The first thing about washing cloth diapers is where to store the dirty diapers. Wet pails are what are grandparents and parents used, but aren't recommended. They are a lot more work, and spread more germs than a dry pail. To keep the order down, try sprinkling some baking soda in the pail. A cloth liner is a must, and it makes laundry day easy. Just take that liner, empty it into the wash and throw the bag in too.

What Kind of Detergent Should I Use?

Babies always have sensitive skin, and choosing the right detergent is important to the health of your babies skin. Use less detergent than you normally do with your own clothes, and use an extra rinse to get any residue from the detergent off. Use a chemical-free, fragrance free for your babies soft sensitive skin. Natural detergents work great, and are better for the environment. An occasional dash of baking soda will help get those stained diapers extra clean. They also get any orders out if any occur. Anyways avoid bleach, detergents with extra whitening or color safe features, and fabric softeners. These will leave residue that might harm your baby's skin.

The Washing Process

The key to washing cloth diapers is almost exactly how you would wash delicate clothing like lingerie or fine clothing. Keep wash loads small, and leave the washing machine at the small load setting. Remove all pins and snappis, and if you are using covers with velcro, make sure they are closed so they don't snag on the cloth diapers. Use hot water with a cold rinse to get extra soiled diapers clean, but for less messy diapers use cold to save on your electricity bill. After a wash, give your cloth a quick sniff. There should be no lingering orders. If you do get a little smell, throw a little baking soda into the washing machine to get it out. Drying on a line is great for saving electricity and for the environment. If you are using wool covers, these should never go in a dryer, or they will shrink. Dry them on a line, wool tends to dry quicker than you think!