Prepping is the process that allows your cloth diapers to reach their full absorbency. A little work in the beginning results in better results from your cloth diapers in the long run.
How do you prepare cloth diapers for the first time?
Prepping Synthetic Fiber Diapers and Inserts
For example: Microfiber, Pocket Diapers or Shells with microfleece or suede cloth linings
The official recommendation is to wash one time with detergent, dry and use. These can be washed with your other cloth diaper laundry as there are no natural oils that can be transferred. Covers have no absorbent material, so this is really to wash away the manufacturing yuck before first use.
Prepping Natural Fiber Diapers and Inserts
For Example: Cotton, Hemp, Bamboo, Charcoal Bamboo diapers and inserts
These should be washed separately at least once from your other cloth diapers and other new diapers that aren’t natural fibers. This is because there is a natural residue or oil that these naturally grown fibers contain. If initially washed with other diapers the residue could deposit on them and possibly reduce absorbency. You can either do this by washing them on their own if you have enough to make a load or you can just throw them in with your regular clothing laundry (this is good when you have just a few things to prep). Just no using fabric softener in those loads. After that first wash, they are fine to be washed with your regular cloth diaper laundry.
Natural fibers can take 8-10 washes to reach their full absorbency. This is because the repeated washings basically fluff and pull apart the internal layers allow them to absorb more. That doesn’t mean you can’t use them before that. You just have to adjust according. Since they may not be at their full absorbency yet either change more often or use them with other inserts as boosters.
People always ask if you HAVE to dry between each washing. Yes and no.
What I mean is that you probably don’t have to, but I think it helps increase absorbency faster. I dry between wash cycles, but you won’t ruin anything if you don’t. It just may take longer for everything, especially prefolds, to reach maximum absorbency).
This is not an exact science. You will not know the exact moment when all of your diapers have reached their maximum absorbency. If something is new and you use it and it leaks, just wash it a few more times. Chances are it just isn’t quite there yet. But if you have washed something more than 8-10 times and it still leaks, something else might be the cause. Check out this link to see if there is another solution for you.
How do YOU prep your new cloth diapers?
Jenn is a long-time cloth diaper educator and a passionate small business advocate. She has worked in the reusable diaper industry for over a decade, helping millions of families via her websites All About Cloth Diapers, Thinking About Cloth Diapers and Cloth Diaper Geek as well as hundreds of small businesses during that time. Her goal always to provide simple, reliable information.
Leah says
I’m new to cloth diapering. I bought second hand but they look clean to me and seller mentioned they peeped and stripped them. To be safe, I’m thinkingi should disinfect. Maybe using bleach. Your thoughts? None of the used ones look soiled, they all “look” clean.
Should I strip all used inserts and cloth diaper cover and AI2s first then bleach them?
I just don’t know where to start.
And what are your thoughts on DIY detergents (I think borax is part of that mix). And will that be enough to disinfect and clean?
Not sure if this is important to know in order to answer my questions: here’sa list is what I bought used: 1 bumgeniusAI2, 10 clothes organic workhorse fitted , glow worm AI2, a few inserts microfiber. And here’s what I bought new (Haven’t prepped): 6 organic cotton prefolds, 6 hemp inserts, and One little Nikki cover.
I’ve had these for over 2 years (bought new), used a couple times and washed once never prepped or stripped o r anything: 1 grovia and Charlie Banana AI2. This is my starter set I created to see how I do.
Thanks, Any advice is much appreciated!
Jennifer Reinhardt says
All you would have to do is disinfect them. That info can be found on our website :)
Carolyn says
Question,
I didn’t read this until after 1st wash. I am on wash #2 now. I added softener to the first wash. They are bamboo inserts
Jennifer Reinhardt says
Once won’t likely permanently damage them. Just don’t use it anymore on the diapers.
Vanessa says
I always wanted to use cloth diapers but when I was pregnant and mentioned that to my mother-in-law (who I currently live with) she said she didn’t want them used in her washer. So I’ve just been using regular diapers with my now 7 month old. Although I still feel strong about using cloth I really want to switch to it now! I’m thinking as a solution to avoid using my mother-in-laws washer is to do it the good ol’ fashion way and hand wash them in the tub. Would that work well enough on cloth diapers? Or is that just not a good idea?
Jennifer Reinhardt says
While obviously more labor intensive and time consuming, lots of people hand wash their diapers. Many claim, in fact, that they come even cleaner this way. I say try it out and see what you think!
miranda says
i’m prepping some cotton prefolds along with my minky bamboo pockets. I just wanted to make sure i didn’t make a mistake by doing that. this is my first time using prefolds.
Jennifer Reinhardt says
It’s pretty hard to mess up :) I’m sure you will do fine!
Rondi says
I know in the blogs I’ve read, it says to wash on HOT, but all of the diapers I have on hand say to wash on warm, some say not above 95 degrees. Should I just go ahead and wash everything on warm, or should I separate the shells and inserts and wash the inserts on hot?
Jennifer Reinhardt says
Hi Rondi, I personally do a warm prewash and a hot (about 120 degrees) main wash. It is what I recommend to my readers as well. In three years I haven’t had issues with the water temp being an issue. You have to do what you are comfortable with, but I would say that being a mom is hard enough. We need t simplify what we can. :)
Mima says
So, everytime you Wash Your cloth ( natural or synthetic) you do a warm prewash and hot main wash ? Or Only when you prep?
Jennifer Reinhardt says
Once diapers are prepped you wash everything together and the same way. I personally use a warm prewash and hot main wash.
Kathleen says
What if when prepping I mistakenly mix the natural and synthetic. Is there any way to fix the “residue deposits”?
Jennifer Reinhardt says
Hi Kathleen! It’s ok! I’m going to tell you a secret. There are many moms who never wash or prep separately and have no issues at all. I think it will all be just fine with no intervention. Just keep using and washing and remember that cloth diapers aren’t made of unicorn hair. Most mistakes are very fixable and some aren’t really that big of a deal. Good luck! :)
Ashley says
Hi. This has been so helpful to me as I a, about to begin cloth diapering. How many times do I have to wash hemp and bamboo before I can throw them in with my other laundry?
Jennifer Reinhardt says
Just once Ashley. And if I am only prepping a few I will just throw in with my regular laundry and make sure I don’t use regular fabric softener. Then I just wash with my normal cloth laundry.
Mima says
Dont you have to wash it 3 times min? (Article above) ..
Jennifer Reinhardt says
I personally wash once with my regular clothes and then start using and washing with cloth diapers. They just won’t be at full absorbency until 6-8 washes. So you adjust accordingly by changing more frequently or using additional inserts.
Ashley says
We had to stop cloth diapering because the little guy peed so much nothing could contain it. I never could go all night with cloth with either of my kiddos. My current boy pees through a pull up most nights as it is. I prepped everything correctly, I added inserts, I even put hemp on the bottom knowing it’s a slow absorber and microfiber on top (pockets). All of my diapers are one size since I had one potty training when the second was born. I’d really love to go back while potty training #2 but the leaking was constant and seemed to always be along his legs like the insert bunched a little in the middle and pulled away from the edge just a smidge. Never could figure it out but if he wore pants they were always wet. Maybe an All in one would be better?
Jennifer Reinhardt says
Hi Ashley, Can you tell me exactly which brands of diapers and inserts you are using. Maybe I can help.
Ashley says
Soft Bums, Tweedlebugs, Fuzzi Bunz, Nifty Nappy and Rocky Mountain are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. I never cared for the Tweedlebugs probably because both my boys were so skinny they never fit right as a OS when they were younger. The Soft Bums, Fuzzi Bunz and Rocky Mountain were my favorites because of the internal adjustment system rather than a snap down front. I have two other snap down front varieties that I can’t remember the brand without digging them out. I really liked the Nifty Nappy with the fold down concept, very convenient with two in diapers. I bought inserts with all of them and doublers. I first used them strictly with their respective brands then mixed and matched them throughout the years to try and find a combination that worked best. The Tweedlebugs Rocky Mountain and Fuzzi Bunz were microfiber. The Soft Bums and Nifty Nappy were Bamboo. I bought a Joey Bunz Hemp insert at one time to try that. When I prepped I kept the natural fibers separate. I did follow the prepping instructions as described above. Once fully prepped I did wash together after that. I have tried natural detergents but then had some odor issues when urinated in and it was recommended I try the original Tide. This helped with the odor, but never helped with absorbency. I now make my own detergent for laundry with Borax Washing Soda, Baking Soda, and Laundry Bar Soap. I also rinse with vinegar in the fabric softener compartment and add an extra rinse. Are there any issues with this detergent and cloth? I typically use a front loader but always kept our old top loader as this worked well when I had detergent buildup to rinse it all out. I last rinsed and rinsed and rinsed…got rid of all the suds, but never seemed to help with absorbency.
Tanya says
What about diapers that have a combo of natural and synthetic fibers? For example, the Bum Genius Elementals have organic cotton interior, but polyester (synthetic) exterior? Should those be washed completely separate from any other diapers, synthetic or natural?
Jennifer Reinhardt says
Hi Tanya, Many inserts are blends of materials. Just the micro fiber can be thrown on the bum or worn immediately. Your BG Elementals falls under the natural fiber category. They should be washed by themselves or with other organic cotton, hemp and bamboo to prep. Once prepped they can go right in with your other cloth diaper laundry.
Tanya says
Thanks, Jennifer! I’m about to start my prep process of Elementals and some hemp inserts right now!