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FAQs - Ask Our Cloth Diaper Expert

  • "I am getting stains. How do I get rid of them?" Stains are normal for cloth diapering, but if you want your cloth stash to be as stain-free as possible, after washing, hang or place your diapers outside to dry in the sun as the sun will naturally lighten stains. If you have little sun like we do in the Pacific Northwest, go ahead and do it anyway and you will notice a difference! You may need to "sun" your diapers often to keep them stain free, otherwise the presence of stains does not mean the diapers aren't clean!
  • "My diapers are smelly from the washer or dryer!" If this is an ongoing issue for you, even using Country Save, there is no harm in stripping every month or so - sometimes the quality or hardness of your water can cause residue buildup.
  • "I bought used diapers, how do I wash them?" Even though it is not necessary to use on a regular basis, add a very small amount - close to a 1/4 or 1/5 of a scoop of Country Save's Oxygen Powered Bleach Alternative to a hot wash and this will disinfect your diapers.
  • "My diapers are leaking, wicking, etc" If the diaper cover or diaper is made of PUL - PUL is a man made material and you need to "seal" the waterproof-ness in the dryer prior to using them the first time or they may leak or wick. If it is a cover you are using and you are having wicking around the legs, just ensure that the diaper is fully covered inside the cover and this will prevent leaks. Lastly, if this is an ongoing problem, try changing your baby more often - often a soaking wet diaper will leak and may leak through the cover.
  • "How do I get rid of ammonia smell?" Urine is acidic and with many babies, once you change their diaper, you will notice a strong ammonia smell. This is nothing to be concerned about, as it is quite normal. Just wash as usual and the ammonia smell will be gone. If the smell bothers you significantly, change your baby more often to avoid ammonia to build up while baby is wearing the diaper
  • "I like some scent to my laundry, can I use dryer sheets or fabric softener?" Dryer sheets and softeners are full of chemicals that add residue to cloth diapers and clothing - they literally coat your clothes to make them feel and smell "nice." We do not recommend dryer sheets or softeners (see above for our recommendation for the Static Eliminator) and in fact, once you stop using dryer sheets/fabric softener you will also need to strip your dryer of residue before drying your diapers. To do this, just add a load of towels you just washed with County Save and run until they are dry - then rewash if desired to get rid of all residues on the towels. If you really want a scent to your laundry, add a small muslin bag filled with lavender tied very tightly and add it to your dryer (though lavender has been shown to affect hormones, you may want to avoid this on baby clothing), or add a small rag with some essential oil dabbed onto it.
  • "What about adding vinegar, washing soda, borax etc?" Many have debated over adding extras to your wash. Depending on where you live, your water may be hard or soft or somewhere on that continuum. Some people swear that adding borax to the wash (1/2 a cup or less) when they have hard water will help dissolve minerals, while others add vinegar either to the wash or to the rinse cycle. We say don't bother unless you are having an odor problem, and with odor we simply advocate to strip every month or so as opposed to spending more money and making your diaper laundry more work.
  • "How often should I wash?" Most people wash 2 times a week, but some wash once or even three times - it all depends on how many diapers and covers you have and if you wash at home or at a Laundromat.
  • "How can I wash my cloth diapers at a Laundromat?" We suggest you actually damp wipe the washer's entire drum in order to remove residues and then strip the washing machine prior to use (see above for stripping instructions) - this may take a few rinses, but it is the only way to ensure that there are no detergent residues in the washing machine prior to washing your diapers. Dryers are the same - wipe them down thoroughly and run some towels through before adding your cloth. If this is too time consuming or expensive for you and your baby is not getting any rashes or irritation from residue, then continue using Country Save like you would at home, but you will want to strip your diapers every month or so to keep them from building up excessive residue over time that may be impossible to remove.
  • "Help! My MIL/DH just washed my diapers with another detergent" No worries unless of course you are having odor or repelling issues (see above).
  • "I think my baby has a yeast infection, do I need to change my laundry routine?" Firstly, I would have your baby's rash looked at by a doctor before putting any special creams or doing any treatments, but if you are sure your baby has a yeast infection, follow the steps for stripping your diapers (if you want, you can do one wash with Country Save's Bleach Alternative as well) - this will ensure all irritating residue or infection is gone from your diapers. We suggest using GSE in your wash as well - GSE stands for Grapefruit Seed Extract - this will kill all bacteria and you only need about 6 drops per load as it is very concentrated. (For information about or to purchase GSE, please visit One Bum at a Time!)

For questions not answered here, please see the section "FAQ/Ask our Cloth Diaper Expert" or email Tara at tara@onebumatatime.com.

Compiled by Tara Gowland of One Bum at a Time!