How to Clean Your Diapers
The most intimidating part of cloth diapering is washing them because obviously you want them to come clean and not mess them up. The wash instructions that came with my diapers said not to wash on hot but everything I had read said that I needed to use hot water. I was so terrified that I was going to melt them or something I kept washing on cold, adding extra rinses (NEVER do that), and using weird fancy detergents. My diapers weren't coming clean, they were smelly, and I was freaking out.
Find Your Wash Routine
It took me awhile to find the right wash routine. Don't make the same mistakes I did. Let me make this easy for you. Fluff Love University has a Washing Machine Index. Find your machine, follow the instructions, and VOILA clean diapers.
Pick A Detergent
As for detergent, Fluff Love has a Detergent Index too. How convenient! Most mainstream detergents are going to work just fine, so no need to buy some expensive, fancy pants, order online-only detergent no one has ever heard of. Free and Clears are not as strong, so you may just need to use more. Check out the link above and see if the detergent you're already using is ok. Check out the pictorials below from FLU. Gain and Purex are my favorites to use.
NOTE: Look I am all for crunchy, cheap alternatives, but DO NOT MAKE YOUR OWN DETERGENT. Your clothes are not getting truly clean. Read why here. Seriously, read.
Check Your Water Hardness
Chances are your water is at least a little hard. Hard water + Diapers = Bad. Diapers can get mineral buildup leading to stink issues, poor absorbency / repelling, & even rash. Buy some water hardness strips or call your water company to find out your hardness, then follow the pictorial on the left to find out when/if to add a water softener. Use either 1 capful of Calgon or 1/2 cup of Borax to your wash.
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Read more in depth about washing in hard water here. If you've been washing your diapers in hard water already, you may need to strip and start fresh. Read about stripping your diapers here.
WASH!
To clean your diapers you'll need to use a prewash to rinse out any urine, otherwise you're just swishing all of that around in the water. Yuck. After your prewash you'll do a main wash. That's when all of the cleaning happens.
Follow these instructions you'll be OK.
1. Dump/Dunk/Swish/Spray any poop into the toilet.
2. Store the diapers until wash day.
3. Wash your diapers following your wash routine.
4. Dry your diapers either in the dryer or by hanging.
5. Done!