Comments on Mama Notes: My Cloth Diapering Wash Routine

We do a cold wash cycle with a cup of washing soda...

2009-07-31T16:18:33.074-08:00

We do a cold wash cycle with a cup of washing soda, then a hot wash with 7th Generation Free and Clear and a Downy ball of vinegar for the rinse cycle. Then we sometimes have to do another hot rinse if there are still bubbles in the machine.

We got the CUTEST hanger from Ikea to dry our covers http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80124638.
Once we buy a house with a yard we'll have a clothes line to hang them all :)

I only use Bum Genius OS ( have had the same 18 i...

2009-07-29T17:42:52.377-08:00

I only use Bum Genius OS ( have had the same 18 in circulation since last Nov and they are ALL holding great).
I use Charlie's Soap for HE washers, run them through a quick wash cold with double rinse then a longer wash on hot and usually dry them in the dryer. The humidity here is so bad in the summer it just makes them smell weird when they're outside too long.
LOVE the cloth, wish I had used them on my other two!

My BumGenius OS + inserts wash routine: (only caus...

2009-07-21T19:19:36.580-08:00

My BumGenius OS + inserts wash routine: (only cause you asked!)

- wash all in COLD w/tiny bit of Charlie's Soap (LOVE it!)
- 2nd wash on HOT w/full scoop of Charlie's PLUS a squirt of blue liquid Dawn (helps w/odors)
- extra rinse COLD
- dry all on Med. about an hour

**So grateful for the tips on drying the BG on the line to save velcro! Gonna start doing that.

- I also "strip" the microfiber inserts once in a while according to BG instructions, to get any soap buildup out. Seems to help.

About once every two weeks I notice my dipes (bum ...

2009-07-11T04:34:40.473-08:00

About once every two weeks I notice my dipes (bum genius) can get a little funky like the regular wash cycle isn't stripping everything out of them. So I do a strip wash on them, put some baking soda in the machine with the diapers and some vinegar in the fabric softner spot on my washer and wash them like normal with my cold wash, soak and then regular wash and extra rinse. Works well. Hanging them out in the sun strips them too and gets rid of stains that the wash didn't.

I've tried lots of washing routines. For me, ...

2009-07-10T22:23:23.375-08:00

I've tried lots of washing routines. For me, rinsing the poopies, then washing all of it twice works best for me. First wash is cold, second wash is hot (just like you). My washer does not leak on the floor, which is nice. :)

I've tried Charlies, which I think worked well. I liked the free shipping from them and that I could order my detergent online.

I am using Country Save right now and it works great! I can buy it from a local store so I don't have to plan ahead a week if I need soap (like if I order Charlies online).

I used a shoe rack to dry my diapers outside or inside because I didn't have a drying rack. Worked!

Yes, you can get the velcro replaced. Or, they ac...

2009-07-10T12:31:35.409-08:00

Yes, you can get the velcro replaced. Or, they actually send you the velcro if you can sew it on your self. But if you have a warranty, then you should really give them a call. They are extremely helpful and have great customer service!

Glad I read this. We're going to get the Bum ...

2009-07-10T05:53:01.814-08:00

Glad I read this. We're going to get the Bum Genius diapers in a month or so (still have about +300 disposables left from baby showers) for our twins. I think the idea of washing twice is great and I wouldn't have thought of that.

Does anyone know if the velcro can simply be replaced?

HI Mama! We use FB and BGOS here too! I have a FLs...

2009-07-09T22:06:51.643-08:00

HI Mama!
We use FB and BGOS here too!
I have a FLs (that we got a very good price on at Sears) so I do a Cold rinse. Then I do a normal rinse on hot (heavy soil option, with an extra cold rinse) with about 1/4 scoop Country Save detergent. About once a week I put in a teeny tiny bit of color safe bleach.
Since I always do my diaps at night I hang the outsides on a drying rack (that I just got from my MIL and I love it) and I throw the inserts and my diaper bag in the dryer.
By morning everything is dry. Here is a link to the drying rack... that way you don't have to dry your FBs anymore! And it folds down flat so I just store it between the washer and the wall when I'm not using it! http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=15061308
:)

We throw all the wet diapes (inserts & covers)...

2009-07-09T18:27:37.981-08:00

We throw all the wet diapes (inserts & covers) into cold water in directly in the washer. They just hang out and soak. When there are enough (or when a poopy one comes along) I just add a bit of detergent (my absolute favorite is BioKleen - gentle on baby, the earth, and my sensitive nose!) and wash the wet diapes on cold (no need to use hot water as urine is sterile anyway). After washing through, I 2nd rinse them with cold water again.

For poopy diapers (this occurs about 1ce every 3 days at our house) I shake it out and rinse in the toilet bowl, put the insert, cover, and whatever other changing cloth or clothes or anything that came into contact w/ the poo into the washer (small) in hot water w/ a little bit of soap. When it is done, I again do another rinse with cold water. (The double rinses keeps the diapers from building up soap).

I throw all diaper covers over a bar above the washer/dryer (we use Wonderoos and Blueberries pocket diapers with snaps - so much better than Velcro in our experience). The inserts go into the dryer.

We have used the same set (of about 18 Wonderoos and 6 Blueberries) since our son was born. He is now 11 months old (they are fully adjustable w/ snaps from 8lbs to 35lbs) and we are still using the same ones.

WELL worth the initial investment and we couldn't be happier.

You have a one year warranty on your bum genius! I...

2009-07-09T17:34:20.705-08:00

You have a one year warranty on your bum genius! I returned my covers twice now! They have extremely wonderful customer service!Good Luck!

I hope to CD with my next baby and I know who I wi...

2009-07-09T16:44:38.015-08:00

I hope to CD with my next baby and I know who I will be asking about it :)

Thanks for sharing. I never knew how this process ...

2009-07-09T10:32:51.514-08:00

Thanks for sharing. I never knew how this process worked. I also never realized there was more than one "way" to wash cloth diapers.

Perfect post with perfect timing! I have BGs on th...

2009-07-09T09:53:18.842-08:00

Perfect post with perfect timing! I have BGs on the way to me and really have no idea what I'm doing. As for the first comment, aren't cloth diapers supposed to last 2-2.5 years?

If you're considering a detergent switch you s...

2009-07-09T09:46:25.428-08:00

If you're considering a detergent switch you should try out Nellie's All Natural. They have a website. I just order a few large containers at a time, so I don't run out very quickly. It cleans so well. They also have an oxygen cleaner that is awesome.

Thanks for the tip, I don't cloth diaper yet b...

2009-07-09T09:37:40.988-08:00

Thanks for the tip, I don't cloth diaper yet but hope I will be able to with new baby (Sept)

I love hearing how others wash their diapers. I d...

2009-07-09T09:23:01.471-08:00

I love hearing how others wash their diapers. I do a cold soak overnight w/ washing soda, rinse in the morning and then do a hot wash with detergent I make myself. I try to line dry, weather permitting, or else I throw it in the dryer. Thanks for sharing!

My routine is similar except I have a front loadin...

2009-07-09T08:58:31.793-08:00

My routine is similar except I have a front loading washer. After the hot wash, I do an additional cold rinse, then sniff the diapers to make sure they smell fresh. If they don't smell fresh I do another cold wash with a cup of vinegar instead of soap...this usually gets out any left over stinkies. I hang my inserts outside at least every other wash & it seems to be preventing the micro fiber from getting stinky as often.

For drying the pockets & covers inside when the weather doesn't allow line drying, I've found the hangers with the little clips to be invaluable. I hang them on the shower rod in the bathroom & leave the fan running if it's at all humid.

I'm currently using All Free & Clear (with no problems) but I'll be switching to Rockin Green as soon as my order arrives.

I love country save detergent! Check out their we...

2009-07-09T06:50:43.639-08:00

I love country save detergent! Check out their website. They have great information on washing cloth diapers
corisven@gmail.com

we do similar... cold rinse no detergent followed ...

2009-07-09T06:47:39.312-08:00

we do similar... cold rinse no detergent followed by hot wash w/ detergent. we had been using All free & clear. I just got a sample of Rockin' Green Soap from GAD Baby.

At first, I always dried ALL the dipes b/c, well, i couldn't line dry in the winter. but now, i only dry liners and inserts. all covers and other diapers either get hung outside or just on a rack in the basement. Drying them will not only rin the velcro, but the PUL layer as well.

Those are some great tips... I so need some bigge...

2009-07-09T06:18:46.134-08:00

Those are some great tips... I so need some bigger covers.

I should also add - I have a clothesline, but I ju...

2009-07-09T06:12:03.540-08:00

I should also add - I have a clothesline, but I just have to get the hubs to put it up because I do want to sun my dipes and will probably start putting my covers and AIOs on the line to dry instead :)

My wash routine is similar to yours but I do a col...

2009-07-09T06:11:17.390-08:00

My wash routine is similar to yours but I do a cold pre-wash first. Then I do a 2nd cold pre-wash with less than 1tbs of detergent. Then I do a regular hot wash with another 1tbs of detergent. Then I throw everything in the dryer on medium heat for about an hour. My AIOs need extra drying time so I usually throw those in there for about another 30 minutes. :)

I also use Purex F&C but recently have been buying samples of the GADBaby detergent to try. So far, so good! :)

I do a cold rinse, no soap. Then a hot wash, with ...

2009-07-09T05:56:27.320-08:00

I do a cold rinse, no soap. Then a hot wash, with Charlie's Soap (powder, one tablespoon). Then an extra cold rinse. Since my machine doesn't have an "extra rinse" setting, I simply turn the dial to the rinse portion of the delicate cycle so that it has a rinse and a gentle spin dry.

Then I usually machine dry my prefolds and inserts, and hang dry my covers.

I don't think you need to be using soap in your first cold wash. Too much soap is not only a waste, but will also hurt your diapers when it isn't rinsed all the way. Also it can irritate some baby bottoms.

2009-07-09T05:55:00.965-08:00

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I use the same wash routine and it seems to work g...

2009-07-09T05:54:39.879-08:00

I use the same wash routine and it seems to work great. Do you find that the bumgenius AIO take forever to dry! If it weren't for that they would be my favorite.