How to Wash New Cloth Diapers
Always wash new cloth diapers before using them on your baby. Depending on what type of cloth diaper you have bought, the diapers may have natural or chemical materials in the fabric that hinder absorbency. If you do not wash your diapers thoroughly before using them, they may leak. Here's how you can wash your new diapers to prepare them for first use. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Cloth diaper detergent
- Washing machine
- Dryer or clothesline and clothespins
Instructions
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1
Buy a detergent that has no dyes, fragrances, enzymes, brighteners or bleach. Check with your diapers' manufacturer to make sure your detergent is safe to use with your new diapers.
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2
Sort diapers to wash similar materials together. You can wash cotton, fleece and polyurethane-laminated fabric together. Wash hemp separately. You do not need to sort by color.
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3
Load the diapers into your washing machine and set your machine to wash with hot water.
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4
Put half the recommended amount of detergent into the detergent cup of your machine or directly in the machine if there is no detergent cup.
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5
Run the wash cycle.
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Repeat steps 4 and 5 for a total of four complete wash cycles if you are washing cotton or hemp diapers. Skip this step if you are washing fleece diapers or polyurethane-laminated fabric diapers.
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Run one final wash cycle with no detergent.
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8
Dry in the dryer on medium or high if possible. You can also hang to dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Drying your diapers in the dryer for the first wash will help fluff and soften them for use. However, your diapers will last longer if you dry them by hanging them in sunlight for subsequent washings.
Use vinegar in the rinse occasionally to soften your diapers and prevent smells. Never use fabric softener on cloth diapers.
If your diapers begin to smell or to repel moisture after use, strip them by washing them several times with hot water.
