If you don’t plan to use a diaper service, keep these essentials on hand to make laundering easier:
a diaper pail with a coverboraxbaking sodaoxygen bleachwhite distilled vinegar
If you don’t already do laundry every day, it is best to wash diapers at least every other day. If you want to store diapers for a time in anticipation of another baby, be sure they are clean and packed away properly. Look for a diaper pail that both seals well to contain odor and is easy to use with one hand while you hold onto baby! Fill the diaper pail about half full with warm water and 1/2 cup of borax per gallon of water. The borax, a natural mineral, will help remove stains and deodorize the fabric. Some parents choose to add 1/4 cup chlorine bleach per gallon of water to the pail as well. The bleach will help remove stains and control odor. However, this concentration of chlorine bleach will not completely disinfect the diapers by killing all bacteria. If you choose to add chlorine bleach, select a non-scented variety to avoid any possible skin irritation from the fragrance. When it is time to wash the diapers, always wash diapers separately from other laundry using the correct laundry cycle. Use hot water and a gentle detergent like Arm & Hammer Baby. You can opt for a detergent labeled specifically for baby or one that is simply dye and fragrance free. Following the instructions for your washer, add the detergent to the washer drum or dispenser. Pour the contents of the diaper pail in the washer and then select the hot water cycle. Do not overcrowd the washer - a couple of dozen diapers is the maximum you should try to launder at once. Do not use commercial fabric softeners on cloth diapers because they reduce the absorbency of the fabric. Adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to the wash cycle will help soften the fabric if needed. Simply lay or hang wet diapers in sunlight. Any UV exposure will help to lighten the stains, whether indoors or outdoors, in bright sun or under cloud cover. However, the stronger and more direct the sunlight, the better the results. Fifteen to twenty minutes will make a big difference and can significantly lighten stains or get rid of them. The sun works to lighten stains on all white garments - even old stains. Eco-friendly and free, it’s worth a try! If you are drying diapers in a clothes dryer, do not use a dryer sheet. Set aside those diapers that have excessive stains or are very dingy. An oxygen-based bleach will remove the stains and is still gentle on baby’s skin. Follow the package directions as to how much oxygen bleach to use per gallon of warm water water. Completely submerge the stained diapers and allow them soak in the solution for at least eight hours. Check the stains. If they are gone, wash as usual. If they remain, mix a fresh solution and repeat.
