Stripping your cloth diapers: Step 1
First wash your cloth diapers as you normally would. It is important to start with
clean diapers. If your diapers are soiled when you begin the stripping process, you may set stains in the fabric. Simply run your cloth diapers through a normal
cold wash cycle with a small amount of detergent, and rinse as usual.
Step 2Run your cloth diapers through a hot wash with no detergent. Turn up your water heater if necessary to make sure that the water is really hot (but be sure to turn it back down afterward for safety).
Note: check washing instructions for your particular cloth diapers. If you are using all-in-ones or pocket diapers with waterproof covers, too-hot water may damage them.You may want to use just a drop or two of original blue liquid Dawn dish detergent to this wash to help cut some of the oils, but it's not always necessary. You can also add a bit of
baking soda to absorb odors.
Step 3Be sure to do an extra rinse at the end of your wash cycle. Add some white vinegar to this final rinse to remove all detergent residues from your cloth diapers. Don't worry, your cloth diapers won't come out of the wash smelling like vinegar. When the diapers dry, all the vinegar smell will disappear.
Step 4Rinse, rinse, rinse. Run your cloth diapers through as many rinse cycles as necessary until no suds appear. This may take up to three or four rinse cycles, or even more if there is a lot of detergent residue in your cloth diapers.
Hint: to prevent detergent from building up too much, use one-fourth to one-half of the detergent you would use on a regular load of laundry when washing your diapers normally. Your diapers will still get clean, but there won't be as much residue left behind.Step 5Sunlight is a
natural germ-killer and stain-remover. If you have access to an outside drying line, hang your cloth diapers in the sun to dry. If this isn't an option, it is not absolutely necessary - the previous steps in the wash are more important.
It may be necessary to strip your cloth diapers as frequently as once a week, or as little as once a month. Strip your diapers as often as necessary to keep them absorbent and fresh.
courtesy of http://www.cafemom.com/group/clothdiapers
TheHollywoodHouse!! She can be found at TheHollywoodHouse.etsy.com!! This artist is a mom and artist who lives in Colorado and makes some super funky, hard to find items! I know her of course through "Cafemom Etsy Moms", one of the Etsy Street Teams I'm on. She rocks and makes some adorable pet clothes, IPod/phone cases and handbags! PLEASE check out her stuff and give her a heart or even a buy! :) And as always, please check out the CEM group at
