when using cloth diapers, your choice of laundry detergent is very important.  Detergent residue is a common problem with cloth diapers.  Are your diapers less absorbent that they used to be?  Do they smell like urine even after they’re washed?  Then, you probably have a residue problem!  Nearly all laundry detergents contain enzymes, brighteners, softeners, and natural oils.  These are the things that make most of our laundry smell good and get whiter and feel softer.   But they can cause real problems with cloth diapers!  All these detergent ingredients will  build up on diapers and cause them to be less absorbent.  They can even cause the diapers to trap odors and stains.  The secret to getting your cloth diapers really clean is lots of hot water and just a little bit of the right kind of detergent.  Even “natural” detergents and “baby” detergents can be hard on cloth diapers.  Mom and Pop Place recommends Allen’s Naturally Detergent.  It’s been the standard for washing cloth diapers for years.  Bummis (the diaper company) has come out with a list of detergents acceptable for cloth diapers.

Is your detergent safe for use with cloth diapers?  Find out here.

You wouldn’t believe how many of you Moms and Pops are making the switch to cloth diapers.  It warms our eco-conscious hearts.  (As a diaper seller, it warms our pocketbooks too, but we mostly worry about our hearts.)  We love helping people choose the diapering system that works best for them: pockets, prefolds, contours, flip………  Check out our Cloth Diaper information sheet here.

With so many cloth-diapering parents out there, we get our share of questions about how to use the diapers, how to wash them, how to get the best fit.  We LOVE the Tips and Troubleshooting information from Bummis.  We sell fabulous diaper covers, prefolds, liners, and kits from Bummis.  They really know their stuff:

Tips & Troubleshooting

TIPS

Take some time to get accustomed to your new diapering system, and don’t be afraid to play around with folding, stuffing and fastening, etc.
If you are making the switch to cloth diapers from disposable diapers, mixing your cloth diapering system with disposables in the beginning (for outings or overnight) can make this transition easier. Most parents find that using and washing cloth diapers is easier than they thought it would be, and quickly become avid full time users.
And if you are starting with a newborn baby, don’t be afraid to dive in full time with cloth diapers. It is pretty easy and you will get the routine down fast.
By the way, you may find that you will need to acquire baby clothes that can accommodate larger bums!

Important Reminders!

• Using a diaper cream? Please protect your diaper with a liner! We recommend not using ointments with petroleum, fish oils or zinc.

• Runny newborn poop? If using prefolds, use the fan fold. And don’t be afraid to try out the bikini twist! It may take a few tries to master it – but it works really well for runny poop. A Bio-Soft liner can also help to absorb runny poop.

• Be sure the diaper cover is fastened snugly enough so that it fits well and does not sag. Saggy diapers will leak! You will need to be especially careful to pay attention to this when your baby starts to walk!

• Reduce drying time by doing an extra spin cycle and/or throwing a dry towel or dryer balls into the dryer with your diapers.

• Don’t use dryer sheets, even in your regular laundry – they will leave a stubborn residue on everything you dry in your dryer!

• Dry your diapers occasionally in the sun – it brightens and disinfects.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Leaking problems?

Level 1

• Check the important reminders above

• Did you pre-wash your diapers and test for absorbance?

• Do you have the proper size of diaper and/or cover for your baby?

• Does the cover fit snugly around baby’s legs and belly? Is it fastened tightly enough to create a proper fit?

• If using a 2 part system, make sure that diaper and liner are completely contained inside the waterproof cover. Any bit of diaper left outside of the waterproof cover can cause leaking.

• Don’t tuck your diaper into that front flap on the inside of the diaper cover – it is meant to prevent leaking through the sewing line!

Level 2

• Is there leaking straight through the fabric of the diaper cover?  Is the suede cloth on your synthetic diapers repelling moisture completely? Unless you are using diaper creams without a liner, then you have a detergent residue problem. This is caused by:

1. not using enough hot water to wash and rinse or
2. using too much detergent or
3. using a detergent with additives

• Are you changing your baby’s diaper often enough? Newborns need to be changed about every 2 hours! A huge advantage of using cloth diapers is that you know when your baby’s diaper is wet, so you change their diaper more often.

• Is your baby going through a growth spurt or sleeping more soundly at night? If so, you may need to add a diaper doubler or liner for increased absorbency.

• Are you reaching the limit of the diaper’s size range? If so, you may need to add a diaper doubler or liner for increased absorbency.

Smelly Diapers or Diaper Covers?

Once washed, your diapers should not smell like urine or detergent!

• If they smell of detergent, wash them again in plenty of hot water and less detergent.

• If they smell like ammonia once your baby wets them, make sure that you are using enough hot water and enough detergent.

• Do your diapers smell clean when washed, but utterly horrible after the first pee? This could mean that urine residue is trapped within the fibres of your diapers, and this is always related to washing and rinsing without enough hot water. Urine residue can also lead to diaper rashes. You probably need to adjust the water level in your machine or ”trick“ your HE machine to increase the water level by adding one or two wet towels. Do not overstuff your machine – wash fewer diapers at a time.

• Are your diapers and diaper covers stinky or discoloured? Then it is pretty clear that you have a detergent residue problem!

You will have to get rid of the residue problem and adjust your washing routine to ensure that it does not happen again.

Does Your Baby Have a Recurring Rash in Cloth Diapers?

Please suspect a residue. Your baby will react to a urine residue in the diaper fabric.  Some babies are also very sensitive to detergent residues. If your baby is rashy and your diapers are discoloured or smelly – please take action to resolve your residue problem.

We have some wonderful new wool diaper covers in stock.  They were hand-made by Gretchen, right in Appleton!  Check out all of her adorable diapers and cover here in the store.

Have you ever used wool for diapering?  It has magical properties.  It’s super-soft (forget your Grandpa’s scratchy wool sweater).  It’s lightweight and breathable so it stays warm in winter and cool in summer.  It’s waterproof and manages to both absorb and repel leaks at the same time.  Best of all, it has natural antibacterial and antismell properties.  It basically cleans itself.  If your wool diaper cover gets urine on it, simply hang it up to dry and the moisture and smell will disappear.  You can actually go weeks between washings!  On purpose!  Give wool a try.  You won’t be sorry.

For more details on washing wool diaper covers, see our blog post.

Adria