How to Wash Diapers

One of the reasons many new parents choose disposable diapers is because the thought of washing cloth diapers seems unpleasant. Washing diapers doesn't have to be messy, particularly if you know how to prep the garments before washing.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Diaper pail
• Bleach
• Gentle laundry detergent
• Washer
• Dryer

1. Wash all new cloth diapers before you first use them in gentle laundry detergent. Look for detergents specifically targeted towards babies.

2. Fill a diaper pail half full of water and add ¼ cup of bleach. Place the pail in the area where you intend to change the diapers.

3. Put urine soaked diapers directly into the pail. Dunk messier diapers in the toilet to remove the excess before putting them in the pail.

4. Wash the diapers at the end of each day or when the diaper pail is full. Use a gentle laundry detergent and hot water.

5. Dry the diapers in the dryer or on a clothesline.

Tips & Warnings

• You can purchase cloth diapers that resemble disposable diapers with Velcro or other fastening systems.
• After your child has been potty trained, cloth diapers can be used for cleaning, waxing or other applications calling for a soft rag.

[starlet67]

on 6/26/2009 Helpful tips for washing diapers!

[karileighk]

on 6/23/2009 Good tips! *5

[tinab]

on 6/21/2008 You don't have to use bleach at all now! And you can wash them in a detergent like Tide. Or, if you are low on detergent or your diapers are not quite right, you can use plain old school Dawn dish soap to wash them! It works to strip away any detergent buildup (I use it for regular clothes too). Then extra rinses to get either out. Most of my cloth diapers are prefolds and flats, but I have some bum Genius and they can be dried in the dryer too.
Cloth diapers have a resale value! Cloth is pretty cute, check out DiaperSwappers for more info and product information.