The first thing you need to do when you get purchase your new diapers is prep them. Prepping simply means washing them before you use them. Prepping the diapers will remove any residue from manufacturing, allow them to "fluff up" and they will become much softer. Diapers made from different types of fabrics will need to be prepped differently. I do recommend following any of the manufacturer's directions for prepping as they may vary slightly.
Prepping:
In order to prep all-in-one (AIO) and pocket diapers that have microfiber inserts (examples of these are bumGenius and Kawaii) you can wash them once with warm/hot water. You can use detergent (cloth safe, please!) when prepping but it is not required.
Prepping natural fibers (unbleached cotton, bamboo, etc.) are a little different. These diapers must be washed in hot water and dried between 3 to 5 times before they reach their maximum absorbency. Multiple pre-wash and dry cycles will remove any natural waxy oils on the fabric and allow them to absorb much better. Again, detergent is not required.
Synthetic fibers and natural fibers can NOT be prepped together due to the oils that natural fabrics contain. However, after the diapers are prepped they can be washed together. Whew!
Now that your diapers are prepped you can start using them and then you will settle on a wash routine. Again, each manufacturer may propose a wash routine for their diapers. I always recommend following that.
Washing:
We briefly discussed detergent in my previous entry. My "go-to" cloth diaper detergent is Rockin' Green however there are many other brands that are cloth safe as well. A common misconception is that detergents labeled "all and clear" are cloth safe. This is not always the case because they can lead to detergent build up that will cause leaking. I wash my diapers every other day. This is the routine I follow:
Step 1: I run a cold cycle with OUT detergent. This helps to remove any stains and gets the "ickies" out of the diapers.
Step 2: I run a hot cycle with 2 tablespoons of Rockin' Green (this amount may vary if you have a HE machine.) I also add an extra cold rinse to this cycle.
Step 3: I toss my inserts, wet bag, pail liner and cloth wipes into the dryer. I hang all of my covers and AIO's on a drying rack. I do not dry my covers in the dryer.
It is that easy!
When babies are exclusively breast fed their diapers can be thrown straight into the washing machine with out any extra work. This is because breast milk is water soluble. Once babies start solids and their waste become a little more.. well... solid, it does require an extra step. Any waste must be removed from the diaper before it is put in the washing machine. This is when flushable liners or a diaper sprayer come in handy.
I also want to reiterate the amazing work that the sun can do for diapers. I sun my diapers every chance I get. It removes all of the stains and my diaper will look brand new. It also helps to cut down on drying time.
Stripping:
If your diapers are leaking or starting to smell a little funky the second they get wet or soiled then you may need to strip. Stripping diapers removes detergent buildup and corrects improper wash methods. Just like there are many different wash routines, there are many different ways to strip. As always- I always recommend following the manufacturer's suggestions.
bumGenius recommends adding 1/4c of bleach to your hot wash cycle once a month to avoid any of the issues mentioned above.
You can also use a product called RLR Treatment to strip your diapers.
You add the entire packet into your hot wash cycle without detergent or any other laundry additives.
Continue repeating hot wash cycles until you can look in your top loader or view through the window of your front loader and not see any foam or suds; the water should be clear.
Please remember to never use dryer sheets with your cloth diapers, in fact, I don't recommend using them for your regular laundry in a dryer where your diapers will be dried. You also should never use the "sanitize" cycle on your HE machine. That water gets way too hot and can ruin the waterproof lining in your diapers. Also, most diaper rash creams are not cloth diaper safe. I carry two great diaper rash creams that are: Earth Mama Angel Baby and Lost River Naturals. If you have to use a diaper rash cream that is not safe than always put down a barrier between the cream and the diaper. Fleece liners or flushable liners are great for this.
Well there you have it, the basics of washing your diapers. Once you get into a routine it will be like second nature. I really believe that a good wash routine is key to taking good care of your diapers. If you are having to strip your diapers more than once every couple months than your wash routine may need some tweaking!
No comments:
Post a Comment