Mention cloth diapers to some people, and they will grimace in disgust. For them, it's not the perceived hassle of using a two-piece diaper system, nor the initial financial outlay that puts them off. It's the thought of all that washing. They immediately think of the way their mothers and grandmothers used to wash cloth diapers. They imagine dirty diapers soaking in a pail of stinking water. And because washing machines are still relatively new, they may even have memories of their own parents or grandparents having to wash dirty diapers by hand. No wonder the initial reaction is one of revulsion.
Today, though, this image couldn't be further from the truth. For a start, if you've got a washing machine, the whole laundering routine becomes much more straightforward. You barely need to handle the used cloth diapers, never mind actually hand-wash them. If you use a launderette, or pay for a cloth diaper-washing service, using cloth diapers is still worth the extra effort. But washing your cloth diapers at home really isn't as difficult as it may at first seem. Many parents start off full of doubt, but quickly discover that, with a washing machine and a vague routine, washing cloth diapers is really quite straightforward. You'll soon wonder what all the fuss was about.
There are two basic ways to approach washing cloth diapers.
- Dry pailing (no pre-soaking)
- Wet pailing (soaking).
For both, you need a pail with a lid. Buy a roomy mesh to line the inside of the pail. If you can't get hold of a mesh, use an old pillowcase instead.
Wet pail method
This is a bit more of a hassle, but it prolongs the life of your diapers and so may save you money in the long run, especially if you hope to have another baby. If you leave used diapers too long, urine will begin to damage the fabric. So pre-soaking helps them last longer, particularly if you're only washing every few days, rather than every day. Ideally, you should drain the water out daily, and fill it up again with fresh water. Don't soak for more than three days, or your diapers will start to go mouldy.
Fill the pail with water.
Flush or throw away any pooey liners (depending on whether they are flushable or disposable). If the liner hasn't got any poo on it, you can wash and re-use it several times before it disintegrates. Keep your wraps separate. Soaking wraps in water can gradually affect the waterproofing and elastic on wraps. You can add a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), a slosh of vinegar, or a few drops of tea-tree essential oil to the soaking water. This helps eliminate odours.
When it's time to put on a wash, tip out the water. Leave the diapers in the mesh. The easiest way to do this is let the full mesh drain for a bit in the bath.
Take the mesh to the washing machine, loosen the opening and shove the whole lot in.
Wash at 40 degrees. The diapers will tumble out of the mesh during the wash.
Dry pail method
Dry-pailing is easier and more popular. If you're using cloth diapers full-time or nearly full-time, you'll probably be doing a diaper wash every 1-2 days. In that case, dry pailing is fine. Don't put any water in the pail.
Ideally (if you can be bothered) rinse the diapers in cold water first. Cold water stops the stains from setting.
To help eliminate odours, you can sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) on the bottom of the pail, or put a few drops of essential oil (eg tea-tree) on a cloth and spread this over the top of the pail, under the lid.
Drop the diapers directly into the pail.
Carry the mesh to the washing machine, loosen the opening and wash as above.
So, if you're new to cloth diapering, try both methods - dry pailing and wet pailing - and see which one works best for you.
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