i didn't cloth diaper with my first daughter but i am really excited about doing it this time around. my question is, i can't afford this fancy expensive laundry detergents to wash them and i thought i would be able to just use "all free and clear" but then i read that it makes them less absorbant... so to all you experienced cloth diapering mamas out there, what is your experience? thanks jami
baking soda, and a downy ball full of vinegar does the trick. Don't use bleach, fabric softeners, and if your dipes are stained, lay them in the sun!
I use the same detergent on the diapers as I use on our clothes, but just a tiny drop of it, in hot water. Then I run them through another wash cycle with vinegar and an extra cold rinse. No problems. Lots of detergents will build up on cloth diapers, so use just the tiniest drop of detergent. If there are suds on the top of the rinse water, rinse them some more. Don't use any fabric softeners, not even on your other clothes, because residue will prevent them from being as absorbent as they should, and it will still be in your dryer if you use it on other clothes. We personally can't use Tide detergent, it makes our skin hurt, but that's what I've heard recommended for cloth diapers from other moms.
about half a cup of vinegar for a large load of diapers. I don't use it every time, needed it more when I was using Borax in the wash. And most people don't need the extra rinse after the vinegar, but my little one is highly sensitive to acidity, and it gives her a red bum if it's not completely rinsed out. But it will just take trial and error to find what works best for you, given your child's skin and your local water supply.
I am on a forum where many don't even wash there dipes in detergent. I'd make a mix of vinegar and borax( a mineral found in a box in the supermarket) Many people pre-soak in something like Bi-O-Kleen Bac out. Don't use fabric softener as these cause a residue to buildup on the dipes which screws with their absorbancy. On the mothering.com forums there is an entire section devoted to all things about cloth diapering. You could check it out.
