General Washing Instructions

Washing cloth diapers is really very simple. Washing is recommended every 2-3 days to prevent stains and odors from setting in. Do not overload the washer – no more then 3/4 full is best. First you can either soak the diapers in cold or do a cold rinse.  The cold rinse is done first to prevent stains from setting. Then do a wash on hot, to kill germs. Use 1/4 to 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent and use the longest wash cycle. Finally you may want to do an extra rinse to be sure all the detergent is rinsed out. Check the water during the final rinse to make sure there are no suds. Then you can either dry them in the dryer or hang them to dry. Do not use fabric softener, bleach, natural, or baby detergents on your diapers. Always be sure to check manufacturers’ labels for any special washing instructions. Also note that washing instructions will need to be adjusted for front loading washing machines.

Front Loaders

We recommend the dry pail method. For exclusively breastfed babies, just remove the dirty diaper and toss it in the diaper pail, no special treatment is necessary. For dirty diapers with solid waste on them, shake the waste off into the toilet. Dunking is usually not necessary as your washing machine can normally take care of whatever can’t be shaken off into the toilet. You can use a Mini Shower or similar diaper sprayer to spray the waste off, or use a spatula or similar item to scrape it off and into the toilet if you feel it’s necessary. Then just toss the diaper into the diaper pail until wash day. Wash using the General Washing Instructions above.

CPFs – Bleached

When New - Wash them in hot water with regular detergent at least 3 times before using. They will shrink some and fluff up quite a bit after washing. They will get softer and more absorbent with each wash. Dry them in the dryer in between these first washings for the best results. Remember to never use fabric softener. After that, put a few drops of water on the diaper and see if it absorbs right away, if so, you should be ready to use. After they have been prepared you can just follow the general washing instructions above.

CPFs – Unbleached (also Indian or Organic Cotton Prefolds)

When New - Unbleached cotton contains a natural “wax” coating that requires a little more care to prepare. They will need to be washed in hot water and dried at least 3-5 times before use to remove this waterproof coating. You may want to turn your water heater up for these initial washings, just remember to turn it back down afterwards, for safety. The diapers will shrink some and will get softer and more absorbent with each wash. After they have been prepared, you can just follow the general washing instructions above.

Fitted Diapers (Kissaluvs Fitteds and Contours and other cotton fitteds)

When New - Fitted diapers should be treated the same as the CPF diapers. Wash and dry them at least 3 times when new to reach initial absorbency. Then test them with water to make sure it absorbs right away. Remember never to use fabric softener.

Bumkins AIOs

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results. They should be washed and dried once before first use to reach maximum absorbency. Wash using the General Washing Instructions above. Bumkins can be dried in a warm dryer or hung to dry.

Fuzzi Bunz

Always check manufacturer’s instructions before washing. Wash once before first use. Fuzzi Bunz do require washing after each use. When wet, simply remove the insert and put the diaper and insert in the diaper pail. If soiled, solid waste will fall right off the diaper into the toilet. No dunking required. Whatever remains on the fleece will dissolve in the wash. You may use a Mini Shower or similar to rinse it off if you prefer. Then just put the diaper in the diaper pail until wash day.

Manufacturer’s Washing instructions: Run a rinse or soak cycle first with no detergent. After the soak cycle run a HOT wash with the ½ the recommended amount of the detergent of your choice. Your hot wash cycle will more than likely have a cold rinse that follows. No need to run a second rinse unless you are having a really dirty diaper problem or feel you must if it was a particularly dirty load. You can either tumble your diapers dry on low heat or hang to dry, either way they will dry quickly and be ready to put back on your baby.

Happy Heiny’s
Wash and dry on hot once before use. Happy Heiny’s do need to be washed after each use. Store wet and soiled diapers in a dry pail. When wet, simply remove the insert and put the diaper and insert in the diaper pail There is no need to rinse soiled diapers prior to washing. The solid waste of older babies can be removed by gently shaking the diaper over a toilet.

Hemp products contain lots of natural oils, so it will take several washings before they reach maximum absorbency. Washing them 3-5 times in hot water before use is usually sufficient. After that you can follow the General Washing Instructions for care. Hemp is very absorbent and will continue to get more absorbent with each washing. Hemp can get quite stiff if air dried. If this is a problem, you can put any hemp products in the dryer for a few minutes when they are dry/almost dry to soften them up. Remember to never use fabric softener. New hemp products should be washed separately from your other diapers until they have been broken in, so the oils do not coat your other diaper products.

Fleece

Fleece is very easy to wash. Machine wash any temperature and dry in the dryer or line dry. You can wash your fleece liners with your diapers and dry in the dryer. They can also be line dried and will dry very quickly. Fleece covers can be washed with any laundry.

Covers

Normally covers should be washed on warm and hung to dry. This will make them last the longest. If I get a really messy cover I will sometimes wash it with the diapers. They can also be washed by hand. They do not need to be washed after each use. Most people rotate covers throughout the day. Let one air out and use another one, then go back to the first one on the next diaper change. Of course wash them if they get soiled. Otherwise, you can use them several times before washing. Always read manufacturers' instuctions.

Wool Covers

Wool is naturally anti-bacterial and doesn’t retain odors. It is very breathable, which is what makes it a great material for a cover. The wool is actually absorbent, but the lanolin makes it water resistant. The cover will get damp if the diaper inside it is soaked through. Just let your wool covers air-dry between uses and they will only need washing once every week or two. Some people wash them even less than that with no problems. Wash them if they smell when dry or if they get soiled. We recommend using Eucalan Woolwash. It has lanolin built right in. Hand washing in lukewarm water is best for wool. Fill the sink or a container with lukewarm water and woolwash, add the cover and let is soak for about 10 minutes. Eucalan does not require rinsing. Remove the cover and dry it by rolling it up in a thick towel. Do not wring it. Then let it dry in a warm dry place – not in direct heat or sunlight. You will want to occasionally lanolize your wool covers for best performance.

Lanolizing wool covers

If wetness starts coming right through your cover and water no longer beads on it, it is time to re-lanolize it. In order to lanolize your covers all you do is add a small amount of Lansinoh (1/4-1/2 inch squeezed from tube) to a cup of very hot water. Stir it around until the Lansinoh dissolves. Then add the mixture to a sink full of lukewarm water. Mix it in and add your cover. Make sure the water is warm enough to keep the Lansinoh from getting goopy, but not too warm. Swirl the cover around to coat it with the Lanolin and then let is soak for about 15 minutes. Remove the cover and dry it by rolling it up in a thick towel. Do not wring it. Then let it dry in a warm dry place – not in direct heat or sunlight.

Stripping Diapers

If your diapers begin to have a strong ammonia smell, become less absorbent, or if fleece items begin to repel liquid it may mean you have a buildup of detergent. The best thing to do is to strip your diapers. Stripping refers to the removal of residue on diapers. For cotton or hemp diapers do several very hot washes with no detergent, checking each time during the rinse cycle to see if there are still suds. To strip pocket diapers, simply hand wash your diaper with your regular dish soap (gets the oils out), add a bit of dish soap to the fleece, either rub the fleece vigorously together or use a medium bristle dish brush or hard bristle tooth brush to scrub the fleece. Turn inside out and repeat on this side. Rinse very well, making sure that the water runs clear. If you are still having problems, special cleaning agents may be used to strip diapers. These options include a very hot wash using 2 scoops Oxyclean or you may also try a hot wash with 1 ball of RLR (found at Wal-Mart in the laundry aisle hanging on a clip). You may use this method at any time you feel that the diaper may be repelling or as a preventative measure once a week.

Mama Pads

For pads with removable liners, remove liners from holder. Presoak or wash in cold water. Then machine wash and dry with your other laundry. If you are also washing cloth diapers, you may want to just wash your mama pads along with the diapers.

Wetbags/Pail Liners