Comments on: Part 4: Dr. Strangepoop: Washing Reusable Diapers

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 20:22:26 +0000

I think it’s a great little primer, especially for someone who’s never been exposed to the ‘new’ cloth diapering world. :)

By: AJ

AJ — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 16:42:08 +0000

Good tips Amy, thanks. I should clarify that we wash the diapers with regular detergent. The vinegar is to deactivate any ammonia from the pee and thwart odor.

By all means, anyone considering cloth diapers should not use me as a blueprint. Start at diaperpin.com.

http://www.diaperpin.com/

When we began diapering we didn't know what was involved in day-to-day operations. I wrote this four-part rundown as merely a glimpse into the logistics.

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 16:20:42 +0000

Just FYI for anyone new to cloth diapers reading this - vinegar isn't always good. What you add to your wash will depend on the type of washing machine (front-loader vs top laoding) and the type of water you have (soft water/hard water/well water/etc).

A lot of the cloth diaper folks I know use regular old Tide or Era to wash their diapers, they just use MUCH less (like 1/4 of what is recommended.) If you have softer water, like we do, a squirt or two of Dawn dish soap works beautifully. :)

Also, all cloth diapers that have PUL should be dried on HOT at least every couple of times. It helps keep the PUL in good, water-proofed shape. If you only every line-dry or dry your PUL on low, you may have leaking problems eventually. (PUL was designed to be exposed to high head on a regular basis for sterilization in the medical industry, so I promise your dryer won't ruin them!)

Also, drying the dipes and inserts in the sun and naturally bleach out any stains. :)