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Diaper Care

At New & Green, we always send you instructions on how to pre-wash, store and wash your diapers. You will have your instructions in your inbox before your diapers arrive at your front door!

Simple Diaper Care - Because we all need more Simplicity in our lives!

Your diapers and covers will need to prepped before you use them. All diapers and covers require at least one wash prior to their use. Diapers and other items made from natural fibers (cotton, bamboo and hemp) should be pre-washed separately from other diapers (especially diapers with a microfleece lining) as their natural oils that will come out in the wash may coat other diapers and cause leaking issues.

Bamboo and Hemp diapers/inserts can be used after pre-washing a few times but will reach their best ability to absorb wetness after approximately 10 washes.

Diapers made of synthetic materials and PUL/Fleece/Wool covers only require one wash before you can use them effectively.

Remember that wool needs handwashing.

Pre-washing instructions: Wash on Warm or Hot (60C/140F maximum - not sanitary cycle, warm / hot depends on the manufactuer's recommendation for the product you purchase) with 1/2 of recommended amount of conventional detergent. If you are using a residue free detergent such as Rockin Green, use full recommended amount. Do extra rinse. Dry in dryer. Repeat as described above.

Storing diapers: We recommend a dry pail system. This is basically a diaper pail or garbage pail with a tight fitting lid, lined with a pail liner. When diapers are wet, simply throw them into the pail. If using a pocket diaper, shake out the insert into the pail and then throw the shell in. If babies are exclusively drinking breast milk, poopy diapers can just be thrown in the pail like peed on diapers. If your baby is taking formula or solid foods, try to knock the solids into the toilet and then throw diaper into pail. Don't worry the washing machine will do the work! No more dunking or swishing (unless you want to of course). The hands down easiset way to deal with sticky poop is to use a flushable liner called a Bio-Soft Liner.

Laundry Day:

Take your diaper pail liner out of pail and dump diapers, inserts, covers and wipes into washer. Throw in diaper pail liner as well.
Do cold rinse or soak cycle with NO detergent – try to let the diapers are soak in the cold water for 10-20 minutes after agitation.
Do a warm or hot wash (60C/140F max - not sanitary cycle) wash with 1/2 the amount of recommended conventional detergent for top loaders, 1/4 amount of detergent for front loaders/HE machines. If you are using a residue free detergent such as Rockin Green or WonderWash, use full recommended amount. Do extra rinse at your discretion.
Dry in dryer on MEDIUM or line dry.

We have had the best success and feedback about the following detergents:

Rockin Green Cloth Diaper Detergent
bumGenius Cloth Diaper Detergent
Allen's Naturally

The following common detergents are to be AVOIDED because they contain soap, oils or additives that will coat the fibers of your diapers causing detergent buildup and can lead to moisture repelling, wicking of moisture, possible leaking and stinky diapers.

Ivory Snow
Dr. Bronner’s Soap
7th Generation (all versions available in Canada)

When assessing a detergent to use, consider the following:

AVOID detergents with whiteners and brighteners and enzymes. Enzymes are great for biological staining but if they are not completely rinsed out, the enzymes can start to work on your baby's bottom when your baby pees. And the result can be a very sore rash.

AVOID fabric softeners as will leave residue.

AVOID bleach as it is harsh on fabric and baby's skin. Oxygen Bleach is okay to use on occasion. Oxyboost and Nature Clean brands are among the best and safest for everyone and everything involved. Remember though, use of any additives can potentially void manufacturer's warranty.

Diaper cream can also build up on your pocket diapers and cause these issues. If you need to use a cream, use a microfleece liner to prevent the cream from touching the diaper and becoming embedded in the fabric.

If you have issues with repelling, stinky diapers when they are peed on or wicking of moisture, it is most likely an issue with detergent buildup.

Try the following as recommended by the some of the major diaper manufacturers:

If the residue is not too extensive, it can often be resolved by doing 2-3 HOT water rinses with no detergent, then throwing the diapers, inserts and covers in the dryer.
If this does not resolve the issue, a more intense “stripping” may be necessary. We recommend the product RLR - an incredible yet super affordable stripping product.

Another approach is to use DAWN dish detergent. Squirt a little onto the inside of a clean, dry diaper, scrub with medium bristle brush. Turn diaper inside out (for pockets) and repeat. Rinse with plain hot water in the sink until the water runs clear. Wash as normal in the machine. Dawn is recommended because it is excellent at removing oils. What's good for your dishes is good for your diapers too! ***We do not recommend Dawn detergent

If you have issues with stinky diapers coming out of the wash (smell them as you take them out of the washer), then you have urine residue. You need to get more water through those diapers during the wash to really rinse them well and may need to use more detergent.

If you have any questions about how to care for your diapers or need help troubleshooting your laundry routine, please email us.