What do you wash cloth diapers in

[khaoskat]

Ok, we just purchased a bunch of fitted fuzzibun covers and inserts (used). We purchased them in the hopes of trying out fitted and pockets. I know Dh likes the Gro Baby from looking at them..but we want to get a bit of hands on before we make a huge investment....


So, what type of laundry detergent do you use to wash them?

[Dee-Groovy]

You'll get lots of opinions but IMHO Pin Stripes and Polka Dots has the definitive review of detergents for cloth diapers. I prefer the free and clear version of my grocery store's laundry detergent.

[Starfish11]

We use Country Save. You will definitely get lots of opinions on this

[copperfox]

ITA with Dee. I just ended up using free & clear version of whatever detergent was available or on sale. I used Costco's Environmentally Friendly detergent for the past year. I never noticed any difference between that and things like Charlie's soap. I mean, I had to strip them every onceinawhile regardless of the type of detergent I used. I found that it's just not worth it to make it more difficult than it needs to be. <shrug>

[Crispie]

Originally Posted by copperfox

ITA with Dee. I just ended up using free & clear version of whatever detergent was available or on sale. I used Costco's Environmentally Friendly detergent for the past year. I never noticed any difference between that and things like Charlie's soap. I mean, I had to strip them every onceinawhile regardless of the type of detergent I used. I found that it's just not worth it to make it more difficult than it needs to be. <shrug>

Exactly this. Use what you can find for cheap. I will be the first to confess I have used a scoop of Tide or Wisk when my good diaper soaps were out. It happens. Either two pails of "peeeewwww" or a half scoop of Tide for one washing. Meh. If they get gunky, which I find they do no matter what I use (although soaps like Charlies will slow down the gunkies) I strip them. Usually though I use what I find on sale at local stores.

[khaoskat]

So I am basically looking for a dye free, color free, fragrance free soap?

Is liquid or powder form better?

what is stripping?

I got 9 fuzzibuns size L for $30, with inserts. Going to use them on DD2 to see how we like them. They are the older version (person's child was about 4 1/2), but they seem to be in good shape. I also got 7, that she said a few of them the elastic are a bit loose on, or have another issue with the waterproofing pulling away, and a few had a couple of stains, I paid $1 for each of these, and there were like 4 or 5 liners. She also had some things she was getting rid of for free, other brands and some liners/soakers she didn't like.

[copperfox]

Originally Posted by khaoskat

So I am basically looking for a dye free, color free, fragrance free soap?

Is liquid or powder form better?

what is stripping?

I got 9 fuzzibuns size L for $30, with inserts. Going to use them on DD2 to see how we like them. They are the older version (person's child was about 4 1/2), but they seem to be in good shape. I also got 7, that she said a few of them the elastic are a bit loose on, or have another issue with the waterproofing pulling away, and a few had a couple of stains, I paid $1 for each of these, and there were like 4 or 5 liners. She also had some things she was getting rid of for free, other brands and some liners/soakers she didn't like.

Seems like you got a great deal! I found that Medium FBs were used the longest. I have some Large FBs that I doubt I'll ever use.

I like liquid, but that's just my preference. Stripping diapers (from what I understand) is when you wash them once or twice (sometimes 3x) in hot water without any detergent at all. Detergents can build up on diapers and make them less absorbent and/or stink (like urine). I just stripped the diapes when they started to stink -- maybe once a week or every two weeks.

I know my system is rather lax. I just found that there are so many varying ways to use cloth diapers -- there's no ONE right way. I have some friends who ONLY use ONE kind of detergent (like Charlie's Soap) and stripped them on alternating Tuesdays and I'm just not that rigid and my system worked out fine for me. KWIM?

[khaoskat]

Thanks...

I figure that DD2 is 30 lbs, and is very tall in the back, so thought the L would fit her better.

I want to wash them before I use them. I know people recommend to remove stains that you sun dry them.

Again, this is all new to us, and on our fourth and probably last baby (we have not made any decisions, but at my advanced age, it is not always easy to get pregnant or have an uncomplicated pregnancy - at 39-40+ years).

[Crispie]

I'm a link fanatic!

Here's awesome detergent info: http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html

I strip my diapers as mentioned above 3x in hot water, but I use a squirt of Dawn dishwashing soap in the first go round.

Here's a stripping link: (yes, still talking diapers ) You need to scroll to the very bottom of the page, it's the last section... http://www.diaperjungle.com/washing-cloth-diapers.html

Awesome info there
Hope that helps! Enjoy your FB's I adore mine!

[khaoskat]

I am hoping to like cloth diapering.

I know it will irk off a few people in the family though. *LOL* my IL's are proud of the fact that they got to leave behind cloth diapering with my DH...and go to disposables.

It is just so overwhelming for a person who is just getting into it, after using disposables for almost 7 years (3 kids).

In my bags, are mostly the FB, but there is also
What I think she said was a handmade all in one - watermelon print - velcro
2 bummis waterproof cover
A Dappi cover and insert
A snap-Ez

[Tenk]

I went to Etsy and bought about 15 covers from a lady there, and got a super deal on the considering how much name brand covers are. You can use prefolds as inserts instead of buying them or get some fitteds from the trading post here on MDC and use those when the baby's are tiny. Just a thought.

Oh and for stripping, I use dawn dish soap in the wash and rinse several times, you can also add a small bit of baking soda and that helps for smelly's as well.

I have Seventh Generation now, but will buy what ever's cheapest in the "free and clear" version, which All now has BTW.

[SaraMum]

I love Crunchy Clean Diaper Detergent and also use Nellie's ( which is unscented and Canadian) I find that I have to strip every once in a while regardless thanks to our front load washer but that I can avoid stripping as often by adding more water to each load.

[khaoskat]

Ok, DH wants to know if Oxyclean is safe to use on the cloth diaper inserts and covers?

[tempestjewel]

Another Country Save fan here. We have an energy efficient front loader, and it has issues (the machine) with liquid detergents moreso then powdered, so we use Country Save powdered. I don't have many pockets though, just some BumGenius One-Sizes, and mostly prefolds and covers. The prefolds have never needed stripping, but I also have a sanitary/boil wash cycle that I occassionally run them through on.

[Crispie]

Originally Posted by khaoskat

Ok, DH wants to know if Oxyclean is safe to use on the cloth diaper inserts and covers?

"Oxi-type cleaning products are good when added to the hot cycle but not Oxi-clean unless it is Oxi-Clean Baby. Choose Sun brand oxygen cleaner or other less expensive and simple one. The versions of OxiClean that are not the OxiClean Baby have too many additives in them. Simple oxi-products are great for whitening and killing bacteria, but don't use as much as the package says. A very small amount does the job. I use Sun Oxygen Cleaner in my hot wash with my Charlie's soap all of the time with great success."

Copied from another favorite site of mine to get the cloth low-down

Here's a link to the page: http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/washing-diapers.htm

[tippy]

[mamalovesbaby]

I don't know if you can get them in the US or not, but I am in the UK and use something called ecoballs.

They are plastic balls, there are three ecoballs in each box. You put all three balls in the washing machine with your clothes, each one contains pellets made of mineral salts that produce ionized oxygen, which combined with the movement of the balls on your clothes, penetrates deep into your washing, lifting dirt and grime away. They are also anti-bacterial, as they change the PH of the water to above 10, in which bacteria can not survive.

They wash the clothes fantastically without the need for any chemical detergents, so there is no risk of nappy rash due to build up of detergent on the nappies, and no need to ever strip the nappies. And they are better for the environment too!

[Pepper44]

Originally Posted by mamalovesbaby

I don't know if you can get them in the US or not, but I am in the UK and use something called ecoballs.

They are plastic balls, there are three ecoballs in each box. You put all three balls in the washing machine with your clothes, each one contains pellets made of mineral salts that produce ionized oxygen, which combined with the movement of the balls on your clothes, penetrates deep into your washing, lifting dirt and grime away. They are also anti-bacterial, as they change the PH of the water to above 10, in which bacteria can not survive.

They wash the clothes fantastically without the need for any chemical detergents, so there is no risk of nappy rash due to build up of detergent on the nappies, and no need to ever strip the nappies. And they are better for the environment too!

Those sound amazing! I've never heard of them before. I'm going to google in a second...

I always used whatever free and clear detergent was on sale. Usually Purex or All. Someone told me recently that Purex changed their detergent and it was no longer good for cloth diapers, but I don't know...?

We used prefolds and fitteds and never had to strip our diapers, ever. Stripping sounds like so much work! We use Calgon along with a little detergent because we have extremely hard water, and it leaves the diapers soft, fluffy, and fresh.