How to Strip Cloth Diapers
Stripping your cloth diapers: Step 1
First wash your cloth diapers as you normally would. It is important to start with clean diapers. If your diapers are soiled when you begin the stripping process, you may set stains in the fabric. Simply run your cloth diapers through a normal cold wash cycle with a small amount of detergent, and rinse as usual.
Stripping your cloth diapers: Step 2
Run your cloth diapers through a hot wash with no detergent. Turn up your water heater if necessary to make sure that the water is really hot (but be sure to turn it back down afterward for safety). Note: check washing instructions for your particular cloth diapers. If you are using all-in-ones or pocket diapers with waterproof covers, too-hot water may damage them.
You may want to use just a drop or two of original blue liquid Dawn dish detergent to this wash to help cut some of the oils, but it's not always necessary. You can also add a bit of baking soda to absorb odors.
Stripping your cloth diapers: Step 3
Be sure to do an extra rinse at the end of your wash cycle. Add some white vinegar to this final rinse to remove all detergent residues from your cloth diapers. Don't worry, your cloth diapers won't come out of the wash smelling like vinegar. When the diapers dry, all the vinegar smell will disappear.
Stripping your cloth diapers: Step 4
Rinse, rinse, rinse. Run your cloth diapers through as many rinse cycles as necessary until no suds appear. This may take up to three or four rinse cycles, or even more if there is a lot of detergent residue in your cloth diapers. Hint: to prevent detergent from building up too much, use one-fourth to one-half of the detergent you would use on a regular load of laundry when washing your diapers normally. Your diapers will still get clean, but there won't be as much residue left behind.
Stripping your cloth diapers: Step 5
Sunlight is a natural germ-killer and stain-remover. If you have access to an outside drying line, hang your cloth diapers in the sun to dry. If this isn't an option, it is not absolutely necessary - the previous steps in the wash are more important.
It may be necessary to strip your cloth diapers as frequently as once a week, or as little as once a month. Strip your diapers as often as necessary to keep them absorbent and fresh.
Published by Amy Weekley
I'm a stay-at-home mother of two, loving every minute of it. Writing has long been my hobby, and I figure it's time to share my work with the rest of the world. Enjoy! View profile
Modern Cloth DiaperingWhen you say the words "cloth diaper", most people get visions of the old white squares of cloth, folded over and over and pinned. I have to admit, I was one of those people un...- Safeway Automatic Dishwashing Detergent ReviewRead this informative product to review to see if saving the few pennies on this store brand detergent is worth it.
- Dawn Dishwashing Detergent: It's Not Just for Dishes Anymore!Many products have uses consumers have discovered other than their intended purposes. Dawn dishwasing detergent if well known for having many uses other than washing dishes. Read this article for 10 alternative uses f...
- How to Wash Your Clothes CorrectlySome people aren't washing their clothes correctly,because their clothes comes out looking faded or unclean,or they have shrink because the didn't wash them the right way,
Listerine Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse: Lives Up to the PromiseListerine Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse is a relatively new product that promises an "easy way to whiten teeth," as well as killing germs that cause bad breath.
- Cloth Diaper Care: Dishwasher Stripping
- Removing Those Stubborn Stains From Cloth Diapers
- Things to Remember when Buying Used Cloth Diapers
- The Pros of Using Cloth Diapers
- Cheap and Easy Cloth Diapers
- How to Wash Cloth Diapers
- Washing Cloth Diapers
- A little Dawn dish soap added to the wash can help strip oils and residue from your cloth diapers.
- Drying your cloth diapers in the sun can eliminate odors and stains.
- You may need to strip your cloth diapers as often as once per week.
18 Comments
Post a CommentThanks so much for this! I would never have known how to do this, or even that i needed to. I used disposables with my first child and switched to cloth with my newborn, so I am still pretty new at it.
Seriously Mommyof2? Why would come and advocate using disposable diapers to people who have chosen to use cloth? We've all put a lot of thought into the choice and have solid reasons for doing so. If you want to pollute the planet with thousands of nasty diapers over the time your child(ren) are baby(s), spend oodles of money and let your baby's private areas soak in chemicals, go right ahead. I can't understand why you would come on a source meant to help us out and push disposables in such a rude manner. Just wow. Would it have been so difficult to keep it to yourself? Why did you even read this?
Courtney, if stripping your diapers doesn't work, ask her pediatrician if it's a yeast rash. My daughter got recurring yeast rashes when we started using cloth wipes, so we had to go back to disposable wipes with the cloth diapers. Also, if your detergent contains enzymes (it'll say on the label), that will cause a rash and you should switch detergent. Good luck!
Thanks for the info! I have to admit, my husband and I were intimidated to try cloth diapers, but we've been cloth diapering for about 2 months now and we love it. I've been noticing a bright red rash on my daughter's bum, so I think it's time to strip my diapers. I'm thinking that residue may be building up on her diapers and irritating her skin. Thanks for the tips!
I have been clothing for a month now and love it. I was so upset after my son's pamper's exploded while he was sleeping and he woke up with horrible welts that took over a week to heal from the chemicals in the disposible diaper. I'm glad we have a way to make clothing more appealing and easier. My babysitter has even agreed to start clothing now that she sees how easy it is (she was quite set against it before).
Wow, I never realized you had to do this with cloth diapers. Thanks for the info!
Thanks for the hints. I have a new grandson and have tried to convince his parents to use cloth to save money and not add to the landfills; maybe this will help.
I always put in a few drops of vinger in all my washs. It helps with the stink. You can use a bit of baking soda in every wash too... I have heard a lot of cloth mommies do it! :)
Oh wow! I've cloth diapered my 2nd child, and still have them for my 3rd, but noticed that they have a bit of...aroma... I'm definitely trying this - I'd never known to do this! Thanks for an informative, helpful article!
Ah, but if you buy disposable diapers, they will sit in a landfill for up to 500 years, not decomposing, just taking up space and polluting the land. They will also put nasty chemicals near your baby's most sensitive areas. Not my idea of fun, but whatever floats your boat. :)