How to Use and Clean Cloth Diapers

Congratulations. If you are reading this, you plan to use cloth diapers, or you are already using them. Cloth diapers are the sanitary, hygienic, and cost-efficient way to manage your baby's diaper years.

Have you ever had the misfortune of finding dirty disposable diapers in shopping carts, parking lots, and public bathrooms? Cloth diapers are a better alternative for keeping babies dry and the environment clean. Consider the number of dirty diapers clogging the landfills and washing ashore on the beach. It's disgusting. As a responsible member of this green planet, you want to make a difference.

Disposable plastic diapers are made with materials that are effective at absorbing liquids and preventing leaks. They encourage fewer diaper changes because a child can repeatedly urinate and defecate into the diaper without leaking. Fewer diaper changes mean that a child spends a longer period of time simmering in his own waste products. That's hardly the result a responsible parent would want.

You will change diapers more often when you use cloth diapers instead of their disposable counterparts. That's a good thing. By changing diapers when appropriate (instead of trying to find out how much waste a disposable diaper can hold without leaking), your baby will be cleaner and healthier. You will be able to catch and treat diaper rash as soon as it occurs. Diaper rash occurs less with cloth diapers because the cotton fabric is breathable (unlike "leak-proof" disposables that trap heat, wetness, and ammonia close to a baby's skin).

When changing a cloth diaper, you can shake any solid waste into the toilet and flush it away. With disposables, you live with the waste until garbage day.

After removing a soiled diaper, rinse it well under running water. By rinsing the urine, you can prevent ammonia build-up which will cause your diaper pail to smell rancid. You can wash the diapers once per day, or every other day. You can also research companies that will pick up soiled diapers and deliver fresh ones.

When it is time to wash them, use the amount of soap and bleach on the manufacturer's label according to the size of your load. The bleach will remove stains and kill germs. Once the washing machine has finished its spin cycle, run the machine one more time using water only. This will ensure that there is no remaining bleach residue on the diapers. If you follow this precaution, you will not need to worry about your child's skin being exposed to bleach.

It takes a little more time to use cloth diapers, but it is more cost-efficient. It is better for your baby's health and comfort. Once you become accustomed to using cloth diapers, you will probably want to recommend it to your friends and family.