If you're thinking about cloth diapers, it's nearly always the same question that comes up first: but what about the washing, won't it be a huge hassle? That's a perfectly reasonable thought. The truth is that washing cloth diapers is much easier than its reputation suggests – it comes down to a routine that quickly settles in, rather like any other load of laundry in a family with children. Once you've got it in place, you'll barely think about it.
In this guide we go through the basics: how to wash cloth diapers, how to store them between washes and how to find a routine that suits your everyday life – whether you wash every other day or once a week.
In brief — the most important bits if you can't face reading it all: Tip solid stools into the toilet. Store used diapers airily in a wet bag. Wash at 60°C with fragrance-free detergent and no fabric softener. Air-dry if you can. That's really all you need to do.
The basics of washing cloth diapers
Let's start with the most important thing. Washing cloth diapers comes down to a few simple moves that you'll quickly have off by heart:
- Tip solid stools into the toilet before the diaper is put aside. If it's loose, you wipe it off with a little toilet paper.
- If you have a pocket diaper, take the insert out of the pocket before washing – that saves the elastic from unnecessary wear.
- If your child is breastfed, or has formula, the poo is water-soluble. It dissolves in the pre-wash, so you don't need to do anything with it beforehand.
- Store used diapers airily in a wet bag until wash time, and everything stays fresh.
That really is the whole secret. Today's washing machines are efficient and handle cloth diapers without any fuss – you don't need a special cleaning cycle afterwards.
Does the whole diaper need washing every time?
Here there's a little trick that saves both washing and time, and the answer depends on which diaper you're using.
The inner part – the insert or the inner diaper – is what soaks up the liquid and sits closest to your child. It's changed and washed every time. Closest to the skin sits a stay-dry layer that draws the moisture away, so it feels dry against the bottom.
A cover, on the other hand, doesn't sit directly against the skin. If the cover is clean and dry, you can snap in a fresh insert and use the same cover several times before it needs washing. This applies to both Slim and Comfort, which both come as covers. A pocket diaper, where the insert sits inside the pocket, is changed and washed completely at every diaper change.
That small difference makes a big one in practice: with cover diapers you need to wash less often, since it's mainly the inserts going round in the machine.
Which detergent suits cloth diapers?
You don't need any special detergent. The gentle one you already use for your child's other clothes works fine.
If you want to be extra kind to the fabrics, there are a couple of things to bear in mind once the diaper routine is up and running. Go for a detergent with a simple formula and a low level of enzymes – enzymes can over time break down natural fibers like bamboo and leave residue that can irritate sensitive skin. Steer clear of fragrance, which tends to linger in the fabric, and use neither bleach nor fabric softener for the diapers' long life. For sensitive skin, an extra rinse can make a difference.
In short: start with the simple approach, then fine-tune later if you feel like it.
Wash routine when it's a few days between washes
Most people find their own rhythm, and it's tied to how many diapers you have at home.
Washing 1–4 days apart: If you use a lot of diapers, it's nice to have larger storage that gets some air – a well-ventilated bucket, a wet bag or a mesh bag. Wash at 60°C with plenty of water. If you like, you can run a cold pre-wash first to deal with the worst of it.
Washing 4–7 days apart: When there are more days between washes, it's good to help the diapers along so they stay fresh. One option is to run a cold pre-wash every other day while they wait, before everything is washed together at 60°C. Another is to let the used diapers air-dry before they go into storage – then they can sit longer without trouble.
And if you only have a few cloth diapers? Then it's perfectly fine to wash them together with your regular 60-degree load. Run a 40-degree pre-wash on the diapers first, then add the rest of the laundry.
How to store the cloth diapers between washes
Storage sounds more complicated than it is. The simplest thing is a wet bag – a waterproof bag that keeps the smell in. Put the used diapers there until wash time, and you'll barely notice them.
Hang the wet bag on a hook or stand it in a bucket or container that isn't completely airtight – a pedal bin works fine. A little air circulation keeps everything fresh. In a wet bag, the cloth diapers can sit for up to around four days; if they need to wait longer, you dry or rinse them in between.
Air-dry the inserts after washing, when they're clean, if you have the chance.
StorageWet bagA waterproof bag that keeps the smell in between washes — airy and easy.See wet bags →It settles in faster than you think
Washing cloth diapers is no science – it’s a routine that becomes everyday within a week or so. Tip, store airily, wash at 60°C. After that it just ticks along.
Read on: the complete guide to cloth diapers, and how to think about washing the night diaper.
If you're curious about getting started, you can begin at a gentle pace with just a few diapers and feel out what suits you. Do take a look at our cloth diapers and Starter Kits – and get in touch in the chat if anything feels tricky, we're happy to help.
By Emelie, founder of Time Ahead Sweden — mum of three and curious about how, as a parent, you can make considered choices in everyday life.