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Congratulations, you have
chosen to give your baby the best possible start by planning to use
cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are the natural way to capture
the leaks that will happen until he is potty trained. The
good news is that he�s likely to train much faster as a
cloth-wearing baby than he would be if he wore the super absorbent
brands of diapers. Cloth diapers actually feel wetter than
most disposables, allowing baby to communicate his need to be
changed. This ability to feel wetness is also an important
part of potty training.
General Care of Cloth
Diapers
1.
Wash twice before initial use. This removes any dust and
fluffs up the cotton/flannel,making the
diapers more absorbent.
2. We recommend
using Hydrox 2, as it is a gentle all-purpose cleaner with hydrogen
peroxide to disinfect. Throw dirty diapers into a diaper pail that
is half-filled with water and a cup of vinegar or a splash
of Hydrox 2. This acts as a pre-soak.
3. Toss dirty
diapers into the washing machine and do a rinse cycle if you feel
it's needed. (Dirty pail water can go down the toilet or
sink.)
4. Wash
the diapers with 1/4 cup of Hydrox 2 (if it was also used as the
pre-soak) or 1/2 cup if vinegar was in the diaper pail. Do
not add any other detergents or fabric softeners.
5. Toss into
the dryer. Do not use any dryer sheets. If you have diaper covers,
they can go in the washing machine but must be hung to dry - heat
will destroy the waterproof coating.
6. If you have
access to a clothesline you may air-dry and fluff in the dryer.
(The sun has a great bleaching effect.)
Cloth
diapers require laundering. Most commercially available
detergents, even those touted as enviro-friendly may contain
chemicals that are harmful to the environment and that break down
very slowly.
hipbaby
(formerly Absolutely Diapers) introduced Hydrox 2; a
completely different approach to cleaning that replaces all the
harmful chemicals normally found in detergents in thier place
with hydrogen peroxide, an environmentally benign compound
that breaks down into just water and oxygen. Hydrox 2 has all
of the whitening and brightening power of detergents, but none of
the chlorine and other chemicals that pollute the environment,
irritate baby's skin with chemical residues, and contribute to the
faster breakdown of clothing fibers. Hydrox 2 contains
biodegradable surfactants, considerably reducing the amount of
cleaner needed for each use, whether it's in the family laundry or
replacing most of the household cleaners used in the bathroom and
kitchen.
Cloth
diapering is about setting up a routine, you will find it a simple,
efficient and rewarding system to use. The following
laundering instructions will help you determine which steps are
best for you:
We do not
recommend laundry soaps (for example Ivory Snow) as they remain in
the fabrics after rinsing. Chlorine bleach and fabric
softeners (wash or dry cycle) are not recommended as they break
down the fabrics and may irritate sensitive skin. Fabric
softeners slow absorbency.
If your
baby is exclusively breast-fed:
Wet pail
system:
Pail is
filled 1/3 full, with 1oz. Hydrox II to 1 gallon water (stool does
not need to be rinsed off in toilet, all matter is biodegradable
and the soaking neutralizes germs.
Rinsing and
laundering will clean soiled diapers. For easier general
usage a mesh strainer laundry bag will allow you to extract the
diaper pail contents easily. Diapers can be placed in the
machine in the open bag and laundering agitation will release
them. Once food (including formula) is introduced you should
switch to a dry diaper pail. DO NOT SOAK COVERS. Covers
can be hand washed with liquid soaps and hung to dry or machine
washed. When using a wet pail diapers should be laundered
every two days, maximum three days.
Washing
instructions:
Cold water
rinse (this removes the �solids� and sets up a fresh wash.
Warm water wash with Hydrox II (1/4 to 1/2 cup, depending on load
size) or your regular envriomentally and baby friendly bleach free
detergent.
Cold water
rinse with vinegar (1/2 cup to 1 cup for a medium size load)
only if child or (breast feeding) mother is on antibiotics
(this kills the bacteria and disinfects. It also removes any
traces of detergent if the baby has sensitive skin.)
If your
baby is on formula (even if only occasionally) and/or
food:
Dry pail
system:
Tip:
Soak the soiled diaper in the toilet for a minute, agitate, fold up
and squeeze excess water out, spray a diluted solution of Hydrox II
and water on the diaper. Place in the diaper pail. This
will eliminate odor and staining. Always use a deodorizing
disk in your diaper pail lid. (Once anything except breast
milk is introduced, the solid waste is considered fecal
matter that must go through the regional sewer
system).
Wash
instructions:
Cold water rinse (may add 1/2 cup of vinegar to kill
odor).
Warm water
wash with Hydrox II (1/4 to 1/2 cup, depending on load size) or
your regular detergent (no bleach).
Cold water
rinse with vinegar only (1/2 cup to 1 cup for a medium
sized load) if child or (breast feeding) mother is on antibiotics
(this kills the bacteria and disinfects. It also removes any
traces of detergent if the baby has sensitive skin.)
Laundering
frequency depends on you. Suggested wash load is 24 diapers
with covers, washcloths and liners every 2-3 days.
Wash
diapers separately from other laundry; keep Velcro closed on
diapers and covers.
Covers:
Machine wash with diapers or hand wash and hang to try.
Unless soiled, covers can often be re-used without washing, after
simply being quick rinsed or hung up to air dry. Never
soak covers in wet pail. Covers will last longer if
hung to dry. Check individual instructions for covers, as
some cannot go into the drier at all, some can.
Wool diaper covers need very rare washing due to unprocessed wool
containing lanolin. They can be spot cleaned with a cloth,
aired out and occasionally washed in a mild soap, suitable for wool
products. Lie flat to dry, as you would a fine sweater, on a
towel.
Training
pants: Include in your
dry diaper pail, don't include in wet pail, don't
soak.
Swim
diapers: Hand
wash and hang to dry.
Drying
diapers and diaper covers:
Dry diapers in the dryer. When possible hang to dry in the
sun (whitens). Diapers that take a long time to dry should be
hung whenever possible as dryers are hard on the fibers, elastic
and Velcro. Place dry diapers, covers and liners in a basket,
ready to put back on baby. For super fast changes or to
create a one step process, place diapers into covers, ready to pop
onto baby.
Diaper
pail maintenance:
Rinse every time you launder diapers, disinfect as
needed. | 