Washing Your Flatfolds, Prefolds and Proraps

A flatfold is a simple hemmed square of cloth. A prefold is a flatfold that has been folded into a smaller and thicker square and then hemmed. A prorap is a diaper cover that hooks together with snaps or velcro and is shaped like the capital letter I.

Every manufacture of cloth diapers has their own washing instructions but if you use flatfolds and/or prefolds and proraps here are some washing tips.

When you are washing your flatfolds and/or prefolds for the very first time and they are new you should wash them twice in warm water and infant detergent. A detergent that is free of dyes and fragrances will work just fine too. If your flatfolds and/or prefolds are gently used wash them once with hot water. Like before wash them with the same kind of detergent. These rules apply to new and used proraps as well, except you just have to wash them once. Along with detergent you can throw a little bit of distilled vinegar in the wash if you have smelly diapers, but not too much since it is powerful and too much could cause harm to your cloth diapers.

Once the cloth diapers have been worn you will likely be placing them in a diaper pail. You can choose to use a wet pail, a diaper pail that is full of water so the soiled diapers are soaking at all time, but keep in mind that they are very potent. A less smelly alternative is to use a dry pail and you can even use a pail liner that you can throw in with the diapers when you wash them. It will keep the smell of the diaper pail down and you won't have to wash it as often.

There are several methods to washing flatfolds, prefolds and proraps. The washing machine will determine what kind of wash and rinse cycle that you will give your cloth diapers but here are some recommendations.

One option is to wash the cloth diapers without detergent on a COLD wash and a COLD rinse. Then wash them with detergent on a HOT wash and a COLD rinse.

Another option is to soak the diapers for at least a half of an hour in hot water in your washing machine. Then drain the water and add detergent and wash them on HOT and rinse them on COLD.

A third option is to once again soak the cloth diapers, same amount of time as in the above option, wash them with detergent on HOT and rinse on COLD. Then rinse them a second time on COLD.

You probably won't have as much control over the wash cycles on a washer at a laundromat. Here are some suggestions for washing your cloth diapers at the laundromat.

When you don't have the option to soak your cloth diapers you should always pre-rinse your poopy diapers. Wash them in a wash cycle that is HOT and a rinse cycle that is COLD. Then wash them a second time either with a HOT wash and COLD rinse again or a COLD wash and COLD rinse. Before you bring your cloth diapers to the laundromat if you like you can soak them in the diaper pail, of course you will want to clean it every time that you soak diapers in it, and then you won't have to have the second wash and rinse cycle.

If you feel that your flatfolds and/or prefolds are still holding detergent give them an additional rinse, COLD or HOT will work.

As far as drying flatfolds, prefolds and proraps you can dry them as you would your towels. To keep them in better shape you should wait till they cool off before you stretch them. If you are going to be hang drying them, which can be a very good idea for stains since the sun acts as a natural bleach, dry them in the early morning or late afternoon so they will not dry as fast and therefore won't be stiff.

If you are ever in doubt on how you are suppose to care for you cloth diapers look at the manufactures website.