[jaimelynn]

Help! I'm new to Cloth Diapers, and I'm not sure which one to order. Does it really make a difference? Any response would be appreciated.

 

[eco_mama]

unbleached for sure.

 

[jaimelynn]

Any reason why?

 

[mountainsun]

I agree, besides the fact that there won't be any chemical residues next to your baby's bum, I think that my unbleached are WAY softer then the bleached.

And I like the way they look better as well

 

[Kewpie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaimelynn Any reason why?

The bleaching process is harmful to the environment! Unbleached take a bit more work early on, but are worth it!!

 

[ibusymomto5]

I'm probably the exception, but my bleached ones are much softer than my unbleached. This is after several years of use. I might be wrong, but I think I've read that the way some pfs are bleached is not harmful, as long as it's a peroxide based method as opposed to chlorine. I could be wrong though...

Copied and pasted from Green Mountain Diapers

White Prefolds Our white diapers are hydrogen peroxide bathed, NOT chlorine bleached. Hydrogen Peroxide basically the same thing as the main ingredient in OxiClean. It's dioxin-free and acid-free, known as "natural bleaching process". Thus, these diapers last longer than their chlorine-bleached counterparts which we do not carry. We encourage most people to choose white, because often people get frustrated by the number of hot wash cycles which are needed to get the natural cotton oils off the unbleached ones. With the natural bleaching process, that "degumming" is already done safely for you, but with unbleached, you need to do that yourself. They are the same diapers otherwise.

 

[Micheliala]

I prefer the bleached for a couple of reasons. Even though I prewashed my unbleached on hot 6 times they were still not fully absorbent (that can get pretty frustrating) I've used my white ones after just one wash with no problem and after 2 washes they are completely ready. My white are actually somewhat softer than my unbleached, maybe because my unbleached still have some pilling after a year... and like the pp stated, not all white diapers = chlorine bleached.

Michelle

 

[mamanurse]

We only have unbleached prefolds and we LOVE them. No problems with absorbancy and they're very soft. I bought them at Babyworks and use the birdseye and my favorite flannel.

 

[blondeviolin]

It really is personal preference. I have some extras of both bleached and unbleached that I can send along to you (infant-sized) which are in pretty great condition so you can decide which you like. Email me if you want, otherwise I'm happy to keep 'em too.

s