilet. Failing to
do this will create a major odor problem!
Can we use cloth diapers overnight? TOP
Yes! There are a number of nighttime diapering solutions. The easiest, trimmest option is a Fuzzi Bunz or solid color Happy Heiny stuffed with double the inserts. For a completely breathable, natural fiber solution, we like the Under the Nile Organic Cotton fitted diaper with an Aristocrats wool soaker. Another great option is a Happy Hempy fitted pocket diaper stuffed with double the inserts, worn with a wool soaker. Bridget's woollen extra-thick soakers are great for overnight! Don't cloth diapers get stained? TOP
Yes, every now and then you may have a stain. But not for long! Laying your diapers in the sun for a few hours will fade even the toughest stains. In my experience, hemp stains more easily, and microfleece almost never stains. Silk liners seem to stain the worst- I have so far been unsuccessful in sunning out my silk liners.
To prevent stains, don't skip the cold rinse at the beginning of your wash routine. If you are really concerned, you can rinse your diapers before putting them in the pail- something I've never done yet. Some families will use their washing machine as a wet pail, throwing the soiled diapers into the machine that is half-filled with cold water. If you choose to do it this way, be sure to spin out the dirty water before beginning your wash routine. What do I need to start? TOP
First, decide what system you would like to use. I recommend trying a sampler package first just to see what fits your family's lifestyle the best. For each system, I have listed what I recommend to start with an infant. A newborn will need about a dozen diapers a day.
All Pocket Diapers (Fuzzi Bunz, Wonderoos, Swaddlebees, Happy Heinys:
- 3 dozen pocket diapers and inserts (you can get by on 2 dozen, but then you will need to be sure and wash at every second day- sometimes difficult with a new baby!) (2 dozen would be sufficient for a toddler)
- 3 dozen cloth wipes (though you can never really have too many of these)
- Spray bottle for wipes solution
- Baby Bits if not using plain water for wipes solution
- Large nylon pail liner (we like Bummis)
- Small or medium wet bag for outings
All Chinese Prefold Cloth Diapers (most economical way):
- 3 dozen prefolds (2 dozen for toddler)
- 4-6 diaper covers (either PUL, fleece, or wool)
- 3 dozen cloth wipes
- Spray bottle
- Baby Bits if not using plain water for wipes solution
- Large nylon pail liner (we like Bummis)
- Small or medium wet bag for outings
- If using wool, you will also need some wool wash
All Fitted Diapers/Contour Diapers:
- 3 dozen diapers (2 dozen for toddler)
- 4-6 diaper covers (either PUL, fleece, or wool)
- 3 dozen cloth wipes
- Spray bottle
- Baby Bits if not using plain water for wipes solution
- Large nylon pail liner (we like Bummis)
- Small or medium wet bag for outings
- If using wool, you will also need some wool wash
A mixture so you don't get bored:
- 12 pocket diapers and inserts for outings
- 12 Chinese Prefolds
- 12 Fitted/Contour cloth diapers
- 2 PUL covers (Bummis, Stacinator So Simple, Diaperaps)
- 1 Fleece Cover (Stacinator)
- 1 Wool Cover (Bridget's Woollen Soakers, LanaCare, Aristocrats)
- 3 dozen cloth wipes
- Spray bottle
- Baby Bits if not using plain water for wipes solution
- Large nylon pail liner (we like Bummis)
- Small or medium wet bag for outings
- Wool wash
I want to use cloth diapers, but I can't even keep up with the regular laundry! TOP
Believe me when I say, I feel your pain! We are also home to the perpetual laundry pile. It's really inevitable with 2 small children and 2 adults! But the diapers always get washed, and I promise you, it doesn't feel like a burdensome task. Maybe it's because when you have 10 loads (or however many) of laundry to do each week, 2 more loads doesn't really make much of a difference! I tend to wash diapers every 3rd day. I dump the pail in the machine after the kids are in bed and run the cold rinse. Then I go get ready for bed or work a little. Before going to bed, I add the detergent and set the washer to the extra-long hot cycle with a cold rinse and then I'm off to bed. In the morning I throw everything in the dryer. It really doesn't feel like extra work. And there's something really satisfying about clean diapers- it just feels good stacking them up on the changing table knowing that for us, there is no such thing as being "out of diapers." And once you've bought your cloth diapers, you are done with your diaper expenses. No more giant sized boxes of disposables, no more plastic bags of wipes, and probably no more need for expensive diaper rash cremes. The hassle of standing in line at Costco on a Saturday morning for diapers, in itself, is enough reason to switch to cloth! Cloth diapers, a handful of covers and a little tea tree oil for your wipes solution--all you need for months and months and months (until your baby needs a bigger size!). Better yet, go with a one-size diaper and you'll be set for your baby's entire time in diapers. |
