Cloth Diaper Wear & Care

Unbleached cotton may require 6-8 hot cycle washes to strip away the raw cotton oils to prepare it for maximum absorbency. We have already washed your diapers twice, which explains the pre-shrinking. We recommend washing them at least 4 more times before using. You will find that they will only get more absorbent as you use and wash them.

Wash your cloth diapers (along with your diaper covers and cloth wipes) in a separate load as your regular laundry.
Keep things simple with a regular HOT wash cycle with detergent and if possible add an extra rinse cycle at the end to reduce any soap residue.
15-25 diapers are recommended per load to be energy efficient yet avoid overcrowding.

Use a fragrance-free, enzyme-free detergent specifically formulated for cloth diapers. Do not use soap or fabric softeners, as they may not thoroughly clean your diapers or may leave a residue, which can reduce absorbency.
Do not use chlorine-based bleach as it degrades cotton fibers and can irritate your baby’s skin.

You’ll settle in to a regular wash schedule, which will likely be every 2-3 days to minimize odors.
Drying Use high heat to dry your cloth diapers (You can toss in a dry towel to shorten the drying time!).
Hang dry your diaper covers to extend their lifespan. Drying in direct sunlight or line-drying will save energy and can help to sterilize cloth diapers.

Shake excess waste into the toilet. Our favorite mess-free and easy solution for solid waste is to use a flushable diaper liner with every diaper used. We recommend using GroVia Bioliners as they are easy to flush with solids and can even be tossed in the pail with cloth diapers when wet, saving you an extra trip to the toilet or waste bin. These liners will not fall apart in the wash and are easy to separate for disposal once diapers have cycled through the dryer, similar to a fabric softener sheet.

Stains happen. We're dealing with baby poo here.
To help reduce stains from the start, add a cool pre-rinse cycle (without detergent) when possible just before your regular washing routine.
To help remove stains, place washed diapers (wet or dry) in direct sunlight, as UV light is a powerful disinfectant and works wonders to lift stains.
For extra-stubborn stains, saturate the stains with lemon juice before laying your cloth diapers in direct sunlight.

Over time all cloth diapers can build up a residue caused by detergent, oils or soap, resulting in smelly, rough, and/or less-absorbent diapers. Stripping eliminates built-up residue, prevents stains from setting in and works as a natural fabric softener.
To strip your cloth diapers, after washing, we recommend using ½ cup of distilled white vinegar in an extra rinse cycle.