How Do I Wash Cloth Diapers?
The biggest part of cloth diapering that makes parents nervous is having to wash all of those dirty diapers, but it really isn’t hard at all. It just takes some time and practice.
DETERGENTS
First of all, you will need to decide what detergent you want to use to wash your cloth diapers. This is a HUGE debate among cloth diapering websites and cloth diapering veterans, but it all boils down to trial and error.
In the beginning, I researched all over the web to find just the right detergent. I also tried several different types of detergents before I found just the right one that worked for us. And the magical detergent that works for us is…
DRUM ROLL PLEASE……
(THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS HOWEVER, I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND ANYTHING THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE IN OR USE MYSELF. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT MY DISCLOSURE POLICY HERE)
Tide Original Detergent
Yes, I know it is not one of the “Cloth Diaper Safe” detergents, but for us, the Tide is the only one that cleans them the best. Like I said trial and error!
LAUNDRY DAY
So, it’s laundry day and you have a pail or wet bag full of dirty diapers. What do you do now? Here’s what I do.
I grab the wet bag(Planet Wise Hanging Wet/Dry Diaper Tote Bag) and dump it in the washing machine. I don’t even touch the diapers. Then, I set the washer to cold wash and I make sure it’s also on the highest water level setting.
After the Cold wash is done, I set it for a Hot wash and add a full cap of Tide Original detergent. And let it run again.
After the hot wash, I put all of the inserts, pre-folds, and anything else that is not waterproof in the dryer on auto dry for the longest dry time. I DO NOT put the covers and all other waterproof pieces in the dryer because the high temperatures can damage them and they won’t hold up as long.
Instead, I hang my covers to dry on my clothesline. You can also use a drying rack if you do not have a clothesline.
And finally, when your cloth diapers are finished drying, you stuff them and stack them up to admire them until your baby poops in them again.
Are you a cloth diapering mom or dad? If so, how do you wash cloth diapers? What laundry detergent is your favorite? Tell me in the comments. I would love to hear from you!
there is so much false information out there on washing diapers. Thank you for this!
Tide is the most recommended nowadays because it’s strong and gets the job done! Diapers are the dirtiest laundry , cleaning them with little to nothing is naive and unsafe.
Thanks, Derika,
I have successfully used Tide for years on my two children’s diapers with no problems. I think it reduces your chances of build up.
Maybe this is naive, but how does this work with a poopy diaper?
So if your baby is under 6 months and is exclusively breastfed(NO SOLIDS YET) you can throw the cloth diaper straight into the washing machine. Breastfed poo is completely water soluble. Once your baby starts solids or if you formula feed you would use a diaper sprayer () to spray off the poop into the toilet and then put it into a wet bag until the day you wash them. It is kinda like a mini shower head that is hooked up to your toilet. I love mine.