CLEANING AREAS
INGREDIENTS
How to Soak and Wash Cloth Diapers
If you want to wash your diapers a bit less often and have enough to last, you can use a wet soak method. It's a bit better, I think, at preventing stains since the diapers are soaking the whole time.
Wet Soak
Fill a diaper pail 1/2 full of cold water, then add 1/4 cup vinegar or baking soda. Dump the "contents" of the diaper in the toilet and put the diaper into your diaper pail. You can wash the diapers every 3-4 days. Dump the contents of your diaper pail into your washing machine and spin the excess water out of your diapers, then wash as normal.
Dry Pail
Sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of your pail to help prevent odors. Dump the "contents" of the diaper in the toilet and put the diaper into your diaper pail. Do the wash every 2 days or so. Before washing, rinse the diapers in cold water to help prevent stains, then wash as normal.
Washing Your Diapers
Don't use bleach or fabric softeners on your diapers. Bleach will eventually destroy them and fabric softener will make them less absorbent.
Many babies are sensitive to dyes and additives so making your own laundry soap lets you control exactly what goes into the wash.
Periodically add 1/2 cup vinegar to your rinse cycle to help sanitize the diapers.
Drying Your Diapers
Drying your diapers in the sun will help get rid of stains. Also, drying them over grass helps keep whites whiter. You can lay them right on the grass. They can be a bit stiff after drying outside. If that bothers you or the baby, you can throw them in the dryer for 5 or 10 minutes to soften them up.
