Today, many moms use cloth diapers because it costs lesser than using disposable diapers. Cloth diapers are very different now than before. Most reusable diapers have double or triple layers and a multiply, fiber-filled strip, making them more absorbent. There’s no need to use diaper pins since new cloth diapers have Velcro tabs. I used to believe cloth diapers are not advisable especially when dealing with solid wastes. But when I saw the new versions, I immediately switched.
Cloth diapers are also highly breathable. The greatest concern of most moms is preventing their babies from getting diaper rash. Disposable diapers lack air circulation and contain harmful chemicals like dyes, sodium polyacrylate (the super absorbent gel), and dioxin (by-product of bleaching paper). These are harmful to the baby’s sensitive skin and can cause allergies.
Washing cloth diapers
Most mothers tend to soak their baby’s diaper in water with baking soda before wash day. I do not do this technique. The waste is collected in the water, which emits a foul odor. Also, I don’t really think you would like a pail of your child’s waste kept in your bathroom or laundry room.
I recommend that you place all the cloth diapers in a dry pail with baking soda. Baking soda controls the odor or you could use a deodorant disc. For the solid waste, flush it first in the toilet. Soak the diaper with ¼ cup vinegar to control odor and to make the stain easier to remove. You could also use detergent in soaking. However, this could result in detergent build up. You have to rinse it multiple times to assure there are no residues left.
Do not wash more than 2 dozens of diapers at one time. Too much friction can cause pilling. Fasten all the Velcro tabs before starting the machine. Use as less detergent as much as possible. Use ¼ to ½ of the recommended amount of your detergent. Wash the diapers to two cycles. Choose among these variations: cold/cold wash, cold rinse or soak, and hot/cold wash.
Dry the diapers for about 60-90 minutes. Thick diapers may take longer. Remember to read the instructions on the diaper package after you have purchased it. Special diapers have different requirements in washing. Example, wool diapers do not need to be washed regularly and should always be air or line dried.
If the diapers still do not smell clean, wash it again. Probably there are still bacteria on the diaper, which could cause irritation and lead to diaper rash. Rinsing is very important in washing cloth diapers. Make sure that the water is free of bubbles in your last rinsing.
photo credit: MissMessie
Thanks for the great article. The step-by-step format made it very easy to follow. You’d think that we’d be able to figure out something like this on our own, guess not. Keep up the good work.