The Washing Question

The #1 question I get when someone is looking into using cloth diapers is "How do you clean them?" (followed quickly by, "But what about poop in my washing machine??") Unfortunately, the answer to the first question is "It depends!" What are the factors a washing routine depends on?

• Your washing machine - A high-efficiency washer will use less soap than a conventional washer with an agitator. It will also use less water, so may require more rinses.
• Your water - Hard water and soft water can effect how soap and soil rinses out of fabrics. Special detergent formulas have been created to mitigate some of these differences- check out Rockin' Green Hard Rock for hard water and Soft Rock for soft water or sensitive skin.
• Your detergent - Some detergents are not appropriate for washing diapers- see this (very thorough) list for an idea of where your detergent stands. Specially-formulated cloth diaper detergent like Rockin' Green is the easiest solution, but not the only way to wash your diapers. When using conventional detergent, only 1/4 of the recommended amount should be used, but if using a specially-formulated cloth diaper detergent, package directions should be followed.
• Your diapers - Different materials are easier to clean than others. Prefolds can take a beating, be washed in very hot water, are easy to strip if needed, and are generally the easiest to care for. Some families report microfiber is hard to clean, and tends to hold onto odors until you've figured out the right washing routine for your water & washing machine. The elastic and PUL used to make the diapers and covers is durable, but doesn't hold up to constant bleaching or other really harsh chemicals or hot drying. Unbleached prefolds & bamboo need to be washed up to 10 times before they reach full absorbency. Most wool covers have to be hand-washed.

The basic routine that we follow is this, in our top-loading HE washer, with mostly prefolds & covers: Rinse the diapers, using the "Rinse and Spin" cycle without the "Spin". Wash with 1/4 the recommended detergent amount on the 'Heavy Duty' cycle, selecting the options for 'Prewash' and 'Extra Rinse'. When that's done, throw the prefolds & inserts in the dryer, and hang the covers & pocket diaper shells to dry.

* As for "poop in the washing machine"- even if you don't use cloth diapers, newborn poop will end up in your washing machine! (and on your pants, and on your crib sheets, and on countless onesies... babies are surprisingly messy!) Thankfully, breastfed baby poop washes out of diapers with no problem. Easy! When solids are introduced, the poop needs to go in the toilet, and a diaper sprayer is a very handy tool for that. Believe it or not, poop is really not that big of a deal.

But don't take my word for it! Check out the manufacturer sites: Flip and Econobum official recommendations, and Bummis' simple instructions and handy detergent list.