How to Care for Cloth Diapers

Step by step:
1. Soil a diaper
2. Dump solids into toilet. If it won’t fall off, your washing machine will remove it so don’t worry about soaking
3. Have a bucket ready. You may either put diapers into a dry pail, or if it will be a while before your next washing (4-5 days), fill bucket with cold water and dump 1 cup of white vinegar in as well.
4. Attach velcro on diaper or if using snaps, just put it right into bucket
5. When bucket is full, dump contents into washing machine. If using ‘wet’ method, run a spin cycle to rid yucky water. 7. Dry in the dryer on regular heat or hang dry.

NEVER NEVER:
NEVER use bleach. It breaks down the fibers in the thread which can cause your diapers to fall apart.
Bleach also ruins the waterproof fabric.
NEVER use commercial softeners. It will cause less absorbency as it will ‘gum’ up the diaper. Use vinegar as a softener alternative!

FAQ
Q: Do I need a washing machine at home to use cloth
A: Absolutely not! Go to the laundry mat….no problem!

Q: Can I use bleach for my soakers?
A: That is up to you. Many parents have issues with putting chemicals against babies skin. Just make sure that you do NOT use bleach on the diapers.

Q: What are the biggest benefits from using cloth?
A: Obviously Money! It costs anywhere between $2500-$4000 to use disposables PER CHILD!
If you buy a dozen-2 dozen diapers and use them for 2-3 kids…you can save over $11,000!
There's also the fact that you are not putting harmful chemicals against your baby’s skin and you are not filling our land fills with nasty diapers that take centuries to break down….which end up in drinking water and can cause harmful diseases…etc. These are just to name a few. My husband’s FAVORITE reason for cloth diapering: no more stinky trash cans!

Try making your own cloth diapers using our cloth diaper pattern.

Elizabeth Witt is a proud mommy of three beautiful children and also the owner of WahmClassifieds.com