Washing One Size pocket nappies?

Diane - posted on 07/21/2010

Hi,

I used a mix of pocket diapers, all in ones and prefolds with covers. I washed them all together, in warm water and threw them all in the dryer (with the diaper pail liner). It would take two cycles to dry the inserts and prefolds so I would take out the pocket diapers and covers (which dry quickly) and then run everything else through the dryer again. It does matter what detergent you use (I had some all in ones that seemed to remain water repellant no matter how many times I washed them because of the detergent. Water repellent is not what you want in a diaper) Now I use Charlie's soap for all of my laundry and it works great. Throwing a towel in with the wash seems like a great idea because I have a very low water washer and sometimes I don't feel like they got rinsed enough (so I would use the setting that rinses in 7 times or something but that takes forever)

Good luck

Micheline - posted on 07/21/2010

HI I cloth diapered our daughter who is now potty trained. I used the Shaklee detergent because it is a green product, The all in ones I washed every time because of fleece part gets wet but with the covers I used to wipe them down and reuse them. Good luck. Once you get use to it, it's pretty easy.

Gabrielle - posted on 07/16/2010

Hi Tanya!

Cloth diapering and the laundering process can be overwhelming, so don't feel silly for having questions! Others have posted some very helpful websites, so check them out!

-Prewashing: It depends on your diaper and its warranty! Always read the manufacturer's guidelines on prewashing and laundering your diapers. Their website should be able to answer any questions you've got. Here is a link to my blog, and on this page, I share my regular laundering process. http://mamagab.blogspot.com/2010/03/clea...
-Pocket diapers: Yes, the outside and inside must be washed before being worn again. The fabric that lines it is right next to your baby's skin, and the inserts within it holds the urine. So unlike a prefold and wrap, where you can just change out the prefolds and wipe the wrap if needed, for a pocket, when it's dirty, the whole thing is dirty.
-Line drying: Again, follow the manufacturer's instructions on line drying, but I ALWAYS dry all of my diapers on the line (in my house). Anything you line dry is going to last longer, and believe me, I want my diapers lasting a long time! Some diapers suggest drying them in the dryer from time to time to re-seal the seams, so at the end of every month, I throw the diapers into the dryer for a little while instead of line drying them.
-Laundry Detergent: You should use one that's safe for cloth diapers. There are a few charts online that rate the different detergents, based on ingredients. I use Allen's detergent because it's highly rated and low priced. If you go to the same blog link I posted earlier, I've given information about detergents, including links to detergent ratings and the best place to buy Allen's.

Hope this helps!

Rachel - posted on 07/16/2010

Also, do not use fabric softener! It will make the dupes water resistant and you want them to be absorbent. Are the dupes new or did you buy them pre-loved?

New you will need to wash and dry them three times before using to get the natural cotton oils out.

I use gain powdered detergent but only use about 1/4 the amount I use on my clothes for the same size load.

Ash - posted on 07/14/2010

dont use your regular detergent. there are special ones just for babies thats you can use for the nappies and the clothing sheets ect ect here in nz (not sure where you are) we have this ECO detergent thats great for these things aswell as everyday normal washes. but youll find the right type thatll suit your babies needs as time goes by :) its great your using reuseables.

Tammy - posted on 07/08/2010

I use one size pocket diapers myself, I love them.

I live in a pretty wet place so if I have to use the dryer I usually line dry the cover anyway, cos by the afternoon it will be pretty much be dry anyway, and only have to throw it in the dryer for a short period of time. I usually dry the inserts and the outer cover seperately too - Inserts on 'hot' and covers on 'warm'

I would also recommend only buying a small batch of detergent until you find one that works for you. I have tried several detergents but have ended up using only bi carb soda as my detergent cos its the only way i can get the inserts to smell fresh and clean.

Majaliwa - posted on 07/08/2010

To answer your questions:



1. Washing: You'll want to keep this simple for your own sanity. Remove the insert from the diaper and place both the insert and the nappy in the washing machine. Then run one COLD rinse cycle with no detergent, one HOT wash cycle with detergent, and one final COLD rinse cycle with no detergent. If you have a front-loading washer, I also recommend adding a large towel to your load. Often front-loading washing don't generate enough water to fully rinse detergent out of cloth diapers and this will cause your nappies to stink in the long run. A heavy towel will trick it into thinking the load is heavier and it will add more water to your wash.



2. Detergent. It's best to use one that is safe for cloth diapers. Other detergents will leave a residue on your diapers and over time it will cause them to stink. Here's a paired down list of recommended detergents:



http://www.pootersdiapers.com/recommende...



3. Drying: You don't HAVE to line dry the outer cover but over time excessive heat can make the PUL (the part that makes the cover waterproof) breakdown and then the diaper will leak. So when possible, line dry or air dry (I use an indoor drying rack). But occasionally tossing them in the dryer won't hurt.



4. Diaper Changes: Since you're using pocket nappies I'm assuming you're placing the insert inside the pocket of the diaper. If that's the case then 'yes' you'll need to change it every time. However, I have seen some people (particularly with newborns), lay the insert inside the cover close to baby's bottom instead of actually in the pocket. If you do this, you could get away with a few diaper changes without having to change the cover because newborns don't usually put out enough to soak through the liner to the cover.



5. Other Resources: My personal favorite resource for cloth diapering questions is this one: http://www.pootersdiapers.com/howto-guid...



It also has how-to videos you can watch to explain a lot of stuff about cloth diapers as well as some troubleshooting tips.

Barbara - posted on 07/07/2010

I have started cloth diapering recently myself, so I hope I don't answer any question incorrectly. Therefore, I'd recommend checking out a Cloth Diapering 101 resource online first.
For example, "Cloth Diaper Basics" section on Cotton Babies website: http://www.cottonbabies.com/clothdiapers...
The Diaper Pin is another good website, particularly for their reviews of diapers. They have a "How Tos and FAQs of Cloth Diapering" section on their website: http://www.diaperpin.com/howto.asp

I've heard different (strong) opinions about detergent to use. The detergent cannot contain enzymes, whiteners, brighteners, softeners, or scents. The Cotton Babies website has a list of detergents. I've have had friends that told me Allen's Naturally and Rockin' Green detergents. Another friend used to use Purex, though they recently changed their formula and it now contains one of those listed above to look out for. I believe you're recommended to use 1/4 of the detergent you would for a regular load. Some diapers actually come with directions for washing before the first use, but my friends typically wash in hot a few times with a very small amount of detergent. When using pocket diapers, the insert and rest of the diaper must be washed everytime. If you are using prefolds and covers, then a cover does not need to be washed every time.

Hope this helps!