Love your Velcro Cloth diapers but hate the issues with them? Then you need to check this out!

The other day I asked everyone on Facebook which they prefered: Snaps or Aplix?

There were a good many people that said they loved snaps. But quite a few of those people added it was because of a few issues they had with Aplix. Before we get into why we are here today…. I would like to tell you a little bit about hook and loop.

Hook and loop is also known as Aplix or Velcro (basically different manufacturers). There are many types used on cloth diapers ranging from soft feeling to scratchy. Some barely seem to hold the diaper together and a few need a good two-handed tug to open. (Those are my FAVORITE kind! Ragababe, Chelory and Tot Bots are a few that have good, strong Velcro.)

The Good:

• Convenient option for wiggly babies, easy to put on and easy to adjust.
• Most like a disposable diaper. This seems to make it easier for caregivers to use.

The Bad:

• Some diapers just don’t seem to stay closed even when they are brand new.
• Can wear out or become full of fuzz and lose its stickiness.
• Some people find it scratchy on baby.
• Many think it is too easy for baby to remove. Although I think once a toddler figures out how to undo Aplix, it will only be a matter of time before they figure out how to undo snaps.
• Laundry tabs don’t work well causing the DREADED diaper destroying chain in the wash.

This was not my idea, but thank you to whomever thought of it! This trick I am about to share with you saved my sanity from my hook and loop diapers. I had one of those diaper chains one day made up of all of my diapers that had promised their laundry tabs would work.  *sad face*

I went searching and asking questions in hope of finding a solution. Here is what I found. **LOOP FABRIC and TOUCH TAPE!**

First, you need to purchase a strip of loop fabric or touch tape. You can find it on Amazon here. It is called 1.5 Inch Touch Tape (I think touch tape actually works better than loop fabric because its thicker and seems more durable). Count your hook and loop diapers and multiply times 3. That is how many inches you need to purchase. I would get a little extra because lets face it, there will be more diapers, right? I’ve also found that the loop fabric squares curl a bit after many washes. So to be on the safe side just get a little extra.

Once you get it, simply cut it up into 1.5” x 1.5” squares. I wasn’t very scientific when I made mine, just eyeballed the tape as best I could. I store them in a little container by the changing table.

Ok, so how do you use them? You won’t be using the provided laundry tabs on the diaper. You will use the loop tape square you made instead. Simply store clean diapers with squares on them. Remove just before you put diaper on baby.

As a dirty diaper comes off, you simply reach for your little container full of squares and place on Aplix instead of using provided laundry tab. Throw into wetbag or pail. And done!

Watch in amazement as you no longer get diaper chains in the wash. Now for the best part! You know how the hook part of the closure gets all full of fuzz? YUCK!! You won’t have that problem anymore! Now that the tab is completely covered in the wash it will come out gunk free every time.

Not everybody worries about something like this, but I know that there must be a few of you out there like me. You won’t have to waste time picking fuzz out of the Velcro anymore. Also, no more worrying about diapers getting snags in the wash. Now you will have more time for a relaxing bath and a good book! Just kidding…

Jennifer Reinhardt

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.