the nesting house
cloth diaper care instructions
Following these cloth diaper care instructions will help extend the life of your diapers and ensure that your diapers function optimally day-to-day. It will also increase the likelihood that they last through the diapering years of more children and/or maintain their resale value!
how to prep new cloth diapers before their first use:
When preparing diapers for their first use, wash natural materials separate from synthetic materials. This is to prevent oils from the natural fibers from passing onto the synthetic materials, making them unabsorbent.
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Wash natural fiber diapers (cotton, hemp, bamboo) at least 5 times with hot water and cloth diaper safe detergent. Machine dry on low-medium heat. This process removes natural oils and makes the diapers absorbent.
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Prep diapers and covers with synthetic materials like microfiber, micro-terry, and microfleece by washing them once with hot water and cloth diaper safe detergent. Machine dry diapers on low and air dry covers.
how to prep secondhand cloth diapers before you use them for the first time
Wash a maximum of 12 diapers at a time with 1/3 cup of bleach, and add an extra rinse cycle.
how to wash cloth diapers:
between laundry days:
- Remove solid waste from diapers before tossing into a pail or wet bag. If exclusively breastfeeding, you can skip this step as the waste is water soluble.
- Do not rinse diapers until you are ready to launder them. Rinsing urine out of diapers days before laundering invites bacteria growth. No thanks!
when it's laundry time:
1. pre-rinse
Pre-rinse urine out before washing. Use warm water (detergent is optional). Run the diapers through a rinse-only cycle, or use your machine's prewash setting if you have one.
2. wash cycle
Wash with hot water (120 degrees max) and cloth diaper safe detergent or soap.
3. second rinse
Set the load to go through a second rinse.
4. dry
Machine dry on low heat or hang dry. Hook and loop closures must be hung dry, and elastics will last longer if hung dry. Occasionally tossing covers in the dryer does help keep them from getting leaky.
how to NOT ruin cloth diapers:
- Do not rinse or soak diapers between washes as this can create a favorable environment for bacteria growth.
- Washing in scalding hot water can burn out elastic. Make sure your water temperature does not exceed 120 degrees.
- Do not put hook and loop closures in the dryer.
- Use cloth diaper safe diaper balms to keep your cloth diapers absorbent and functioning properly.
- Avoid fabric softeners and chemical fragrance as these will affect absorbency and can cause skin irritation.
- Lay diapers in the sun for 24-48 hours to bleach out stains and discoloration.
how to strip cloth diapers:
Occasionally stripping or deep cleaning your diapers can remove build up and restore absorbency.
Your diapers may need stripping if you notice that they are smelly even after cleaning or immediately after being soiled.
Another sign that your diapers need stripping is if they are leaking regularly.
cloth diaper stripping instructions:
- Wash a maximum of 12 diapers at a time with 1/3 cup of bleach, and add an extra rinse cycle.
- Alternatively, wash your diapers in RLR or Mighty Bubbles (deep cleaners) following the instructions on the package.
need a little more help with cloth diapers?
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