Washing Cloth Diapers

I previously posted about washing cloth diapers, but have since created a brochure to hand out at diaper parties, etc and wanted to share all the information that is included in the brochure on my blog. Some of this is a repeat from last time- but much of it is updated and more detailed. Make sure to check out the links at the bottom of the page for additional information or to see some of my sources.

Steps to Washing Cloth Diapers:

1. When diaper is soiled place it in a wet bag.

2. When the wet bag is full, the bag is
getting stinky, or you are in need of some clean diapers it’s time to wash. (Every other day seems to be a good time frame)

3. Empty the wet bag into the washing machine by turning it inside out. Place the wet bag in the wash with the diapers.

4. Begin with a cold rinse if you’d like to try to avoid stains and or you have a front-loader.

5. Wash with hot water and an extra cold rinse.

6. Air dry on a rack or tumble dry on low. Consider drying on a line outside in the sun to get rid of stains.

Getting Started

First Step is to Choose a Detergent:
Note that every person has different water
and different washing machines. Choosing
a detergent that works best for you may be
a process of trial and error.

It is best to avoid the following ingredients:
Dyes
Perfumes
Enzymes
Fabric Enhancers
Optical Brighteners
Do not use fabric softeners- no sheets, no liquid, none in your detergent!

Here are some diaper safe detergent options:
Allen's Naturally Powder /Liquid
Country Save Powder/Liquid*
Planet Ultra Powder/Liquid
Planet 2X Ultra
Mountain Green Free & Clear
Mountain Green Free & Clear Baby
Envirorite
Maggie’s Soap Nuts
Penguin Sport Wash
Oxy Prime
Rockin’ Green
Tide Free**
Charlie’s Soap Powder/Liquid***
Some diaper manufacturers have their own brand of detergent- BumGenius and Fuzzibunz, maybe others?
Try Making Your Own!

*My favorite choice. Available in bulk from Amazon.com
**Contains enzymes, may cause rash or redness on baby.
***May cause rash on some babies.


Top vs. Front Loading Washing Machine, what’s the difference?
The amount of water is the biggest difference. Front loaders are designed to be super efficient when it comes to water use. Unfortunately this often means you have to do extra rinses on either end of the wash cycle because there is not enough water to correctly clean the diaper. I have heard of people buying a second washer (top loader) just to wash cloth diapers. This may not be an option for many people. In order to increase the amount of water used in a front loader, try adding a towel to your diaper load.

Advantages to a top-loading machine:
-The ability to soak diapers
-Uses plenty of water, so will not require multiple rinses.

Advantages of front-loading machines:
-Uses less water (a great feature for those who are seeking to be environmentally friendly), however you will probably need to add a rinse cycle or two on either end of the wash cycle.
-Uses less detergent (¼ to ½ that of a top-loader)
-Often has a sanitize cycle (Note: water this hot is really not necessary to clean diapers and can lead to destruction of materials in diapers with elastic and PUL if used frequently, however having water this hot is a great option for times when you need to get germs/bacteria off of diapers/clothes).
-Set the machine once and it does the entire load with all the rinses in one setting.


Stinky Diapers
I think that much of the stink problem that occurs over time on cloth diapers can be attributed to detergent residue. It is SO important to find a good detergent that works with your water type. I can’t offer much advice about this except to experiment until you find what works best for you.

The method that I found successful for removing the stink on my diapers was to strip them using Dawn dish detergent. The method for this is to simply add the dawn to your wash cycle (½ T for top loaders, ½ t. for front loaders). I did this about once every other week.

Microfiber is another stinky culprit. It is a super absorbent material, but has no antibacterial properties. It can hold stink miraculously well. While most pocket diapers can not hold up to bleach, inserts can. Try washing just your microfiber inserts with a capful of bleach. Yes, we can all agree that bleach can be yucky stuff- but in the winter when the sun is not an option bleach may be necessary.


Some other things to try:
A good bleach alternative (and general good thing to have in the home) is Grapefruit Seed Extract. This has natural antibacterial qualities. I add 8-10 drops of this to every diaper load.

Bac-Out - Used every few washes, it's the only way (other than bleach) to remove all bacteria from your wash.

And a few things to try if your diapers
are NOT microterry:
White Vinegar - Any laundry additive should be added for a reason. The Ph of vinegar is about 4 and the Ph of Ammonia (a main component or urine) is about 10. So adding vinegar should balance the Ph in the wash. It will make it harder for your detergent to work if you lower the Ph too much however. Just try 1/4 cup at first, you can always add more, but the smell of too much vinegar can be as hard to get out as too much ammonia. If you have got a detergent build up on your diapers you can use vinegar to help get rid of all of that detergent. Put some in a Downy balls so that it releases the vinegar in the rinse cycle. Not recommended with microterry products.

Baking Soda - Baking soda has a Ph of about 8, so adding it to your laundry will tend to keep the Ph level above neutral. That can be a great thing for killing germs. Baking soda also softens your water to allow your detergent to work better. You can soak your diapers and most knit covers in water and 1/4 cup baking soda in the washing machine overnight to help with cleaning. Not recommended with microterry products.

Some other tips:
Always check the diaper manufacturer’s website for washing instructions. Every diaper is different and some have very specific needs.

For any diaper that is made with PUL (the most popular way to waterproof a diaper) it is best to air dry this material. The intense heat of the dryer can quickly break down the material and leave you with a diaper that is no longer waterproof.


Diaper Rash Cream
Traditional diaper rash creams are not safe for cloth diapers. They will create a water repellent area where ever the crème has touched the cloth diaper (essentially ruining your diapers!).
If you need to use a traditional crème try using it with a cloth diaper liner. This is a thin piece of material that allows fluids to pass through to the diaper, but keeps out things like solids and crème.

Here are some cloth diaper safe creams:
Angel Baby Bottom Balm
California Baby
Grandma El’s
Magic Stick
Northern Essence Diaper Salve*
Northern Essence Better Butter Cream

*This is what we used- we loved it.

Some useful websites:
www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/basics.htm
www.diaperjungle.com/washing-cloth-diapers.html
www.greenmountaindiapers.com/washing-diapers.htm
www.jardinediapers.com/help.php?section=care

Upcoming Events!

March 25th, 7:00-9:00pm.
Cloth Diapering 101:
We’ll look at the pros and cons of the different cloth diaper systems.
I'll be talking about prefolds, flats, contours, fitteds, AI1, AI2, Pockets, and Hybrids. I'll have the kit from the diaper party with me so if you can't make the party on April 3rd, feel free to come on March 25th to see some of the cloth diapering options available.

April 3rd, 1:30-4:30pm.
Cloth Diaper Party:
Come look and touch a variety of cloth diapers and hear first hand stories from cloth diaper using moms. I'll have a purchasing option with free shipping for those interested. It's going to be tons of fun!

Have you Heard?
April 23rd is the Great Cloth Diaper Change. The biggest diaper change ever. The Great Cloth Diaper Change is going to set a Guinness World Record (TM) for the most cloth diapers changed simultaneously. I think Vikki from Sonrise Diaper Service (and now local retail store?!) will be hosting an event on the 23rd- not sure of the details.

Coming in May...
Cloth Diaper Exchange and Potluck:
Come and barter, trade and buy used cloth diapers from local cloth diaper using moms. Please bring the diapers you are done with and a dish to share.

More Info on Custom Made Cloth Wipes

Pamper your baby with my custom made cloth wipes. These wipes are designed to fit in a wipes warmer. They are hand sewn and made with love. Please see below details about fabric choices and prices.

Each cloth wipe is made with one side of printed flannel and one side of organic material. Options for the second side include:
Organic Bamboo Velour
Organic Hemp/Bamboo Terry
Organic Hemp Fleece
Organic Bamboo Fleece
Organic Cotton Sherpa

Cloth Wipes are available in two sizes, all wipes are turned and top-stiched to have better strength over time. See prices below:

Full Size: 7 ½”x7 ½”
$1.35 each, or one dozen for $15.00
+.05 per wipe for custom dying of the organic side

Half Size: 7 ½”x4”
$1.05 each, or one dozen for $12.00
+.05 per wipe for custom dying of the organic side

Dozen Mixed (6 full, 6 half size) $13.50

Below are options for the flannel side of the wipe:


(quantities appear in parentheses after each fabric name
and are based on 7 1/2" wipes)

1: Retro Squiggles (12)
2: Birds and Trees (12)
3: Birds and Rainbows (3)
4: Cats in a Row (3)
5: Bugs (5)
6: Cats with Names (5)
7: Dogs on Aqua (2)
8: Boats/Planes/Trucks (3)
9: Dots on White (3)
10: Dots on Aqua (4)
11: Fish on Green (2)
12: Animals on Yellow (12)
13: Numbers (7)
14: Monkeys on Blue (2)
15: Frogs (3)
16: Emergency Vehicles (4)
17: Elephants on Brown (3)
18: Frogs on Brown (6)
19: Owls on Black (4)
20: Monkeys on Red (3)
21: Dogs on Aqua (2)


Below are in-stock organic fabric options:
(quantities appear in parentheses and are for 7 1/2" wipes
unless otherwise noted)

Organic Bamboo Velour, Natural Color (14)
Organic Bamboo Velour, Yellow (4)
Organic Bamboo Velour, Lime Green (6)
Organic Bamboo Velour, Aqua (10)
Organic Hemp/Bamboo Looped Terry (28)
Organic Cotton Sherpa (3, half size)

I can also order other fabrics upon request.
I am also able to custom die the organic fabrics, the cost is $.05 per wipe. Please contact me for more details.

Thanks for looking!

Coming in 2011

How quickly time passes, I can't believe we are almost in 2011!
I wanted to give a quick update and share some things that I'll be working on in 2011.



I am officially now a member of the Real Diaper Association!
I am not a "circle leader", but am considering starting the process of becoming one sometime in 2011. In order to assess the need and desire for a real diaper circle in the Albany area I will be organizing monthly meetings for anyone interested in cloth diapering.

These meetings will be very informal. I will send an evite with a meeting place and time and anyone who is interested in attending can come. These meetings will simply be for people to discuss questions/concerns related to cloth diapering or just come and enjoy coffee and a snack with like-minded cloth diaper loving folks. There may be a specific topic for discussion at each meeting or not.

Also included in these meetings will be two diaper parties, one in the spring and one in the fall.

The first diaper party will take place in March or April.

On a separate but related note, I am now making cloth diaper wipes.
I am by no means a seamstress, but I do own a sewing machine and although I often get in arguments with it, I do know how to use it for simple things. My first batch of wipes I made as a gift for a friend who then commissioned me to make some for a family member.

I can’t say my work is excellent, but my husband and I agree that it’s not bad.
I’d love to keep working on wipes, so if you are interested in hearing more please send me a note.





I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and I look forward to continuing to serve the cloth diapering community in the coming year.

Stinky Diapers!

I have been getting SO many questions about stinky diapers. Although I have addressed this issue in pieces in parts of my blog- I wanted to take a minute to talk about this issue in more detail.

The best advice I have is to check out the diaper manufacturer’s website for washing instructions and tips. Every diaper is different and has different needs.

I think that much of the stink problem can be attributed to detergent residue. It is SO important to find a good detergent that works with your water type. I can’t offer much advice about this except to experiment until you find what works best for you. I found this article on the Country Save website particularly interesting.
http://countrysave.com/announce.php

Try stripping your diapers. I would recommend using Dawn dish detergent (the plain, original blue kind). Add ½ T. to your top loader or ½ t. to your front loader. Just include it in your washing cycle every week or every other week.

I have previously posted on this blog washing instructions for cloth diapers. If you are having problems with stink, try adding a cold rinse cycle before and after the wash. Rinsing diapers before the wash cycle will help to remove some of the pee before the diaper is washed with soap.

Microfiber is another stinky culprit. It is a super absorbent material, but has no antibacterial properties. It can hold stink miraculously well. While most pocket diapers can not hold up to bleach, inserts can. Try washing just your microfiber inserts with a capful of bleach. Yes, we can all agree that bleach can be yucky stuff- but in the winter when the sun is not an option bleach may be necessary.

I have had specific questions about stinky FuzziBunz. I found some helpful information in the FAQs section of their website.
http://www.fuzzibunz.com/faq.php

Also check out the BumGenius website:
http://www.bumgenius.com/help.php
They recommend using bleach once a month.

Also check out these articles from the Knickernappies Blog:
http://knickernappies.blogspot.com/2010/11/dont-just-accept-that-your-cloth.html
http://knickernappies.blogspot.com/2010/09/tips-for-dealing-with-stinkies-how-to.html

Hope you all will find this helpful!

Making it through the night!

I’ve had lots of questions about making a diaper last overnight without leaks. This was a huge struggle for us as we tested out the cloth diapering waters, but found success after some trial and error. I think some basic knowledge about fabrics will help you greatly.

First of all, think about absorbency. There are a number of different fabrics that are used in cloth diapers. The type of fabric you choose (or the combination of fabrics) can make a big difference in absorbency. Here are some examples of fabrics used in cloth diapering and some information regarding each:

Cotton: Super inexpensive, although it offers the least amount of absorbency. While cotton will absorb liquid, a basic cotton (like a prefold) is not quick to absorb and will sometimes lead to leaks. If you choose cotton, try material like flannel or terry-cloth as a topping to help “catch” the liquid right away. Remember that this fabric needs to be washed several times in hot water before use to maximize absorbency.

Types of fabric weaves-
• Jersey: a basic cotton knit fabric that has a flat surface.
• Terry-Cloth: a looped pile fabric that is either woven or knitted. Very absorbent and used for towels, etc. French terry cloth is looped on one side and sheared pile on the other.
• Sherpa: is made from a heavy knit terry that is napped, tumbled, and tip-sheared, resulting in a pebble-like, fleecey texture.
• Fleece: a pile or napped fabric with a deep, soft, woolly-style surface.
• Flannel: is plain or twill weave with a slight nap on one or both sides.

Microfiber: More expensive than cotton, but less expensive than other materials. Microfiber is very absorbent and because of it’s terry like surface it catches liquid quickly. This is a good middle of the road option and works great in combination with other materials. Beware that microfiber can be bulky on baby. A note to those looking to save money: we purchased a package of microfiber car washing cloths at Target and used them in Nora’s diapers. They were super cheap and held up well. Now that Nora is out of diapers we use the cloths for cleaning and dusting : )

Hemp: This is a great diaper material- but will not work on its own. Hemp is one of the most absorbent fabrics and multiple layers can be used without added bulk. Because not all types are quick absorbing (terry-cloth and fleece will absorb quickly, jersey will not), you will need to put a quick absorbing material on top of the hemp- ex. microfiber insert on top, hemp doubler below. One of the greatest features of hemp is that has antibacterial properties. I swear by hemp doublers for getting through the night. They can be pricy, but you will only need a few.

Bamboo: This is the “other” super-absorbent material. It is more absorbent than cotton and absorbs quickly like microfiber. While bamboo once seemed like an eco-friendly, antibacterial option the FTC is now claiming that because of the way it is processed it is no longer eco-friendly, antibacterial or biodegradable (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/08/bamboo.shtm).

Hopefully this information about types of fabrics and absorbency will help you make the right choices for overnight.

In addition to these things, also think about the cover you are using- does it fit correctly? Is the insert placed correctly inside the cover? Also note that if your diapers have built up residues on them they may have decreased absorbency. See my section about washing diapers for some info on stripping diapers.

The nighttime system that worked for us was a sized pocket diaper with a hemp doubler, microfiber insert on top, hemp doubler below. We very rarely had problems.

I have also heard great things about wool covers. These often work great for nighttime because the cover literally wraps baby’s legs in wool- it’s hard to get liquid out of that tight a closure!

I’m also including two links below, one is about detergent residue and the other is about stinky diapers. Enjoy!!
http://countrysave.com/announce.php
http://knickernappies.blogspot.com/2010/11/dont-just-accept-that-your-cloth.html

We recently hosted a cloth diaper party at our house. Check out all those diapers!