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Cloth diapers: washing and stripping

Washing Cloth Diapers

There are some basic “rules” to washing cloth diapers. As long you stick to these basics, you can make adjustments as you feel necessary. Start simple and adjust depending on your water type, washing machine and your daily routine. If your diapers start to smell, leak or stain, you will need to adjust your routine to fix the problem.

Basic Rules:

  • Wash all new diapers before using them
  • Unbleached cotton, hemp and bamboo products should be washed separately the first few times so the natural oils don’t bind to the other diapers and cause repelling issues
  • Hemp and bamboo can be used after 1-2 washes but will become more absorbent through the first 8-10 washes as oils are washed off
  • Remove as much solid waste as possible from the diaper before placing it in the diaper pail. (If your baby is exclusively breastfed, there is no need to remove the solids since breast-fed baby poo is water soluble)
  • Unstuff pocket diapers before putting them into the diaper pail (except AppleCheeks, they unstuff themselves in the wash)
  • Diapers should be washed at least every 2-3 days to avoid stinking and staining
  • Start with a cold rinse..heat will cause proteins (solid waste, food etc) to set into fabric and stain
  • Wash with hot water using 1/4 of the recommended amount of detergent…1/6 for high efficiency washers
  • Rinse twice with cold or warm water (warm water usually rinses detergent better)
  • Wash and rinse using the highest possible water setting with maximum agitation
  • Do NOT use bleach, fabric softeners, or dryer sheets
  • Do NOT use soap detergents or detergents that contain: fabric softeners, brighteners, phosphates, enzymes, alcohol, bleach, additives, perfumes, dyes and fragrances
  • Avoid zinc oxide diaper creams as they will stain your diapers and causing repelling.  If absolutely necessary, use a fleece or disposable liner, but be sure to wash the fleece liner separately

Green Ninja’s Laundry Routine:

I wash diapers every 2 days. The frequency at which you wash will depend on the number of diapers you have and the stink factor. I wouldn’t recommend going more then 3 days. If you have fewer diapers, you may need to wash daily. Diapers, inserts, washable liners, wipes, wetbags and the diaper pail liner get washed all together.

1. Initial COLD rinse (using rinse cycle) with no detergent
2. HOT regular wash using approximately 1-2 TBSP of Rockin' Green Cloth Diaper Detergent
3. COLD rinse
4. Hang to dry (outside in the sun when possible)

NOTE: a second COLD rinse is required with most detergents.  Since Rockin' Green Detergent rinses very clean, one rinse is usually enough.

Here are some more tips:

  • Check out the manufacturer’s washing instructions. They might have some important tips to ensure proper functioning of your diapers.
  • Put diaper covers into a separate pail. You can reuse diaper covers a number of times unless soiled. Rotate them by hanging and airing them out between changes.
  • Remember to close the velcro tabs before washing to prevent your diapers from sticking to each other or other things in the wash.
  • It is recommended that you use the highest water level setting and maximum agitation. This can depend on the size of your washing machine and the size of your load. You can experiment with the water levels to achieve optimal diaper cleaning and water conservation. If there is any doubt, or you find your diapers aren’t getting cleaned or rinsed properly, stick with the highest water setting. Insufficient water will cause detergent build-up and subsequent stripping which requires more water in the long run.
  • Excessive soaking of PUL or TPU products is not recommended. Soaking of microfiber or natural fibers is fine.
  • To save drying time and energy, run an extra spin cycle on your washing machine before putting your diapers on the line to dry or in the dryer.
  • PUL covers should be dried periodically in the dryer. This helps to "seal" the laminate and maintain the waterproof qualities of the fabric.
  • To avoid leaking diapers, periodically take a "sniff test" after washing. If your diapers smell like detergent they may require another hot rinse, or possibly stripping to get all the detergent out. More serious residue will require stripping.
  • If your diapers are leaking, there almost always is a solution. It might take some time and effort to fix the problem, but in the long run it is worth it.

 

Cloth Diaper Safe Detergents

I’ve tried Rockin' Green, Claudia’s Choices and Allen’s Naturally.  These detergents work great and do not cause detergent build-up as long as you use very little. I did have some leaking issues when I used Nature Clean Liquid…supposedly the powder contains less oils and leaves less residue. Here is a list of other recommended environmentally friendly detergents.  These detergents do not leave residue and most are free of fabric softeners, brighteners, phosphates, enzymes, alcohol, bleach, additives, perfumes, dyes and fragrances.   Some are more readily available in Canada than others.  We recommend and sell both Claudia's Choices and Rockin' Green.  Many of these detergents are on Bummis recommended detergent list.

  • Claudia’s Choices 
  • Allen’s Naturally 
  • Charlie’s Soap (There are reports of this detergent causing a severe skin reaction in some babies)
  • Country Save
  • Mountain Green Baby Free & Clear
  • Planet
  • Seventh Generation Delicate Care
  • Nature Clean Powder
  • Wonder Wash

Original Tide Powder (not liquid or any other variety of Tide) is one of the only mainstream detergents that people use. I have never tried it, but supposedly it works.

 

Stripping Diapers

Stripping is required to remove residue or build-up from diapers and inserts. Residue and build-up from detergent, fabric softener, minerals from hard water or diaper creams could cause leaking since they prevent the fibres from absorbing or allowing the moisture to pass through.  Even if you don’t have a problem with leaking, it’s a good idea to strip your diapers every couple of months to prevent build-up.  Also, if your diapers are still stinky after they are washed, it’s a good indication that they need to be stripped.

There are a few methods for stripping cloth diapers. The stripping method you choose may depend on the amount of build-up and also the hardness of your water. For best results when stripping diapers, use the hottest water possible as well as the highest water and agitation setting possible.  Also be sure to rinse diapers completely before you dry them.  Diapers should be clean before you strip them. They don't need to be dry...but they should be clean.

#1 Simple Method – for regular maintenance

Wash your clean diapers using hot water 2-3 times without detergent. Rinse them until the water runs clear and there are no suds left in the rinse water.

#2 Rock a Soak - for regular maintenance or to remove mineral build up and left over detergent

Fill your washer with hot water and 3 Tbsp of Rockin’ Green Cloth Diaper Detergent, along with your diapers. Let them soak for approximately 30-60 minutes then launder as usual, skipping the soap. Repeat this process anytime you need a good deep-cleaning. If your diapers have excessive buildup or residue, it may take a few soaks to get them in good condition. For those with really hard water, you may find a quick soak before every wash helpful.

#3 Funk Rock Ammonia Bouncer - to remove ammonia and other stinkies at the source

Fill your washer with hot or warm water and add 4 tablespoons of Rockin' Green Funk Rock Ammonia Bouncer.  Soak your diapers (up to 20 diapers) for 30 - 60 minutes, then wash like normal using Rockin' Green detergent.  For best results, soak your diapers in Rockin' Green detergent, as described above (#2 Rock a Soak) prior to your Funk Rock treatment.  To maintain ammonia-free diapers, you can also add 1 tablespoon of Funk Rock to your cold pre-rinse with every wash.

 

#4 Dish Soap – to remove build-up due to diaper creams, oils or detergent 

Wash your clean diapers with hot water with no detergent.  Add a small amount of Dawn original dish washing soap (blue liquid). This dish soap will cut through and wash away grease that may be causing the build-up. Keep adding soap little by little until you feel there is adequate soap for the number of diapers. Don't add too much soap at one time or the washing machine might overflow. This dish soap is NOT low sudsing and is not meant to be used in the washing machine so keep on eye on it, especially if you have a high efficiency washing machine. After the initial wash with Dawn, wash 1-2 more times on hot (without adding soap) and then rinse with cold until there are no more bubbles. It usually takes 2-4 rinses. 

#5 Water Softener – to remove hard water mineral and detergent build-up

Mineral build-up is common in hard water areas. Using a water softener such as RLR laundry treatment or Calgon will remove mineral deposits and detergent build up. Wash your clean cloth diapers with hot water with one package of RLR, or half the recommended Calgon added to the wash. Both these products will cause a lot of foamy suds. Continue washing and rinsing on the hot cycle until you don’t see any more filmy water or suds in the washer.  It usually takes between 2 – 4 rinses.

#6 Vinegar – for smelly diapers, to remove mildrew, mold, detergent build-up. 

Use vinegar with caution. Some diaper companies do not recommend adding vinegar to the wash since it is acidic and it could damage the waterproof PUL cover.  Also, if you have hard water, using vinegar can cause your diapers to stink even more. However, distilled white vinegar naturally breaks down uric acid and soapy residue. It also attacks mold and mildew, prevents yellowing and acts as a fabric softener. Vinegar (about 1/2 cup) can be added to your final stripping rinse to remove the last of the detergent residue and to soften your cloth diapers. It is a good idea to dilute the vinegar before adding it to the rinse cycle.  I hold 1/2 cup of vinegar under the stream of water as the washing machine fills up for the rinse cycle. You could also use a Downy Ball or the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine. If you use vinegar and you notice your diapers start to smell, discontinue use. Vinegar is not necessary or recommended unless you develop consistent problems with smelly diapers, residue build-up, mildew or mold. 

#7 Bleach - to remove bacteria

Chlorine bleach should be used with extreme caution. If you use it too frequently, it will break down the fabric fibres and shorten the life of your diapers. It could also be harsh and irritating to your baby's delicate skin. However, bleach is very effective in getting rid of bacteria. Bacteria can cause diaper rash, infection and smelly diapers. BumGenius, recommends using 1/4 cup bleach with your regular wash once a month. I would suggest using bleach only when absolutely necessary or if you think you have a problem with bacteria.

#8 Sensi-Clean/Sports-Wash

Use Sensi-Clean (also called Sports-wash) with caution. There have been reports of babies developing severe rashes or burns after using this product. Be sure to rinse your diapers thoroughly and watch closely for any reaction. Add 1 capful of Sensi-Clean to the warm wash cycle  (use 1/2 capful for HE washing machines). For cloth diapers with a lot of build-up you may need to repeat. Then rinse your diapers VERY WELL to remove any Sensi-Clean residue.