Don't leave poop in your diapers for several days it will break down the cotton fibers.
Wash only two dozen diapers at at time.
Note: Watch out for detergents which list enzymes or whitening enzymes in their
ingredients. Such as; Fabricare: Arm and Hammer Advanced
Detergent Action. This product can produce a really awful rash. The enzymes(remains in cotton fibers even after washing) reactivate in the fabric when your baby wets their diaper.
*Tip: Use flushable/disposable diaper liners to get rid of waste, just peel off. This is handy when newborn-poos are more explosive.
WET PAIL METHOD FOR CLOTH DIAPERS:
- Flush stools down toilet and place soiled cloth diaper in diaper pail.
- Soak the cloth diapers in a a pail filled with 1/2 water and 15ml of laundry brightener, or 1/4 cup vinegar or washing soda. It's not recommended to soak diaper for more than three days--they could get moldy.
- Transfer diapers in the pail to laundry machine, either hand wring diapers and use lid of pail to carry OR pour all the diaper pail contents into the washing machine turn on rinse cycle and spin solutions out of diapers.
- Use pure soap products(not recommended on fleece) or Strong Detergent Products (liquid works best;Cheer,Surf, All free) Most baby detergents have fabric softners in them, so be aware.
- Drying cloth diapers: Dry cloth diapers on medium setting for half of the drying cycle and then hang damp diapers to dry for the balance.
*Tip: to avoid amonia smelling cloth diapers: Fill a downy ball(available at Wal-mart) filled with half a cup of vinegar into the wash cycle or run an extra rinse cycle and put a quarter to a half-cup of vinegar in cold rinse cycle. This will remove any soap left on the diapers. Vinegar will also restores the pH balance, and keep cloth diapers soft and fluffy.
DRY PAIL METHOD FOR CLOTH DIAPERS
Just rinse in COLD WATER first(so stains don't set) then and wring, and drop in the pail. If there's any stains or soiling (stain removal ideas below), soak diapers in the sink/washing machine(cold water) with baking soda(neutralizes urine & brightens) or Amaze, then put it through a cold rinse cycle. Then wash normally in really hot water, then give an additional final rinse after washing with some vinegar. Some people double-bucket; one for poop diapers and another for pee diapers.
Also note: If you buy brand new--never washed diapers, wash them about 3-5 times before using them to get optimal absorbency. The cotton fibers need to fluff-up.
CARING FOR YOUR CLOTH DIAPER COVERS OR WRAPS
Your diaper covers should not be place with your cloth diapers if you soak them; the waterproofing layers and the elastic will damage over time. Rinse out diaper covers in the sink with some mild soap & cold water,just hang to dry in between changes. Use a cover about every 3-4 changes as long as there isn't any soiling or just alternate them. Be certain to close velcro closures when you throw them in the wash. Avoid the dryer if possible, hang-drying is best. If you do use your dryer check the manufacturer's tag--most state low/med heat or air dry.
Wool diaper covers (pull-on or wraps) should be aired-out between uses unless they were soiled. Rinse in warm water with a little bit of baby shampoo or a wool wash if available, final rinse with a tsp. of vinegar. Gently squeeze out excess water(rolling it in a towel to keep the shape)and hang to dry, but not in the sun. Lanolizing your wool cover periodically will keep it healthy.
*Tip for lanolizing wool covers: Fill a medium bowl with warm water, add 1 tsp. vinegar. In a seperate container w/lid (cup or shaker) Add about an 1/8 tsp. of the lanolin to very hot water and shake until most of the lanolin is dissolved (it will beed up), then add it to the bowl of water & vinegar. Put the wool cover in (inside out), flip it over a few times and let it set for 10-15 minutes. Let it air dry, squeeze out the excess water in a towel--it will feel funny once it's dry.
STAIN REMOVAL IDEAS FOR CLOTH DIAPERS
- White bar of soap:Rub a bar of white soap on the wetted down stain before placing in diaper pail.
- White shaving cream or white toothpaste: Just rub it in, let it set a for a bit and throw in the wash.
- Cold water: Rinse diapers with cold water before anything else. Either soak or rinse the diapers in cold water or run a short cold water wash cycle before a hot wash cycle. Protein stains, such as poo, come out easily using cold water (hot water & soap will set the stain).
- Lemon juice: Squirt on a stain and set it out in the sun; takes a couple hours.
- White vinegar: Added to the rinse cycle. Will aid in whitening and restores the ph-balance--keeps diaper soft. Note: When washing all-in-ones, give an extra rinse after the intial rinse with vinegar. Some diapers tend to smell strongly of urine after the baby pees--it has to do with the two acids (vinegar + urine) colliding.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: Use like lemon juice (no sunshine required) much kinder than bleach (do a test area first incase yellowing happens).
- Sunshine:Let the sun do its own natural bleaching action.
LEAKAGE ISSUES
- Make sure the diaper is tucked completely in the cover so clothes don't get wet. This is usually the problem.
- Change the diaper frequently; cotton diapers need to be changed when wet.
- An improper fitting diaper cover could be the problem. If there's leaking around the leg openings, but the baby's diaper and cover aren't very wet. Make certain your diaper cover is fitting properly.
