Ultimate Washing Guide to Cloth diapering!!!

Washing diapers can be simple, Hope my guide helps you on your way to a good washign routine!!! The KEY is RINSING and GREAT DETERGENT!!

PREPPING:
Most Cloth diapers need prepping. When I say Cloth diapers, I mean the ABSORBENT part!  The natural oils inthe fabric repell making the fabric slow to absorb. I recommended doing a prep wash 3 times before DAY use. Adding a squirt of blue dawn will help eliminate that natural oil.

-UnBleached Natural Fibers (Cotton, Hemp, Bamboo) Need 5-10 washes to become fully absorbant.
-Covers and Pocket Diaper shells need NO prepping
-Boiling for 10 minutes speeds up the process.try adding a small squirt of blue dawn then rinsing in washer!
-DO NOT BOIL SNAPS ever..they could melt!!!

If you experience any leaks with new diapers, you will need to prep more, check for residue, or need more absorbency ;)

Things that cause RESIDUE
Residue is the culprit for stinky diapers, leaks, and repell issues!!! If this stuff is left on your diapers after washing. Problems stated above could occur. Rinsing is the answer here, no matter what detergent you are using and love :)

-DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTENER 
-TOO MUCH SOAP
Go 1/3rd of what the directions tell you. A little soap goes a long way.
-DIAPER RASH CREAM
-ENZYMES, BRIGHTENERS, SCENTS 


STRIPPING IS THE ANSWER
If you get stinkies, leaks or repelling from residue..which happens to the best of us..

++Grab your BLUE DAWN
++Add a few squirts right from the bottle.
++HOT WASH and RINSE is BEST
++Add an EXTRA RINSE to make sure soap is out!!

-If you have soft water you  may not be able to tell because you get less bubbles if any at all!
-It's NOT necessary but stripping once a month is safe as preemptive measure especially if you use a detergent that has additives.
-Dawn dish soap is mild.

A TYPICAL WASH ROUTINE EXAMPLE
-PRE-RINSE COLD
-HOT WATER WASH to SANITIZE
-HOT WATER RINSE is the best at removing soap
-Second rinse (optional but best)
-Tumble dry is BEST on medium heat, Line dry is great especially for shells!

WASHING COVERS
-I do not wash them together with my diapers.
-wipeable covers can be sprayed with tea tree/lavander oil and water or just water
-wiped dry and reused until SOILED or dirty.
-wash these covers in the machine with regular laundry. (In my case, with my underwear and towels)
-wash fleece soakers or shells with regular laundry, fabric softener will help repell and contain the moisture 
-Pocket diapers are okay to wash together!
-HANG TO DRY or TUMBLE DRY

I AM USING A WOOL COVER what should I DO?
No Problem, Follow the link to wool care and facts!!
FancyCloths BAAAA-AMAZING WOOL GUIDE!


REMOVING STAINS
USE NATURE.
++leave diapers out in the sun to "sun" out any stains.

STORING DIRTY DIAPERS
DRY PAIL OPTION
-Some sort of pail
-Lined or Unlined (which ever you choose)
-I have a cover for my pail but I always have it off, just seams easier.
-Add a drop of your fav EO on a hemp heart (www.fancyclothbaby.com) for smelly goodness

You have a soiled diaper what do I do?
++Drop as much as you can in toilet and flush it.
++Dunk a couple times and Toss in diaper pail/bag

*****It can help by placing this soiled diaper (with a small part to grab sticking out of the water)...in the toilet and letting it sit for a 5-10 minutes..this all depends on the consistancy you are dealing with!!!
++Continue with dunk and toss

WET PAIL
Not recommended where kids can get to easily, especially not within their reach!
Think flood of poop running through your house,swimming time in the poop pail or even worse DROWNING! With that said....

Using a wet pail can be awesome at times it just makes it easier when I have a really really messy diaper that I don't want sitting in the toilet.

+Grab your empty small pail (bucket, compost bin)
+Add a tear drop of detergent or blue dawn..
+Fill bucket up in bath tub
+Let sit for a few minutes in tub and out of childs reach)
+Pour excess water in toilet when ready to wash or toss in dry pail!



IF YOUR WASHER DOESN'T HAVE A HOT RINSE OPTION(which mine doesn't..I am sure there are others out there)
-If you want a hot rinse but your washing machine doesn't do it..Manually shut off machine right after wash cycle is done and rinse is about to begin, move the dial back to wash cycle using hot water and fill up your wash bin. After it is full, manually move your dial back to rinse cycle!

I have AMMONIA help!

Yikes!! It can happen. Time to break out your blue dawn, possibly bleach and secret stash of prefolds to  use while you take care of this issue, that happens to us cloth users sometimes!!

When you first smell AMMONIA its time to DOUBLE STRIP with blue dawn..I would add a TBSP of BLEACH my first wash!

PRE RINSE DIAPERS IF SOILED
ADD BLUE DAWN and TBSP OF BLEACH
LET SOAP AND BLEACH AGITATE FOR 5 MINS
LIFT COVER and LET SOAK for however long you need (do it while you run errands or make dinner)
WASH AND RINSE

WASH AGAIN LEAVE OUT BLEACH
ADD EXTRA RINSE!

TUMBLE DRY HOT!

My baby got ammonia burns..what can I DO?
++Coconut oil is wonderful for this!!
++name brand diaper creams can be used but make sure they do not get on your cloth diapers (Pick up an innovative  stay dry liner pouch @ http://www.fancyclothbaby.com/ )
++Let your baby "AIR OUT" on a waterproof mat and have some tummy time
++USE PLAIN WATER to wash your babies bottom instead of using wipes that can irritate skin more!

LINKS and THATS ALL FOR NOW FOLKS!!!


Please see this great chart for detergents ranking best to worst
http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm#Evaluation

My take on detergent...Think about how your child reacts to soap and use what is best for babies skin. Sensitive baby use your free and clear detergent. (some people advise against this, but I use a free and clear because it's what I have used for my family ..it does't irritate his sensative skin. I have tried some CD safe stuff and I liked it but it didnt clean as well. It's all about what works for you!

HAPPY WASHING!!!!! and HAPPY CLOTH DIAPERING YOUR ECO-BABY!!!

<3

Christine