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All diapering products should be pre-washed at least once prior to use. Inserts of viscose from bamboo should be washed a few times on their own on hot, up to 60°C (140°F), and dried once on medium before first use.
• Place a diaper insert either in the pocket in the lining of the diaper or on top of the lining
• Put the diaper on the baby using the snaps to create a snug fit. There are multiple sizing options in terms of rise and width to ensure that the diaper will fit your baby no matter what size.
A good rule of thumb is every 2-3 days. Many factors can change this, but an average of 2 days between washes is optimal. It is much easier to manage and clean the diapers if you don’t leave them sitting for too long. After changing your baby, and in between washes place the wet diapers in a diaper bag or diaper pail bag. Inserts should be removed before putting them in the bag to make sure they clean effectively.
It is best to use two separate wash cycles. The first cycle is to wash away a good amount of the liquid and solids from the diapers. The second long warm cycle will be washing in a much cleaner water, and that will make it easier for the detergent to clean the diapers properly.
We recommend hanging your Planet Baby covers, diaper bag and pail whenever possible as this will extend the life of your covers. Covers, all-in-ones (AIOs) and diaper bags can be machine dried as well. Use the low setting only; the maximum suggested temperature is 50°C (122°F). Turn the diapers inside out before drying to speed up the drying time. Inserts dried on their own can be machine-dried on medium or hung to dry; if they are in the same load as covers or AIOs, use the low setting. Note that if you choose to hang your inserts to dry, a quick spin in the dryer while they are just a little bit damp will lead to softer, fluffier inserts.
Our preferred choice for baby laundry detergent is Tru Earth Baby Eco-Strips. Each pack puts ultra-concentrated cleaning power into a tiny, pre-measured strip of detergent that you just toss in the wash. Its low-sudsing formula works in all types of washing machines, including high-efficiency (HE).
Avoid the following in your wash cycle, as they can lead to damage the diaper outer shell PUL:
Be cautious about using vinegar and/or baking soda, as they can together or individually cause damage to the diaper fabric.
We understand that one set of washing routine instructions will not be a perfect fit for everyone. And also no one perfect brand will work for everyone.
What it comes down to is what works best for you and what you feel comfortable with. If you start off with "residue-free" detergent and you find that you cannot get it to work for you, try switching to a different brand with different ingredients. It may be the case that you need the enzymes in a conventional brand to get your diapers clean. (To breakdown organic matter). Other brands that we would recommend are Tide Free (or Free and Clear), Nature Clean Powder, Claudia’s Choices, and Lulu’s in the Fluff.
At Planet Baby, we support what works and keeps your diapers clean without damaging them.
Our diaper cream recommendation is our baby balm cream. It is cloth diaper safe. We also recommend using our disposable diaper liners as to be used between the baby treated with a rash cream and the diaper in an effort to protect the diaper from the negative water repelling properties of the diaper rash ointment or cream.
If you are using our diaper inserts of viscose from bamboo, you will also want to wash the inserts and the wipes used to clean off the ointment or cream with your liners: separate from your diapers. Please note that some disposable liners may not protect a diaper well enough from certain creams.
If you would rather not use diaper liners, we would recommend using a non-staining diaper rash cream or zinc ointment and plan to strip your diapers after the diaper rash is done to ensure all residue from the cream is removed. Make sure the diapers are washed clean and rinsed thoroughly.
At some point you may need to strip your diapers due to detergent build up or if you have used any diaper rash creams or ointments which may have led to reduced absorbency or stinky diapers. If this is the case simply follow these directions:
Stains are unavoidable with cloth diapering. Regardless of how well, often or with what type of detergent you wash them, they may get stained. This does not mean that you can no longer use the diapers or that they are not clean, although you will probably want to remove the stains even though they aren’t causing any harm.
We don't recommend bleach or other chemicals for removing stains, because they can damage the diaper. The best remedy for stained diapers is actually sunlight. It is free and easy. All you have to do is hang your diapers in the sun after washing them. This can also work on an overcast day (direct sunlight is not necessary, UV rays are present even when it’s cloudy) and even in the winter (just hang them in front of a window). A few hours in the sun’s UV rays can drastically improve the stains in your diapers.
If the sun doesn’t seem to be doing the trick or you want to take precautionary measures, using a small amount of oxygen bleach or brightener without additives in your wash occasionally is an option, but make sure to give the diapers an extra rinse afterwards.
