Washing your Diapers

Our diapers require some special care when washing due to the amount of absorbent and waterproof material they use. Following the tips on this page will help you get the most out of your diapers!

If Soiled, Remove Solid Debris

Before continuing to any washing step, shake our or brush off solid waste. You may use a soft brush with a gentle stain/odor remover.

Pre-soak to Remove Smells

Remove the core from your diaper before washing further!

We recommend pre-soaking your diapers when possible. Using a 5 gallon bucket works really well for us. Screw-in lids can be purchased for these buckets, but make sure that when you soak you do not seal the lid!

When soaking your diapers before washing, add a few tablespoons of baking soda and vinegar to the water. Do not seal any container that is being used for soaking as this process will create CO₂ gas. Let the diapers soak for an hour before washing.

Load the Machine with Enough Items

It is important to make sure the washing machine has enough items in it! Since diapers contain a lot of absorbent material as well as a waterproof layer to trap that moisture, we want to make sure your washing machine stays balanced!

Wash Twice!

Set your washing machine to the largest size load for filling with water. This is usually called something like “Super.” You can run this cycle without detergent since it is used mostly to rinse away any urine or solid material remaining.

Your washing machine should be set to a “bulky items” cycle. The key setting we are worried about is that the basin either spins slowly or not at all. Use cool or cold water for the first cycle.

On your second cycle, include your favorite gentle detergent in the wash. We prefer dye-free and scent-free detergents like Tide Free and Gentle. You may bump the temperature up to a low “warm” setting. Adding sodium percarbonate (OxiClean™) during this cycle can be quite useful in breaking down residual smell and staining.

The first cycle of washing is to remove as much urine as possible while the second wash will actually clean the diapers.

Drying

You may tumble dry your diapers on low heat. The bottom waterproof layer is made with polyurethane which can melt when the heat is turned up too much on your dryer. We like to use the “Casuals” or “Delicates” setting when tumble drying. Heat should be set no higher than “Warm.”

Your diapers may only be partially dry after this cycle. Other clothing should be completely dry. We recommend laying the diapers out flat or hang drying to complete your washing and drying.

It is normal for the bottom waterproof layer of PUL to stick to itself after drying. Gently pull any parts that are sticking together apart. This is residual basting adhesive used in the construction of the diapers and will naturally wash out over time and this stickiness will be reduced.