3 Easy Steps To Wash Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers are a green alternative to disposable diapers, and in this month’s article we show you how. Keep reading for just three easy steps to caring for these diapers so that they last you a long time, and are properly sanitized before the next use.
Step 1: Pre-wash the Cloth Diapers
The great news is, you don’t have to do a load of wash every time you make a change. Instead, thoroughly rinse the diaper in the toilet until only a stain is left. Rinse and flush multiple times if needed. You want to get all of the poop out. Have a diaper pail handy and lined with a leakproof bag. Toss the wet diaper into the pail. We recommend doing a load on a daily basis to prevent mold, mildew and bacteria from growing.
Step 2: How To Wash and Sanitize Cloth Diapers
When wash time arrives, empty the pail into the washer, and toss the bag away. Do a cold rinse on your diapers, then wash on the hottest wash possible (Do not use cold water washes, heat helps to kill bacteria). If possible do 2 rinses after the wash cycle. There are so many amazing detergents and sanitizers out there that you may not know where to start. However, for baby diapers you may want to use something more gentle. We recommend something like Tide Free & Clear, Arm & Hammer Baby or Dreft. Afterall, you want gentle but dependable.
Step 3: The Cloth Diaper Drying Process
Tossing the diapers into a dryer on high heat would definitely help kill germs, but because you want the diapers to last a long time, we don’t recommend this. Line drying out in the sunshine is your best option for this process. If sunshine and clotheslines aren’t available, a clothesline in the shower stall would be a good place to hang them up to dry.
Did you know? A newborn baby can use approximately 8-12 diapers a day? Think about that in the landfill, and then applaud yourself for doing this one, big, thing for the environment.
