For My Newest Cloth Diapering Friend

I love this link for new-to-cloth-diapering tips and answers to frequently asked questions.

My wash routine:

If diaper is wet, toss in dry pail or wet bag. If diaper is poopy, plop the poop in the potty and get off as much as you can using toilet paper or a sprayer.

Once you have a full load, complete the following steps.

Cold pre-rinse with 1/2 cup baking soda to keep the stinkies at bay.
Hot wash with 1/4 - 1/2 the recommended detergent amount.
*Some babies get by just fine with the detergent you use on your clothes.
*If not, click here for acceptable detergents and their pros and cons.
Second hot wash.
*I do two hot washes because Kellie has such sensitive skin. This was the solution to red-bum for us. Not all cloth diapering familes need two hot washes. Feel free to tweak my routine to your lifestyle and system set-up.
Extra rinse.
Dry on low heat or line-dry.
*If line-drying causes your diapers to feel a little stiff, toss them in the dryer for a fluff cycle.
*I highly recommend dryer balls. They cut down on drying time and you can use it in place of dryer sheets for your regular laundry.


If rashes are an issue, consider stripping your diapers of any detergent buildup.

To strip, complete the following steps:
Run a hot wash with no detergent.
Check for soap bubbles in the agitation cycle.
If there are bubbles, continue to run hot washes until the water is clear of bubbles.
*Buildup is the biggest culprit of rashes and leaks.