First - apologies for not writing in over two weeks. Things have been busy. As promised, we are going to post wash and care instructions for cloth diapers. These instructions are authored by Melissa's Dad, Carmen Lloyd and edited by the diaper maker herself (Melissa's Mom), Sue Lloyd. If you have any questions, please leave a comment and we'll get you some answers from the experts!!! Also...if you are interested in cloth diapers, let us know as the diaper factory at the Lloyd household is open for business!!!
Also - we know a few of the blog followers already use cloth diapers. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please leave a comment! Thanks!
Diaper care and washing
Before you use –
1. Pocket diapers, covers, inserts and items made from micro-terry or bamboo need a quick wash. Warm or hot water with detergent (see below for recommended detergents).
2. Organic/unbleached cotton and hemp products require several washes before they will be absorbent. 5-6 hot water washes (or more). If possible, hot water for wash and warm water for rinse.
Ongoing maintenance –
1. 10-12 diapers per wash
2. 1 short cycle cold water wash with detergent (you can also use 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda in place of detergent to neutralize acid and odors). Add 2 gallons of water with a bucket after it fills.
3. 1 long/heavy duty cycle hot water wash with detergent. Add 2 gallons of water with a bucket after it fills.
4. 1 additional rinse (warm water rinse if you have that option). You can also use ¼ cup vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser to break down residue, restore ph, reduce lint and eliminate static cling.
Detergents – Use ¼ recommended amount for front loaders, ½ for top loaders
1. Diaper friendly – “Charlie’s soap”, “Allen’s Naturally”, “Vaska” (available on-line at diapershops.com) or “Country save” or “Planet”.
2. Not recommended – free & clear detergents, baby detergents, any detergent with fabric softeners, whiteners/brighteners, enzymes, fragrances and/or bleach.
Periodic maintenance –
1. Stripping – if diapers are leaking/repelling often or you have smells when they become wet, then it is time for a stripping with several (4-6) hot water washes (no detergent) to get rid of residues. You may consider adding ¼ cup of vinegar to the first cycle or two (optional).
2. Or, use “RLR” laundry treatment once or twice a month. Wash on hot, then wash 2 or 3 times more on hot with no soap or anything.
3. Or, use a couple of tablespoons of dawn dish soap in the diapers once or twice a month, then wash 2 more times on hot without soap
Do you have hard water ?
Use a water softener (ex calgon), never a fabric softener.
Calgon can also be used to strip diapers by washing clean diapers 3-4 times with hot water and Calgon (no detergent).
How about bowel movements ?
The best recommendation is to use “rice paper flushable-biodegradable liners” – remove the soiled liner and flush or throw in trash.
You can also use a “diaper sprayer” to remove the solids right into the toilet.
How about pre-soaking ?
If you wash often enough, you should not need to pre-soak. However, if you go long on washings, pre-soaking will reduce the amount of staining. To do so, fill diaper pail with water and if especially soiled, add a small amount of baking soda to the pail
How should I dry the diapers ?
Dry on warm to hot cycle - make sure to close the loop & hook (velcro) closures. To further shorten drying time, a dry towel can be thrown in to draw moisture.
Also - we know a few of the blog followers already use cloth diapers. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please leave a comment! Thanks!
Diaper care and washing
Before you use –
1. Pocket diapers, covers, inserts and items made from micro-terry or bamboo need a quick wash. Warm or hot water with detergent (see below for recommended detergents).
2. Organic/unbleached cotton and hemp products require several washes before they will be absorbent. 5-6 hot water washes (or more). If possible, hot water for wash and warm water for rinse.
Ongoing maintenance –
1. 10-12 diapers per wash
2. 1 short cycle cold water wash with detergent (you can also use 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda in place of detergent to neutralize acid and odors). Add 2 gallons of water with a bucket after it fills.
3. 1 long/heavy duty cycle hot water wash with detergent. Add 2 gallons of water with a bucket after it fills.
4. 1 additional rinse (warm water rinse if you have that option). You can also use ¼ cup vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser to break down residue, restore ph, reduce lint and eliminate static cling.
Detergents – Use ¼ recommended amount for front loaders, ½ for top loaders
1. Diaper friendly – “Charlie’s soap”, “Allen’s Naturally”, “Vaska” (available on-line at diapershops.com) or “Country save” or “Planet”.
2. Not recommended – free & clear detergents, baby detergents, any detergent with fabric softeners, whiteners/brighteners, enzymes, fragrances and/or bleach.
Periodic maintenance –
1. Stripping – if diapers are leaking/repelling often or you have smells when they become wet, then it is time for a stripping with several (4-6) hot water washes (no detergent) to get rid of residues. You may consider adding ¼ cup of vinegar to the first cycle or two (optional).
2. Or, use “RLR” laundry treatment once or twice a month. Wash on hot, then wash 2 or 3 times more on hot with no soap or anything.
3. Or, use a couple of tablespoons of dawn dish soap in the diapers once or twice a month, then wash 2 more times on hot without soap
Do you have hard water ?
Use a water softener (ex calgon), never a fabric softener.
Calgon can also be used to strip diapers by washing clean diapers 3-4 times with hot water and Calgon (no detergent).
How about bowel movements ?
The best recommendation is to use “rice paper flushable-biodegradable liners” – remove the soiled liner and flush or throw in trash.
You can also use a “diaper sprayer” to remove the solids right into the toilet.
How about pre-soaking ?
If you wash often enough, you should not need to pre-soak. However, if you go long on washings, pre-soaking will reduce the amount of staining. To do so, fill diaper pail with water and if especially soiled, add a small amount of baking soda to the pail
How should I dry the diapers ?
Dry on warm to hot cycle - make sure to close the loop & hook (velcro) closures. To further shorten drying time, a dry towel can be thrown in to draw moisture.
Looks pretty good except the 10-12 diapers per wash! NOT FOR ME! I do a whole load of around 30 every time I wash (every 3 days) If I did 10-12 I'd be washing and wasting a lot of water every single day. I have a normal top loading washer, but this system has worked well for 7 months! I also don't use a bucket to add water. If I were only doing 10-12 I just don't see why anyone would need to do this? I also don't dry on hot, I dry on Medium so my printed diapers don't get wrecked. Oh, and once you get the routine down that works for you (to each her own!) write it on a post-it and stick it to the top of the washer that way Dad can do it, or anyone else should you need help!
ReplyDeleteI also found flushable liners to be a joke. Why put baby in such nice squishy cloth, only to put paper next to his skin. I used to only use them if I had to use diaper cream (maybe it should be added not to use any zinc creams with cloth or they will ruin your dipes!) But, instead I recycled an old velour shirt into inserts that we only use with cream!
So Gma Lloyd is now selling the creations? How fun!! So fun! Great post Melissa!