Diapers Q&A

what is the best way to sanitize cloth diapers?

I need to know how sanitize cloth diapers with out using bleach. Is Peroxide the best way, and if it is, then how much should I use?

Public Comments

1. Soak the cloth diapers in washing powder in a bucket. Once you soak them for a while put them in the washing machine. You don't need all that strong chemical stuff on your babies cloth diapers. Your baby might be allergic to it. As long as there clean that is all that matters.
2. i asked my mom , since she had me in clothe diapers , and she said she bleached them in the washer . then after the cycle went threw she would them again in that bay detergent . i have heard of mother using peroxide , about half a bottle to fullload . she said it owrkd for her . good luck
3. Just washing the diapers as usual is enough, they are far more sanitary than disposable diapers which have never been sanitized. If your diapers can tolerate vinegar than that will destroy and bacteria. Tea tree oil will do the same. But the absolute best way is to line dry the diapers in the sun. The sun is a natural bleech and will not only sanitize but whiten.
4. I use Nature Clean, an oxygen-based bleach that the cloth diaper company I use recommended (environmetnally friendly and gentle on baby's skin). When I am ready to wash, I rinse them in cold water then wash in hot water cold rinse.The instructions on my diaper package say that using half the amount of recommended soap is better, more doesn't necessarily mean they will be any cleaner. Edit - the nature clean oxygen bleach isn't to sanitize them, but will help prevent/remove stains
5. Why are you going to sanitize them? there's no point if you just put the in your washer. I have never sanitized my sons AIO cloth diapers there's no real reason to. They are clean after a being in a washing machine when you use the HOT water, cause the HOT water kills the bacteria. I think your over thinking this way too much. I have used cloth diapers on my son since he was a month old and nothing has happened, he has NEVER gotten sick so I don't think is necessary to sanitize besides some germs help to build up your baby's immunity so they don't get sick.
6. I've never heard of using peroxide on diapers. You might want to check the manufacturer's website about that. We've been using cloth diapers for two years. Our washing routine is to do a cold rinse, wash in hot water using an approved detergent like Allen's Naturally (I worry about germs, so I turned our water heater up very high and have governors on our bath tubs so we don't have to worry about the kids getting scalded during baths and showers) and do an extra rinse. I let the sun bleach them. Sometimes, I used washing soda (or baking soda) in the wash and vinegar in the rinse. I've read conflicting advice on enzyme cleaners like Oxy-clean. Some say it's fine while other say it can irritate baby's skin. I've used it to get out tough stains, but I added a third rinse just in case.