Cloth Diaper Care: Washing Diapers and Dealing with Detergent Build Up

Using cloth diapers shouldn’t mean you have to struggle with worries about how to wash them right. 

•        Should you use a special detergent?
•        Should you only wash them by hand?
•     Can you wash them in the machine?

Yes, we at Smart Baby, know that your cloth diaper care questions are many! So here are the answers:

Cloth Diaper Care: Washing How-To

 Before you put the dirty diapers into the diaper pail, gently rinse them with a diaper sprayer or under the tap. Remove solid waste.

Wash a load of diapers every other day, however, don’t let dirty diapers sit for more than 3 days.

Wash the diapers in cold water with ¼ cup of baby-friendly detergent.  A baby-friendly detergent is free from dyes, bleaches, perfumes, enzymes, brighteners.

Do NOT add any additives, fabric softeners or disinfecting agents, including vinegar or baking soda. 

If your cloth diapers stink after being washed in the washing machine, you can wash them again and leave them to dry flat in the sunlight to get both the odors and the stains out.  Smelly diapers can also be an indication of detergent buildup, so you may want to see how to strip cloth diapers (see#2) or give the diapers an extra rinse to get the detergent residue out.

Once a month, you can add a ¼ cup bleach to your diaper load to sanitize and deodorize diapers.

Dealing with Detergent Build Up

Detergent buildup can be gotten rid of by stripping the diapers. In other words, wash the diapers once in hot water with one teaspoon (for high efficiency machines) to one tablespoon (for regular washing machines) with a Pril green liquid dish detergent and up to 1/2 cup bleach in the wash cycle.

Do two additional hot water washes with no detergent to completely rinse the diapers clean. If you still see soapsuds, keep rinsing until the diapers are rinsed clean.

Resources to Help You Get Clean Diapers… Every Time

Should you still want to read more about washing cloth diapers and getting them really clean, here are some more resources:

• Caring for Cloth Diapers
• How to Wash Cloth Diapers by Rockin’ Green Soaps 

Cloth diaper care, dealing with detergent build up, washing your stash of cloth diapers doesn’t have to be tough. Keeping a few things in mind – choosing the right detergent, washing enough diapers in the machine, rinsing extra and drying in the sunlight, will help you have clean diapers to keep baby and you happy.

Questions? Ask the Diaper Guru or Join the Smart Baby Community on Facebook and ask away. We look forward to making cloth diapering happy for both baby and you.

It’s Elemental My Dear Mommy!

If it is organic, natural options that you are looking for on your baby’s bottom, then the bumGenius Elemental One Size Diaper is exactly what you need!! The award winning one-size bumGenius design with luxuriously soft, 100% organic cotton inside, gives your baby the natural comfort of dry bums and the freedom to just ‘be’! The bumGenius Organic One-Size Cloth Diapers offer a unique functionality with tabs that stretch for a perfect fit. So you don’t have to worry about tight, loose, sizes... nothing! These incredible stretchy tabs combined with snap fasteners making cloth diapering easy for you and very comfortable for your baby. The organic cotton soaker is super soft and highly absorbent, which makes for added peace and comfort for both baby and mommy, during the day and especially at night!

The new bumGenius Elemental "no-stuff" system available only in the bumGenius Organic One-Size Cloth Diaper is an ideal solution for families with a child in day-care or a busy mommy! It really is as easy to use as a disposable diaper. Using the snaps on the front of the diaper you can easily adjust the size if you need to, put the diaper on your baby, when baby is done, wash, dry and re-use. It is truly that easy and the best part is that is not only good for your baby, it is good for the environment they are going to inherit as well. With a diaper like the Elemental, there are no extra steps, there is no for extra stuffing and there is cover required. So you are done in one go, simple, easy, extremely comfy!

The idea behind the design of the bumGenius one size diapers is that they fit most babies from 8-35+ pounds (or 3-16 kgs), which means there is less shopping, less clutter, less material for you to manage on a daily/monthly basis.  You don’t have to sort diapers by size or carry multiple diapers when you travel or have a day out, you just need your pack of bumGenius Elementals.  What makes these one-size-fits-all is the unique three snap-downs on the front of the diaper which allow you to easily adjust the size between small, medium, and large as your baby grows.  These are diapers, you can keep for next baby too, and the utility is obvious! 

Unique features of the bumGenius Elemental Diaper:

• An absorbent layer integrated into the waterproof outer layer.

• One step cloth diaper - no add-ons.

• Snap closures to ensure a trim, bumGenius fit.

•Ultra-absorbent, certified organic cotton inner.

• Soft leg elastic contains the mess!

The Economy of Econobum: An Inexpensive Cloth Diapering Solution

The Econobum One-Size Diaper comes in a kit to fit the needs of those families who need to bundle their convictions for eco-friendly diapers with the necessity of an economically friendly price tag!

What is the Econobum

Econobum is designed to be simple and affordable, the Econobum Diaper Kit includes three (3) white, one size diaper covers and twelve (12) unbleached, one size, 100% cotton pre-folds. Intentionally constructed to be simple, yet effective, one of these cloth diaper kits makes the perfect part-time cloth diaper kit. 

Why Choose a One Size Cloth Diaper

The great thing about One Size diaper systems is that they last a long period of time and are budget friendly too. One size diaper systems have steadily grown in popularity since they first hit the market. 


What could be easier on the budget than purchasing a cloth diaper system that will grow as your baby grows? The Econobum One-Size Diaper is constructed to last and doesn't scrimp on features either. Econobum moms are one of the most satisfied mothers who have made the choice to go ‘cloth’!

How is the Econobum a Great Cloth Diapering Solution

In terms of construction the outer waterproof diaper cover shell is constructed of laminated polyester to effectively hold in wetness or messes, while form fitting elastic helps to prevent leaks at both the waist and thighs. This snug ‘hold-in’ system keeps baby comfortable for longer. 

Benefits of a Cheap and Convenient Cloth Diapering Solution 

The real idea behind Econobum diaper cover is for it to be easy-to-use and for it to ensure a fit that will work for most babies from birth to potty training. When baby is smaller you can fold the pre-fold over at the top or bottom - adjusting for baby's size and particular absorption needs accordingly. Since this isn't a pocket diaper - you don't have to stuff it! 


Place the cotton prefold into the Econobum diaper cover, lay baby on top, wrap the wings around your baby, snap and go! It's that fast and that easy!

Another benefit is that there aren't any special washing instructions when you get your Econobum One-Size Diaper Kit; toss them in a hot water wash, line dry the cloth diaper cover and dry the pre-fold like you dry your other clothes. For maximum absorbency, steer clear of fabric softeners and be sure to wash the pre-folds three to five times in hot water before initial use, so that they are soft, absorbent and ready for baby!

Diapering Wash Care Made Easy: How to Clean Your Cloth Diapers

We are asked more about wash care than about the advantages of cloth diapering. Probably because over time Moms have realized that natural is definitely a better choice for their baby, the budget and of course our planet.


 Making that one change has caused a ripple effect that these mommies can give themselves credit for! Good job ladies!
 


Managing cloth diapers can be as easy as you want it to be. Powered with information, you can make this decision or transition easier on yourself; baby will love the change anyway!

Washing Cloth Diapers

 Wash care for cloth diapers is not as tedious or complicated as it may seem, it’s easier than managing regular fabric diapers we are all persuaded to stock. If you have good water in your area and you can control the temperature you have half your job done. 


There are lots of great detergents that will keep your diapers clean and fresh with minimal build-up, not all easily available locally yet it is easy to miss chemicals, additives on the labels and still end up introducing agents you may want to avoid when it comes to baby-wear. 


Most detergents contain some levels of 6 offending agents: enzymes, brighteners, dyes, fragrances and softeners. And there are few and far between that don’t!

How to Wash Cloth Diapers

 Well, depending on the habits of the babies using them - it may or may not be important to do an initial cold rinse. If your child is a big pooper, you might want to, if not you can probably skip it – it’s totally up to you.


 To keep your diapers build-up free as much as possible is to make sure you do your main wash in very hot water, some people prefer to do a double wash, with no soap the second time around, it totally depends on you.

Best Way to Wash A Cloth Diaper

-          Wash a full cold wash/cold rinse cycle with recommended amount of detergent.

-          Wash a full hot wash/cold rinse cycle with recommended amount of detergent.

-          Run a second cold rinse cycle.           

More Cloth Diaper Wash Care Tips

Here are a few more tips that will help keep your cloth diapers stink free and fresh –

1. Wipe out the inside of both the washer and the dryer with a 50/50 bleach/water solution.

2. Wash twice in a row on hot - the first with detergent and the second with a quarter cup of bleach only to help rinse out any remaining detergent.

3. Strip once a month and do 3-4 hot washes in a row using no detergent.

It may take several months to decide on a detergent that is going to work for your cloth diapers, water type and family preference. Softeners are the biggest culprits when it comes to absorbency issues and once the softener gets in the diapers it’s a big pain to get them out! If you can, it is better to dry your diapers outdoors on sunny days - it helps them to last longer as well as look cleaner and newer due to the natural bleaching effect of the sun.

If you are a bumGenius fan then we have an FAQS section that can help you keep those babies clean.. here it is for a quick review!

# 1: How do I wash my new diapers?

If the diaper has hook & loop closures, secure the laundry tabs.
- Pre-wash cold to remove waste and fight stains.
- Wash hot (100F/40C) with bumGenius detergent to cleanse your diapers.
- Follow with a second rinse.
- Line-dry covers and diaper shells. Tumble dry inserts, fitteds and prefolds.

# 2: Do you have any other washing tips?

- Wash dirty diapers every other day.
- If your diapers still stink, wash again.
- Remove solid waste before storing in pail. (A bumGenius diaper sprayer is wonderful!
- Use only detergent and water. Do not use other additives like vinegar or baking soda.
- Once per month, use up to 1/4 cup bleach in the hot wash cycle (step 3) to sanitize diapers and fight odours.
- To remove stains, lay clean, wet diapers in the sun.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To preserve your hook and loop closures, we suggest washing bumGenius products separately from heavy cotton or hemp diapers (like prefolds or cotton fitteds).

#3: What detergent can I use?

Ingredients in certain detergents may ruin your cloth diapers or cause your baby to have a diaper rash. When washing cloth diapers, always use a detergent free of perfumes, dyes, whiteners, brighteners, softeners, enzymes, or other fabric enhancers. Using too much detergent may cause cloth diapers to leak. When using detergents not made for cloth diapers, use 1/2 the amount of detergent suggested by the detergent manufacturer for a load of 18-24 diapers. We recommend bumGenius™ Detergent. A list of alternative detergents can be found at www.cottonbabies.com/clothdiaperdetergents.pdf Free shipping is available on cloth diaper safe detergents here.

# 4: What should I avoid?

- Do not use extra additives in your wash (like baking soda or vinegar). These ingredients are unnecessary and will cause problems in your diapers.
- Do not use fabric softeners.
- Do not boil your diapers.
- Do not use rash creams without a barrier between your baby's bottom and the diaper.
- If your cloth diapers are made with hook and loop closures, do not wash them with natural fibers. Natural fibers produce lint that will build up in the diaper's closures. This will shorten the lifespan of your closures.

# 5: Should I prewash?

First of all, make sure that you washed everything at least once before using. There can be residue left on the fabric from the production process that can cause leakage. If you have organic or hemp diapers, they must be prewashed in hot water with a small amount of detergent 3-5 times before they become absorbent. They reach their full absorbency after 10 washes.

# 6: I think my diapers have detergent build-up. What should I do?

Wash once in hot water with one teaspoon (for high efficiency machines) to one tablespoon (for regular washing machines) with original liquid Dawn (blue formula) and up to 1/2 cup bleach in the wash cycle. Do two additional hot water washes with no detergent to completely rinse the diapers clean. If you still see suds, keep rinsing until the diapers are rinsed clean.