How do I clean cloth diapers if a diaper service is not available?
Diaper
kismet asked:
I live on St. Croix, an island in the US Virgin Islands. They dont have diaper service here but I want to use cloth diapers. What’s the procedure for cleaning and sanitizing them?
Ruben
I live on St. Croix, an island in the US Virgin Islands. They dont have diaper service here but I want to use cloth diapers. What’s the procedure for cleaning and sanitizing them?
Ruben
February 18th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Juan
Two methods are described in the link below
WET PAIL METHOD (SOAKING)
DRY PAIL METHOD (NO SOAKING)
followed by
BASIC WASHING INSTRUCTIONS
February 18th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Lillie
When I used cloth diapers, I had diaper liners (Kushies makes great biodegradable ones that are flushable) that caught the poop. You take that out of the diaper, stick it in the toilet, and flush that nastiness away.
When it comes time to clean the diapers, you put them in your washer on “spin”, and then wash as normal. At the last rinse cycle, throw in 1 cup of white vinegar (my doctor told me that this balances out the ph levels in the cloth). Let it finish as usual, then throw in the dryer (no fabric softener - it won’t absorb well).
I hope that helps!
Best of luck to you!
February 21st, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Dana
You need to be careful about the type of laundry soap use use - try ivory or dreft.
February 22nd, 2009 at 6:03 am
Chad
I used cloth diapers for all four of my kids, but washed them on my own with one of them (had a diaper service for the others) I would rinse them off in the toilet and then wash a load of diapers every day. Sometimes I would presoak them, with vinegar. Usually I would wash them with Dreft in hot water and run one extra rinse cycle. Then dry on the highest heat in the dryer, or hang out to sun-dry.
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Christian
Congratulations! You’ll find out that cloth is healthier, easier, cuter–I could go on and on!
Here’s my wash procedure:
Put wet diapers into dry pail (trash can with a lid)
Shake off solid poop into toilet
Optional toilet dunking for runny poop
Breastfed newborn diapers can go directly into the pail
On wash day: run a rinse and spin cycle with clear water
run a warm or cold cycle with half a dose of cheap detergent
add baking soda if you like–maybe a third of a cup
Run a hot cycle, add vinegar if you like
Hang to dry in the sun or machine dry
I use baking soda because I have a toddler in diapers and her urine is potent. It also helps with stains. Vinegar is for helping sanitize, to kill yeast and to soften the fabric on line dried diapers.
You’ll have to figure out your own washing routine, but you can start with mine (or anyone’s) and tweak it from there.
I don’t know why the cheap detergent works better, but I use the stuff labeled “free and clear” and it has no brighteners, enzymes or fragrances.
You’ll love cloth! Check out these sites:
February 26th, 2009 at 3:40 am
Laurie
I clean off mine in the toilet if she went #2, then i soak them in a pail of hot water. At the end of the day I wash them.
I reccomend soaking, prevents stains and the diapers seem to last longer
February 27th, 2009 at 4:34 am
Ryan
Well you need to separate the cloth diapers with urine and stools. Diapers soiled with milk and urine, rinse it first with water before placing it in the washing machine,add detergent powder like dreft or ivory and wash. Next washed the diapers soiled with stools. First you have to initially rinse it first with water,soaked with soap and bleach and wash it with bare hands then put it in the
washing machine,add detergent powder,rinse and dry.
February 27th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Lisa
I am a lazy diaper washer. i use a pail with a waterproof bag in it. I throw the diapers and wipes and wraps in it after i shake any moveable solids into the toilet. About every 3 days i flip the bag into our frontloader washer and wash on high with a little bit of detergent, Bac-Out (if we’re not out) and some vinegar in the softener dispenser. I use the extra rinse and then throw the whole shebang into the dryer on high.
Bummis super whisper wraps hold up remarkably well to this type of treatment, as do Happy Heinys and FuzziBunz!