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Cloth
Diaper Care
First of all, don’t worry if you forget to do some of these things some
of the time. It's really OK and your diapers will probably be
fine. I only wished someone had written all this down for
me with our first baby! Second, this might seem like a lot of
information to process- but in practice, it only takes a few minutes to
actually do what we've outlined in such detail here. Feel free to
e-mail us with additional questions...We now proudly sell Charlie's Soap, which
consistently receives excellent customer feedback for clean rinsing and being gentle to
the most sensitive baby's skin. As a bonus, it is extremely economical and eco-friendly.
Setting up your dry pail:
(For newborns, up until beginning solids), a dry pail is ok from
beginning- it is much less work. For NB poopy dipes, read
on.
•Place large mesh bag in pail, cinch tight around edge of pail to hold
in
place. Place top on pail.
•Throw in wet cloth dipes, wipes, everything, as they are used.
• For poopy dipes (newborn/breastfed), fill a small (quart size)
tupperware halfway with water, keep in a safe place where curious
toddlers won’t get into it- use the lid, and place under the sink in
childlocked cupboard or in an inaccessible bathroom closet. This is the
only “wet pail” you need. Formula-fed babies, see section on
flushies below.
•When ready to wash, (every three days or when out of dipes) open
tupperware container, (can drain water in the toilet or right into
washer) start them on a spin/rinse cycle, then add the mesh bag
containing all remaining wet diapers, and Bio-kleen detergent, and
start a fresh hot wash . Dump pail water down toilet. Rinse
bucket/pail out, (in shower is easiest) use Dr. Bronner’s peppermint
soap to freshen.
•Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should
you use chlorine bleach, fabric
softeners, or dryer sheets. They will drastically reduce the
useable life of your diapers by breaking down the natural fibers, and reducing absorbency. They
also increase the flammability of all garments- not a good choice
for your family's clothing either. Cloth diaper warranties are
void if diapers have been laundered with these substances. Be
kind to your baby and gentle on the earth, please, don't use them!
Washing Diaper Covers:
•If there are any poopy stains treat with Bac-out, Everyday Stain
Remover (available at Fred Meyer’s in the Natural Foods section) or
similar
product before throwing in washer.
•Wash in machine in warm water with other laundry, (lights not darks)
regular Bio-kleen laundry powder. HANG dry for durability.
•Turn newborn covers inside out and close velcro before washing if you
remember. (helps velcro last). Bummis cotton or Bummis original
have this umbilical stump fold-down feature.
•Wash wool covers every few
weeks or when soiled in tepid water with
Eucalan. Both cold and hot water will shock the wool fibers
and cause shrinkage. Pat excess moisture out by placing cover in
a towel and patting it. Air dry away from high heat and sun
(will cause shrinkage). Sunning is wonderful for freshening wool
as long as the cover is completely dry (otherwise, shrinkage can
occur). with proper care, wool covers last a long,long time and
are well worth their cost. If necessary, relanolinize wool covers
with lanolin (lansinoh is fine) every few months to restore wool fibers
and recover waterproof properties.
Diaper Notes:
•Close velcro tabs to themselves(specially designed for this) before
putting in pail, since it helps velcro to last longer.
•When washing newborn diapers, you can fill washer and soak overnight,
(or even for 20 min. or not at all if in a hurry) then wash in warm/hot
water with Bio-kleen and white vinegar in the rinse.
•Hanging dipes in sun helps with yellow shadow (from big poops), saves
electricity of course. You can fluff the diapers first or after
for increased softness.
•If diapers become too stiff after hanging, in next wash reduce amount
of Bio-kleen detergent by about 1/3 and substitute about a tablespoon
of Dr. Bronner's castile (peppermint is nice) soap.
Flushable Liners:
•Mostly useful for after breastfed baby starts solids, or for formula
fed babies. Solely breastfed babies don't need liners, as stool is easy
for washing machine to clean thoroughly.
•Flushable liners are great- when you go out keep a big sturdy ziploc
bag or one of our bummis nylon waterproof bags in the diaper bag for
keeping wet dipes. Simply wipe baby's bottom with clean part of liner,
flush liner, diaper goes in the bag! BUT, when you are
breastfeeding exclusively (no solids, formula, etc.) remember
everything poopy goes in tiny “wet pail” (quart sized tupperware)—
wipes, dipes when you get home.
•With dry pail (before solids) flushies can be washed and reused if
simply wet, (throw in pail with wet diaper) OR if poop is at the log
stage (can be rolled off neatly into toilet, leaving little/no evidence
on the liner). Just throw liners in (dry)pail along with dipe,
wash altogether, pluck out to hang if possible if you put diapers in
the dryer.
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