Diapers Q&A

Washing cloth diapers for the first time- anything special I need to do? And then thereafter?

I bought special detergent (7th generation) w/o additives because I heard that is best for the diapers. How should I wash them the first time to prepare them to be used? I heard I should wash them to maximize their ability to absorb. And how should I wash them each time they are soiled? ANything different or always the same way? Thanks so much! I am using all in one cloth diapers, by the way.

Public Comments

1. What brand of diapers are you using? Check their website to see what they recommend. I used Fuzzi Bunz & Bum Genius diapers. I always washed before the first use. A few times actually. Some with detergent other times w/o. I always washed my diapers the same way each time. Just keep them in a dry pail & on wash day throw them in. Wash with 1/4 of the normal detergent (I use a bit less because I noticed a BAD detergent build up fairly quickly. Buildup makes them not absorb and smells horribly of ammonia when urine hits the diaper. You run hot washes w/o detergent until there are no more bubbles in the rinse cycle if this happens!) I never rinsed my diapers before putting them in the wash. I would only knock of "solids" when my daughter started eating normal food. Before then the poop just rinses off the same as pee. I do add a second rinse cycle afterwards now to prevent buildup. I also line dry mine outside, they smell so nice :) But will throw them in the dryer for a few minutes when they are almost dry for a nice "fluff" Good luck!
2. go to sunshinediapers.com and she has really good instructions!
3. just wash them before use. Always use a liitle less detergent than recommended until you know how your baby's skin will react to it.
4. I didn't end up using cloth but if you put 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup of vinegar (white, cider, whatever) in the rinse (fabric softener dispenser) it will remove soap residue, kill yeast, soften, and deodorize. I do this for all my laundry. Also never use fabric softener or I think even the dryer sheets. You can get permanent drier sheets/balls that are supposed to reduce static, I think those are safe. You should join some of the cloth diaper groups on yahoo groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=cloth+diaper
5. It would be best to go to the manufacturer's website and read their directions for their own diapers, just to make sure.
6. I use the recommendations on this website http://www.diapersafari.com/diaperinfo/washandcare/ It says to wash your cloth diapers 1 to 5 times when they are brand new. This will get rid of manufacturing residue and fluff up the diapers to make them more absorbent. I think I did it 3 or 4 times. Don't put more than a couple dozen diapers in at once because the friction will cause them to pill. Always fasten any velcro closed before you wash your covers. To wash dirty diapers, I do the following: 1) cold wash-cold rinse with 1/2 cup of baking soda, no detergent 2) hot wash-cold rinse with teeny bit of detergent and my downy ball with white vinegar, follow with extra rinse 3) check to see if any soap residue remains in diapers. If so, do another rinse. 4) Switch diapers to the dryer, pulling out any that still have spots so I can soak them in oxyclean before the next washing time. good luck!