How to Wash Cloth Diapers

Easy and effective, this is the best method for how to wash cloth diapers! You can follow this simple cloth diaper laundry routine to keep your diapers clean and odor-free.

Cloth diapers in a laundry basket.

When I was debating if cloth diapers were worth it, my biggest concern was how the laundry routine would go.

Would it be difficult? Would the diapers come out still dirty? Would I need lots of expensive laundry products?

I quickly learned that the answer to all of these questions was “no”! Learning how to wash cloth diapers was easy with this simple method I’m excited to share with you.

Supplies Needed to Wash Cloth Diapers

Diaper sprayer – This makes taking care of poopy diapers so much easier! It easily hooks up to a toilet and makes rinsing off diapers quick and simple.

Large trashcan with a lid – After testing different methods, a trashcan with a lid is the best way to store dirty cloth diapers. Even in a humid southern state, the diapers don’t develop mold if you wash them frequently, and all of the smell is contained. You can buy diaper bins specifically for this, however, trashcans are typically cheaper and work just as well.

Waterproof diaper bags – To line the trashcan with. These get washed along with the diapers each time.

Laundry detergent – It doesn’t have to be a detergent specifically for cloth diapers, though it can be. You can use whatever you use on your own clothes so long as it’s free of fabric softeners (which can cause buildup) and preferably fragrances. Tide is the most popular choice for washing cloth diapers.

Wool dryer balls – Not absolutely necessary, but they significantly reduce the drying time and save energy. I use these in every load of laundry I dry.

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Closeup of cloth diaper on a baby.

How to Wash Cloth Diapers

Step 1: Rinse the diaper

After you change a dirty diaper, the first step is to rinse off any poop. If the baby is exclusively breastfed or if there’s only urine in the diaper, you can skip this step.

Using a diaper sprayer attached to a toilet is the easiest and cleanest way to do this. After rinsing, squeeze out the access water.

Step 2: Place in diaper bin

You can buy bins specifically made for cloth diapers, however, I simply place a waterproof diaper bag inside of a trashcan with a lid.

Before you place the diaper in the bin, first separate the insert from the cover (if applicable) and completely unfold the diaper. This will make laundry much easier!

Step 3: Wash the diapers

It’s best to wash cloth diapers every 2-3 days, however, some people even wash them every day depending on how many diapers they own or the size of their washing machine.

First, put the diapers and diaper bag (turned inside out) into the washing machine. You want it to be pretty full for maximum agitation but not overfilled.

Add the laundry detergent of your choice, making sure to use the proper amount stated on the container. Resist the urge to use extra. This can cause buildup on the diapers which decreases absorbency and harbors bacteria.

Then wash the diapers using cold water on the shortest cycle that agitates the diapers and doesn’t simply rinse them. The name of this cycle will vary depending on your machine.

This first wash cycle with cold water will help to remove stains and start the process of getting them clean.

Next, add more detergent (again using the amount stated on the container) and wash the diapers a second time with hot water on a longer cycle. Again, the name of the cycle will vary depending on your machine, but on my machine I use the “heavy” cycle.

Step 4: Dry the diapers

This is where you have options! If you prefer, you can dry them outdoors on a clothesline, otherwise follow these dryer instructions.

Place all of the diaper inserts in the dryer, leaving the diaper covers (if applicable) and the diaper bag in the washer. These can’t handle the heat that’s best for natural fiber diaper inserts. If you use microfiber diaper inserts, dry these with the covers and diaper bag.

Dry the diaper inserts on medium heat with a few wool dryer balls (optional, but they speed things up). The time this takes will vary depending on your dryer, the number of diapers, and the number of dryer balls.

To dry the diaper covers and diaper bag, you can hang them to dry or, once the diapers inserts are dry, place them in the dryer on an air only cycle. I find that throwing a dry towel into the dryer with them significantly reduces the time it takes for them to dry.

You now have perfectly clean diapers ready to be used again!

Cloth diaper inserts and covers neatly folded in a laundry basket.

How to Remove Stains from Cloth Diapers

Cloth diaper stains typically only happen with breastfed babies, and the stains don’t mean that your diapers aren’t clean.

If you want to remove the stains, you can sun-bleach them by hanging them outdoors in a sunny location for a few hours.

It’s also okay to occasionally use bleach on diapers, but it will wear them out more quickly. I don’t recommend using bleach solely to remove stains. However, it’s helpful if you suspect there’s bacteria or fungal buildup on the diapers.

Troubleshooting Cloth Diaper Washing Routines

If your diapers still smell after being washed or your child is getting reoccurring diaper rash for no apparent reason, there are a number of things you can try to determine the cause of the problem.

Do you have hard water?

Most homes in North America and many throughout the rest of the world have a level of hard water. If your water is lower on the scale, it may not cause an issue, but extremely hard water will lead to problems.

To combat this, use a detergent with water softeners or add your own water softener to the laundry. Borax and Calgon Water Softener are popular choices for this.

How many diapers are you washing at once?

The load size is extremely important to keep diapers clean. The washing machine needs to be pretty full to agitate effectively, but if it’s overfilled, the diapers won’t get clean.

How much laundry detergent are you using?

You always want to start with the amount recommended on the container. However, if that doesn’t seem to be working, you can try increasing it slightly.

If you discover you were using more than what is recommended (most people fall into this camp), reduce the amount back down.

If you have soft water, you may need to use slightly less detergent than the recommendation.

What type of laundry detergent are you using?

Depending on the water type, washing machine, and laundry routine, certain homemade detergents may work for some people.

However, if you are having any issues, make sure to use a mainstream laundry detergent that’s known to work well for cloth diapers. Tide is the most popular brand for this.

Baby laying on his stomach wearing a cloth diaper.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need to wash cloth diapers?

To avoid excessive ammonia and bacteria buildup, it’s best to wash them every 2-3 days.

Do I have to spray off diapers with only urine?

No, there’s no need to spray off diapers unless they have poop in them.

Why don’t I need to rinse off poop from exclusively breasted babies?

Poop from exclusively breastfed babies is water soluble, so there’s no need to rinse it off before washing the diaper. However, if your baby receives any formula or whenever solids are introduced, you must rinse the diaper off in the toilet before washing.

How do I know if my diapers are clean?

Once they come out of the dryer, they should smell like nothing. If they smell or your baby is getting reoccurring diaper rashes for no apparent reason, your diapers aren’t getting clean and you need to troubleshoot your washing routine.

Do cloth diapers cause diaper rash?

No, on the contrary, babies and toddlers wearing cloth diapers should get fewer diaper rashes due to the absence of chemicals in the diapers. If they are getting rashes, make sure you’re changing them frequently enough. If that doesn’t help, you’ll need to troubleshoot your washing routine.

Do I have to use cloth diaper laundry detergent?

No, as long as you use regular detergent without softeners (and preferably no fragrances either), it should clean the diapers well.

Do you have any questions about washing cloth diapers? Let me know in the comments!

More Practical Tips for Moms

Are Cloth Diapers Worth It? – My Honest Thoughts on Cloth Diapers

How to Create a Stay at Home Mom Schedule You’ll Love

How to Survive the Newborn Stage (and Actually Enjoy It)

How to Prepare for Postpartum – Best Tips & Tricks with Free Checklist

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