Too Much Stripping Cloth Diapers! Top 5 Things to Consider First.

Let's talk about stripping (cloth diapers, that is). Spoiler alert… It's getting out of hand.

First, what does stripping cloth diapers mean?

Stripping refers to a thorough deep cleaning process that removes any buildup, odors, or residues from your cloth diapers. It’s like hitting the reset button to ensure your diapers are fresh, absorbent, and ready for use.

One group heavily recommends soaks and DIY stripping recipes.

Another is pushing RLR.

Lots of people say just use Mighty Bubbles.

It's all gotten so complicated I'm surprised people still want to cloth diaper after they spend 2 minutes in pretty much any cloth diaper group.

Remember, stripping is not a routine maintenance step. If your diapers smell fresh and perform well after regular washing, skip the stripping process. Focus on maintaining a consistent washing routine to keep your cloth diapers in great shape.

I wholeheartedly believe cloth diapers are better for the planet. I believe they are a great choice for almost any family. What I cannot support is the ONE BEST way to wash them.

Just because someone has a Facebook group doesn't mean they are an expert. That includes myself. We all (even you) have access to the same information. Any recommendation or opinion, even in a specialized cloth diaper Facebook group is just that… a recommendation, not a law.

There are no degrees in cloth diaper laundry. No peer-reviewed papers or studies.

The recommendations you see are purely based on that person's or group's interpretation of what they have read and their own experiences.

That's not to say it's bad just because it's coming from one group or the next. I'm just saying think about it first and use common sense.

DO NOT blindly follow ANY advice or recommendations (including mine) without doing your own research first and thinking about how it will all work for YOU and YOUR family.

Enough with the stripping cloth diapers.

Stripping is a harsh treatment and should not be done regularly. Reserve it as a last resort when other methods fail. If you maintain a good washing routine, stripping cloth diapers should rarely be necessary. Remember, prevention is better than cure!

5 Things to keep in mind about stripping cloth diapers

• The longer you go between washes, the harder it becomes to clean cloth diapers. That doesn't mean it is impossible at 5 or more days, just that they have less time to ‘bake' if you wash before that.
• The more layers an insert or diaper has, the harder it becomes to clean them. For night diapers, which often have multiple layers, consider rinsing them with hot water and wringing them out before storing them for wash day.
• If you are having issues you can try to: clean your washer, use hotter water, or use more agitation (this can mean longer cycles or making sure the water level is right in non-HE machines.)
• READ YOUR MANUAL! Google it if you need to.
• If your clothes aren't getting clean either, check whether the machine is working correctly.

No matter how you choose to strip cloth diapers, if you don't get the wash routine right, the issue will come right back.

REMEMBER, there is no one way to wash or strip cloth diapers. Try not to over-complicate it. Cloth diapers aren't made from unicorn hair. They are just really dirty laundry.

Keep asking questions and questioning what you are told.

You got this!

If you need some help from me, start here: https://www.allaboutclothdiapers.com/top-10-tips-on-washing-cloth-diapers/

My friend Bailey, from Cloth Diaper Podcast, was the one who encouraged me to make this into a blog post. I like the way she does things. I think you will too. Check her out if you haven't already!