How to Wash Cloth Diapers
If your item has a care label, always review it before proceeding.
- First, rinse the diaper after it has been used to remove urine. Flush solids down the toilet.
- Place diaper in 5 Gallon Diaper pail with 2 TBSP of Power Scour or Beyond Clean until you are ready to wash a full load.
- You can also store a diaper in a "wet bag" (fabric bag) until washing.
- If your baby is exclusively breastfed, you do not need to rinse milk stools from the diaper.
Wash cloth diapers separate from your other laundry loads. You can wash your diapers and covers together, unless the manufacturer recommends to wash separately. Don't overload the washing machine - this can cause pilling from friction and can also reduce the efficiency of the wash. Most machines can wash up to 24 diapers.
Water Temperature. UNICORN works well, even in lower temperatures.
- Cotton should be washed in hot water
- Waterproofed fabrics should be washed in warm or cool water
WASHING:
- Put your diapers in the washing machine and run a cold pre-wash cycle
- Wash the Load in Hot Water with 2 TBSP of Power Scour or Beyond Clean
- Rinse with Warm Water
- Make sure the Diapers are well-rinsed.
DRYING:
Some diapers are fine being dried in a commercial dryer, while others will degrade over time with that level of heat. Check the manufacturer label on your cloth diapers to determine if you should dry them in the dryer or hang them outside to dry.
MAKE A SCHEDULE
- Newborns: 12 to 18 diapers per day (one to two loads if you wash every other day)
- Babies 6 to 18 months: 12 diapers per day (one load if you wash every other day)
- Toddlers 18 months and up: nine diapers per day (one load if you wash every other day)
- Toddlers who are potty training: three to six diapers per day (one load if you wash every other day)