washing cloth diapers

Rei - posted on 02/08/2009

I do a separate wash for diapers and baby clothes even though I exclusively breastfeed. I noticed that the clothes didn't smell that great when I combined even when I prewashed the diapers first.

Miri - posted on 02/07/2009

Thanks everyone for all of your responses, I am new to CDing and washing is my concern. I just have one question, If you are exclusively breastfeeding can you wash the diapers with the babies clothes?

Joanne - posted on 01/22/2009

The instructions that I got when I bought my diapers is this. 

wash every 2-3 days

wash 18-24 diapers in a cycle no more

Use your washers highest water level setting

Pre-rinse with cold water and no soap

Use a regular wash cycle on warm or hot with soap

if need, run through an extra cold rinse cycle

dry in dryer in medium or hot, hang or hang to dry

I usually don't do the extra rinse cycle at the end cause the washer does an rinse and good spin in the end. 

So far they don't smell or stain.

good luck

Shera - posted on 01/20/2009

I do a rinse with just the poopy dipes, then throw in all the rest for a hot wash/warm rinse cycle with a little bit of Nature Clean powder, then another the same with no soap. I use a dryer, I don't have enough diapers to wait for them to line dry.

Nellie - posted on 01/13/2009

I just do a cold rinse before the hot wash so that the stains do not get set in. The hot wash is the only step with detergent, only 1/4 of the amount. Sometimes I end with a cold rinse to get all the detergent out. It is worth it to wash it right though because it takes even more work to fix the diapers if there is residue build up. Basically once you get them in there it is just walking by the machine and pushing buttons.

Shayna - posted on 01/11/2009

Wow, if I had to so many steps, I would be using disposables.  To me, low maintenace and low cost is everything.  I pour cold water and vinegar in a bucket (cheap trash can from Target) where I keep all dirty diapers until laundry day.  I do laundry every 4-5 days.   Laundry:  I use hot water with Charlie's soap detergent and a splash of vinegar.   No presoaking, no cold rinsing.  Then dry it in a dryer.  I live in an apartment, so my washing machine is crap (in case you thought I had some fancy one) and unfortunately, I can't dry it on cloth lines, so I have to use a dryer.

My diapers don't smell at all.  And if I need to get stains out, I just spray with Charlie's soap All Purpose Cleaner. 

Btw, my baby is breastfed, if that matters. 

Michelle - posted on 01/10/2009

I do a cold rinse without detergent, then a hot wash (sanitary cycle in my front loader) with detergent and an extra rise at the end.  Then everything goes into the dryer.  A lot of people line dry diapers, and I used to as well, but with 3 in diapers I don't have time or the stash to wait for diapers to dry on the line.

Alicia - posted on 01/10/2009

some people don't do as much...but my son has a very sensivtive bum and if there is any residue he gets a rash and if i use anyother soap he gets a rash

Stacia - posted on 01/10/2009

wow... does it always require so many steps???

Alicia - posted on 01/10/2009

i'm very particular with my diapers. Frist its a cold rinse to get any left over solids off. the a hot soak and prewash. the a full cycle wash on hot with a bit of eco friendly baby soap, cold rinse then a warm wash (short) and warm rinse to make sure all the bubbles are out. then a low heat dry with dryer balls