Hand Washing
Hand washing anything these days can cause some fuss. Add diapers to the mix and it can feel down right overwhelming. First, for those with new products, you'll need to pre-wash any new item you have. If you're trying a new product, it would be best to try it on your child first to insure a good fit before washing incase you need to return it. Inserts, liners, fitteds and other diaper products with natural fibers (hemp, bamboo and unbleached cotton) will need to be washed and dried at least 4 times to remove natural oils and waxes. (This can take a long time for those who are hand washing and hang drying!)
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Basic Washing Routine:
1) Load diapers into hot water and detergent. 2) Soak and kneed diapers. 3) Rinse under hot or warm water. 4) Wring out diapers and hang to dry. |
After your baby has dirtied their first cloth diaper, dump any solids into a toilet and toss the diaper into a pail. While exclusively breastfed babies have water soluble waste that does not need to be dumped into a toilet, it will be easier on the one doing the washing if all solids are disposed of in the toilet. Use a bucket or sink to store dirty diapers between washes instead of a wet bag, as these may take up valuable space when hand washing.
Your basic routine will depend on several things like your water quality, detergent, diaper types and wash area. When it comes to hand washing, the smaller the load, the easier it wil be. Avoid using bulky cloth diapers like All-In-One's, because they are harder to hand wash and take longer to dry. Flats are the most economical choice and are even easier to clean than prefolds. Don't forget to reuse covers! Most covers are lined with PUL and can easily be wiped clean between uses. Wash every day or every other day to keep from becoming overwhelmed by the amount of diapers you need to wash. Even washing after each change can help reduce the chance of your diapers getting less clean in bulky loads.
Hand Washing Tips:
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Fill up your sink, large bucket, or bath tub with hot water and add 1/4 to 1/8 of a cup of detergent. Stay clear of any products that include Bleach, Dyes, Enzymes, Hand Made Soaps, Fabric Softeners, Perfumes, Pure Soaps, Stain Guard Ingredients, or UV Brighteners because these all can either cause build up in your diapers or deteriorate your fabrics. Add in your diapers and submerge them so they are all saturated with soap. Use rubber gloves to protect your hands from callouses, soreness and chaffing (you can also use tongs when water is too hot). At this point you can let your diapers sit to soak; it's okay if you come back to cold water!
Swish diapers around and rub them together to knock loose waste and push water through them. Rinse diapers under warm water until the water runs clean and there are no soap bubbles lingering around. Wring out and hang to dry. Roll your covers in a bath towel to help speed up drying time. If drying diapers outside is not an option, use a drying rack in the kitchen, near a warm stove (but not too close), and/or near a well ventilated area. |
Sources
Zany Zebra - http://www.zany-zebra.com/washing-cloth-diapers.shtml
Dirty Diaper Laundry - http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/the-2nd-annual-flats-and-handwashing-challenge-preparation-and-blogging-prompts/
Apartment Laundry Solutions - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/01/010604a.cfm
Dirty Diaper Laundry - http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/the-2nd-annual-flats-and-handwashing-challenge-preparation-and-blogging-prompts/
Apartment Laundry Solutions - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/01/010604a.cfm