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Washing Cloth Diapers

post #1 of 5
4/23/10 at 11:15pm
Thread Starter 
Silly question: Why is a cold water rinse recommended as part of cloth diapering washing? I just had my little peanut 6 weeks ago and am starting cloth diapering, and the few test diapers I've had to wash I didn't read the instructions; just sent them through a sanitary wash cycle using extra hot water. Is the cold water rinse really necessary?
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post #2 of 5
4/24/10 at 12:32am
It's debatable. You'll probably have several people tell you it's critical, but until this week I haven't done it (and babe is 7 mo). And right now I'm only doing it because baby's sick and leaving the diarrhea dipes for 2 days is attracting flies.

You will (supposedly) get less staining if you do a cold-water rinse first. I just sun my dipes when necessary.
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post #3 of 5
4/24/10 at 1:01am
Mostly, for me, it's because even though I spray off most of the poop with a diaper sprayer....when you do the cold rinse, if you check out the water while it's doing it's thing...there is poop floating around in the water. I don't want that to be my 'wash' cycle so I do a pre-rinse to get all the gross stuff out of the diapers prior to actually washing them to get them clean, clean, kwim?
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post #4 of 5
4/24/10 at 1:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by november View Post
Mostly, for me, it's because even though I spray off most of the poop with a diaper sprayer....when you do the cold rinse, if you check out the water while it's doing it's thing...there is poop floating around in the water. I don't want that to be my 'wash' cycle so I do a pre-rinse to get all the gross stuff out of the diapers prior to actually washing them to get them clean, clean, kwim?
This I don't use a diaper sprayer, but check out the water in the cold rinse IMO diapers getting "washed" in that water can't possibly be getting really clean.
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post #5 of 5
4/25/10 at 4:58am
What previous posters said, plus, cold water is best for removing just about any kind of stain. Is it necessary? Depends on your preferences and how well your current wash routine is working for you. If what you're doing works, then why mess with it? For example, if stains bug you but you're able to sun your dipes, then I wouldn't bother with the cold water wash. Or if stains don't bug you, then also don't bother with the cold water.

IMO, if you keep it as simple as you can manage for yourself, you'll be better off and happier with your cloth diaper journey.
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