Wash First- Be sure to wash your diapers before using them for the first time. We recommend only washing 1 or 2 if you are not sure you'll be pleased with the diapers.

Used Diapers-
1) Wet diapers go directly into the diaper pail, no rinsing is necessary. Soiled diapers are rinsed in the toilet, then put into your diaper pail.

2) When your pail is full, dump the diapers directly into the washing machine.

3) Pre-rinse or do a short cycle with warm water & detergent. Use the detergent you use for the rest of your laundry(no bleach) Do not use fabric softeners, they reduce the absorbency of fabric.

4) Wash your diapers in a full cycle using hot water and your household detergent(without bleach). Chlorine bleach is very harsh against baby's skin & will damage the diaper's fibers & elastics.

5) The diapers can be either line dried or dried in your dryer. Line drying will extend the life of your diapers & help the environment.

Used Covers- Machine wash in warm water using your household detergent(without bleach) & dry in the dryer on low temperature. To extend the life of your covers you can wash with mild soap & hang to dry.

Other Helpful Notes & Tips

Waterproof Covers- can usually be used 3 to 4 times before washing, provided they aren't soiled.

Diaper Pail- Fill your diaper pail with enough water to cover the diapers. Before putting the diapers in the washer, tip off some of the excess water into the toilet to ease the weight of the pail, then dump the diapers & remaining water into the washing machine. After dumping , rinse pail with water.

Flushable Liners- To simplify the clean up you can purchase flushable liners that are laid into the diapers. These break down in the sewage similar toilet paper & can make cleanup of soiled diapers a little easier(may not be appropriate for septic systems).

Diaper Rash- A number of factors can cause diaper rashes. The simplest thing to try is more frequent diaper changes. Should the problem persist, add 1 cup of vinegar to final rinse cycle of your wash. If you still have a problem use Diaper Pure in the final rinse. Use additives only on an as required basis because they affect the life of the fabrics. Use them for a short time period of time to overcome the problem then reduce gradually, then stop.

Diaper Pail Odors- To reduce odors & stains add Borax, Amaze or 1/2 cup of your detergent to your diaper pail. Again be frugal in your approach whenever using additives, the environment & your diapers will thank you.

Diaper Stains- Rinse soiled diapers promptly in the toilet to minimize stains. Flushable liners will also help. Should you have a tough stain, you can use a detergent such as Biz with "non-chlorine bleach". Cleaning agents such as these may affect the life of the fabrics, use only on an as required basis.

These recommendations are from the manufacturer. Personally I prefer not to soak my dipes in water, as it does make the pail extremely heavy. I pre-soak my dipes for a few hours directly in the washing machine  with some baking soda (deodorizes)& Borax (brightens and freshens), spin them out, then start a regular wash cycle on hot water with my regular non bleach detergent. I do run an extra rinse cycle to assure there is no soap residue.You can add vinegar(helps remove soap residue and adjust PH) to the final rinse. Some people even use a Downy ball filled with vinegar  and just toss it in. I prefer to line dry whenever possible as it saves money and the sun bleaches the diapers out naturally. If I have any stubborn stains, I occasionally will add Borateem to the wash cycle. Please never add any fabric softeners to the washer or fabric sheets to the dryer. It will destroy the absorbency of your diapers.

Please contact me if you have any questions.Lisa@thebabylane.com

Lisa is the proud owner of The Baby Lane:
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