How to Wash Cloth Diapers

Cloth diapers are an environmentally friendly, economical alternative to disposable diapers; they are also easier to care for than you might expect.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Cloth Diapers
• Mild Detergent
• Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Borax
• Diaper Pins

1. Flush solid waste away. Some people use disposable liners inside cloth diapers to make this easier.

2. Put diapers in a pail half-filled with a mixture of water and 1/4 cup of vinegar or Borax, to control odor and to make stain removal easier. If you will be washing them frequently, you can also put them in a dry pail.

3. Soak diapers until you are ready to wash them, then drain excess liquid into the toilet. If necessary, use your spin cycle to help remove the soaking solution.

4. Wash your diapers in hot water.

5. Double-rinse in cold water ' add some vinegar to the second rinse cycle, to help freshen the diapers.

6. Check for stubborn stains before putting the diapers in the dryer; if you catch them before they set, you will be able to remove them more easily.

7. Dry the diapers on high heat in your dryer, or in direct sunlight if you like.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep rubber gloves or a "diaper duck" near your toilet, to keep your hands clean when rinsing dirty diapers.

• If your washing machine has a presoak cycle, try it. It helps to loosen stains before the actual wash cycle.

• If you like, throw a cup of baking soda into the presoak cycle; it neutralizes the alkalinity of urine, and helps to whiten the diapers.

• Sunshine is a great stain remover. Line drying your diapers from time to time will help keep them white and fresh-smelling.

• Keep diaper pail out of reach of children - especially when filled with water and vinegar mixture.

• Avoid heavily scented detergents that can irritate your baby's sensitive skin.

• Avoid fabric softener in the dryer ' it can reduce the absorbency of your cloth diapers.

• Avoid washing too many diapers at once ' an average washing machine can handle about two dozen diapers at a time, if you want to get them really clean.

• Check the washing instructions for diaper covers and wraps carefully ' many of them need to be washed separately from diapers, and will not stay waterproof if you put them in the dryer.