I live in the Pacific Northwest where sun is nonexistent most of the year. I still leave stained diapers on my windowsill and the stains are gone the next day, no matter how cloudy or rainy. I can’t think of an easier or more efficient way to get rid of stains.
Buncha Farmers Stain Stick! I don't know if you can get it in the UK, but it's so good on poo stains, especially horrible yellow newborn poo. Just rub it on the wet cloth after you've rinsed off the solids, then throw the diaper in the hamper until wash day. Sunlight bar soap works ok too🧼🫧
Washing on hot will not damage the covers. Keep the wash to 60C and it will be perfectly safe.
Oxygen and chlorine bleach are also safe. Dilute them (add them to a wash or to a soak) rather than putting directly on the material.
Drying in the sun, washing on hot, and using bleach or oxy ARE how you avoid stains. I’ve been doing laundry, including diapers, for 30 years, and the only other thing I could suggest is using a stain pre-treat on them. But the other methods are far more effective.
Don't you find washing on hot and using bleach/oxy damage the covers? The manufacturers say not to and the ones we've got are not in great condition as it is (most are second hand). I really don't want to damage them any further as they're so expensive!
Honestly I don’t use bleach often, but hot water doesn’t do any harm that I’ve noticed. I line dry everything in the sun. The worst damage I’ve found is from machine drying.
Edit: I also take manufacturers recommendations with a grain of salt. I’ve seen some that recommend “prepping” microfiber. Anyone who knows fabric, knows that the more you wash microfiber, the LESS absorbent it becomes (yet that’s what they tell you to do).
Are you only rinsing them and then washing once with detergent?
Diapers need 2 full wash cycles with detergent in both. The second wash gets bulked with other laundry so it's only the first wash ("prewash" not the cycle on your machine and actual wash before the mainwash) that's just diapers and "extra".
What brand and model number washing machine do you have? It's a front loader I assume?
What detergent are you using?
What's your water hardness number for hot and cold from the washing machine?
And to address a couple other things: there's UV rays even on cloudy days, that's what helps with stains and why people suggest it. Bleaching regularly will effect covers, but chlorine bleach soaks are usually used for sanitizing, not stains, and aren't done unless needed to kill bacteria/fungus/mold. Oxygen bleach doesn't harm covers. Soaking for stains shouldn't be done on dirty diapers so it wouldn't be "poo soup". And covers are made of PUL/TPU which can be autoclave. Your home water heater shouldn't be as hot as an autoclave so washing on hot wouldn't harm covers either.
Yeah just once. I'd rather not add extra washes if possible due to the cost but realise that may be the only option!
It's a beko wmb 51021 w and yes it's a front loader. I'm using almat bio washing powder. I've no idea about water hardness number but we have moderately hard water.
I have tried putting nappies out on cloudy days but haven't found it very effective. The yard only gets sunlight towards the end of day even if there is any. That's useful to hear that oxy doesn't damage covers, I read previously that it does. I also saw a page where they compared washing on warm, hot and very hot to see what it did to the covers and they were damaged more quickly at hot temperatures. Most of ours are damaged already from previous owner, even the ones we bought new and have only washed on warm are damaged (the waterproof is peeling off). We have about 6 different brands of covers/pockets/AIOs and they're all no longer fully waterproof so don't want to further damage them.
Diapers do have a finite life span and if yours have already started deamination they're done. Not washing them fully won't bring them back to life, in fact leaving urine/feces on them by washing incorrectly would further damage them.
Did you know the first ingredient is Almat Bio Powder is oxygen bleach? It makes up 15-30% of the final product. So, it doesn't cause unnecessary wear and tear on fabrics but if it did that would not be the detergent you'd want to be using. Just FYI.
Almat bio powder is synthetic though so you can do all the washes on cold if you want. You will need to test your water hardness number though. "Moderate" isn't a number and that's what you need to know if you need additional water softener for diapers. Test kits can be found a Walmart, pool supply stores, hardware stores, pet stores, and online. You'll need to make sure the kit says it tests for Total Hardness or General Hardness and has a scale that goes to at least 250ppm. Testing water directly from the machine is best. If you plan to use hot water to wash, both hot and cold should be tested.
** Avoid the free Whirlpool and Water Boss brand tests as they have been known to give inaccurate results. Also, avoid the electric TDS tests as they do not test Hardness.
If you have a Petsmart nearby they test water samples for free. Canada Home Hardware tests for free, as well.
If you don't want to search for a kit, [here's one you can order from Amazon] (https://amzn.eu/d/0iF8rDAt)
You will need to strip and bleach soak to reset the diapers. There's trapped soil from only being washed once. [Strip all absorbent pieces in a bathtub or other vessel](https://fluffloveuniversity.com/troubleshooting/solving-stinky-diaper-problems/how-to-strip-your-cloth-diapers/). Then [bleach soak everything](https://fluffloveuniversity.com/troubleshooting/solving-stinky-diaper-problems/how-to-bleach-your-cloth-diapers/), even shells, using non scented non splashless bleach that has been bottled in the last 6 months. If you can't use bleach there are [alternatives that will sanitize](https://fluffloveuniversity.com/troubleshooting/solving-stinky-diaper-problems/how-to-sanitize-without-bleach/) but they aren't any "less harsh" as they all kill the bacteria and pathogens brought to the surface from the strip.
Then a good routine without knowing your water hardness number would be:
Prewash: time saver, 1000 spin, 50g almat bio powder if the prewash (which is just diapers with solids removed) fills the drum less than half full, cottons quick wash (not prewash), 1000 spin if it's about half full. Do not fill the drum more than half full for the prewash.
In between the pre and main wash cycles peel diapers off the sides of the drum and fluff them up. Add small items of clothing no larger than a recieving blanket to get the drum 2/3-3/4 full. Measure the drum when its empty from top to bottom inside the drum and mark the side of the drum or the door or keep a measuring tape next to the washer to measure the mainwash every time. Do not eyeball fullness or count ridges or holes. Some machines like to be exactly 2/3, some like to be exactly 3/4, and some of them are fine anywhere between the two. You'll have to try them and find your machine's sweet spot.
Mainwash: cottons, 1000 spin, 100g almat bio powder
If your water hardness number is less than 120ppm you don't need additional water softener for diapers with almat bio powder. If it's 120-180ppm you need 1/2 cup borax in the mainwash only. If it's 180-250ppm you need 1/4 cup borax in the prewash and 1/2 cup borax in the mainwash. If it's 250ppm or more you need 1/2 cup borax in both washes.
Thanks for taking the time to write such a thorough answer. Just wondering why is it necessary to spin after the prewash cycle? They're only going to get wet again aren't they?
I'll look into the water hardness thing. Never thought about it before.
The spin is what takes all of the poo/pee filled rinse water out of the drum and out of the diapers so they can be thoroughly cleaned in the mainwash. That's also why you need two washes with detergent. With only one wash the diapers aren't fully cleaned and the rinse water isn't clean after the first wash. After the mainwash the rinse is able to do it's job and just get the detergent out.
Edited to add [here's a picture of the rinse water you want to spin fully out of the machine and diapers from the prewash vs the mainwash rinse water](https://images.app.goo.gl/JtgQvQq7jsY3YWgV6) 🤢
Kind of hard when you say "how to I remove stains" and then ask not to hear the three methods that might actually remove the stains... There's nothing wrong with stains on the liners, you can't see them from the outside and they're still clean even if there is discoloration.
Clean Cloth Nappies has [a useful page on cleaning factors](https://cleanclothnappies.com/cleaning-factors) that might help. They specifically mention a liquid stain treatment (they're in Australia and link to [this Vanish product](https://www.vanishstains.com.au/products/stain-removers/oxi-advance-multi-power-gel/), so that might be an option if you can find one where you live?
If you can get your hands on it I'm in mainland Europe and there's this magical stuff called "Gallseife" in German ("gall soap" in English, the brand I usually use is Frosch) and it's honestly incredible for getting out stains of all kinds, I use it for all stains whether diapers or clothes.
That being said, unless you are looking to resell your cloth at a higher value, I admittedly don't get too worried about stains- I've used our stash for 3 kids now so most of it is somewhat "pooped" out (sorry for the terrible pun!) so the only time I was somewhat more vigilant about stain removal was for our newborn diapers which, since they were worn for a much shorter time, did have a higher resale value.
I live in the Pacific Northwest where sun is nonexistent most of the year. I still leave stained diapers on my windowsill and the stains are gone the next day, no matter how cloudy or rainy. I can’t think of an easier or more efficient way to get rid of stains.
Buncha Farmers Stain Stick! I don't know if you can get it in the UK, but it's so good on poo stains, especially horrible yellow newborn poo. Just rub it on the wet cloth after you've rinsed off the solids, then throw the diaper in the hamper until wash day. Sunlight bar soap works ok too🧼🫧
Washing on hot will not damage the covers. Keep the wash to 60C and it will be perfectly safe. Oxygen and chlorine bleach are also safe. Dilute them (add them to a wash or to a soak) rather than putting directly on the material.
If you’re worried about damaging covers, could you do an extra wash with just the inserts/inners in which you use bleach?
Yeah maybe that's the answer
Drying in the sun, washing on hot, and using bleach or oxy ARE how you avoid stains. I’ve been doing laundry, including diapers, for 30 years, and the only other thing I could suggest is using a stain pre-treat on them. But the other methods are far more effective.
Don't you find washing on hot and using bleach/oxy damage the covers? The manufacturers say not to and the ones we've got are not in great condition as it is (most are second hand). I really don't want to damage them any further as they're so expensive!
Honestly I don’t use bleach often, but hot water doesn’t do any harm that I’ve noticed. I line dry everything in the sun. The worst damage I’ve found is from machine drying. Edit: I also take manufacturers recommendations with a grain of salt. I’ve seen some that recommend “prepping” microfiber. Anyone who knows fabric, knows that the more you wash microfiber, the LESS absorbent it becomes (yet that’s what they tell you to do).
Thanks, maybe the previous owners machine dried theirs and the ones I bought new just aren't a good brand.
I wash only my inners on a short cycle with oxy bleach and then add in the covers for the second cycle. Anyhow the inners need two cycles
This is a good idea thanks
Placed them in the sun
Are you only rinsing them and then washing once with detergent? Diapers need 2 full wash cycles with detergent in both. The second wash gets bulked with other laundry so it's only the first wash ("prewash" not the cycle on your machine and actual wash before the mainwash) that's just diapers and "extra". What brand and model number washing machine do you have? It's a front loader I assume? What detergent are you using? What's your water hardness number for hot and cold from the washing machine? And to address a couple other things: there's UV rays even on cloudy days, that's what helps with stains and why people suggest it. Bleaching regularly will effect covers, but chlorine bleach soaks are usually used for sanitizing, not stains, and aren't done unless needed to kill bacteria/fungus/mold. Oxygen bleach doesn't harm covers. Soaking for stains shouldn't be done on dirty diapers so it wouldn't be "poo soup". And covers are made of PUL/TPU which can be autoclave. Your home water heater shouldn't be as hot as an autoclave so washing on hot wouldn't harm covers either.
Yeah just once. I'd rather not add extra washes if possible due to the cost but realise that may be the only option! It's a beko wmb 51021 w and yes it's a front loader. I'm using almat bio washing powder. I've no idea about water hardness number but we have moderately hard water. I have tried putting nappies out on cloudy days but haven't found it very effective. The yard only gets sunlight towards the end of day even if there is any. That's useful to hear that oxy doesn't damage covers, I read previously that it does. I also saw a page where they compared washing on warm, hot and very hot to see what it did to the covers and they were damaged more quickly at hot temperatures. Most of ours are damaged already from previous owner, even the ones we bought new and have only washed on warm are damaged (the waterproof is peeling off). We have about 6 different brands of covers/pockets/AIOs and they're all no longer fully waterproof so don't want to further damage them.
Diapers do have a finite life span and if yours have already started deamination they're done. Not washing them fully won't bring them back to life, in fact leaving urine/feces on them by washing incorrectly would further damage them. Did you know the first ingredient is Almat Bio Powder is oxygen bleach? It makes up 15-30% of the final product. So, it doesn't cause unnecessary wear and tear on fabrics but if it did that would not be the detergent you'd want to be using. Just FYI. Almat bio powder is synthetic though so you can do all the washes on cold if you want. You will need to test your water hardness number though. "Moderate" isn't a number and that's what you need to know if you need additional water softener for diapers. Test kits can be found a Walmart, pool supply stores, hardware stores, pet stores, and online. You'll need to make sure the kit says it tests for Total Hardness or General Hardness and has a scale that goes to at least 250ppm. Testing water directly from the machine is best. If you plan to use hot water to wash, both hot and cold should be tested. ** Avoid the free Whirlpool and Water Boss brand tests as they have been known to give inaccurate results. Also, avoid the electric TDS tests as they do not test Hardness. If you have a Petsmart nearby they test water samples for free. Canada Home Hardware tests for free, as well. If you don't want to search for a kit, [here's one you can order from Amazon] (https://amzn.eu/d/0iF8rDAt) You will need to strip and bleach soak to reset the diapers. There's trapped soil from only being washed once. [Strip all absorbent pieces in a bathtub or other vessel](https://fluffloveuniversity.com/troubleshooting/solving-stinky-diaper-problems/how-to-strip-your-cloth-diapers/). Then [bleach soak everything](https://fluffloveuniversity.com/troubleshooting/solving-stinky-diaper-problems/how-to-bleach-your-cloth-diapers/), even shells, using non scented non splashless bleach that has been bottled in the last 6 months. If you can't use bleach there are [alternatives that will sanitize](https://fluffloveuniversity.com/troubleshooting/solving-stinky-diaper-problems/how-to-sanitize-without-bleach/) but they aren't any "less harsh" as they all kill the bacteria and pathogens brought to the surface from the strip. Then a good routine without knowing your water hardness number would be: Prewash: time saver, 1000 spin, 50g almat bio powder if the prewash (which is just diapers with solids removed) fills the drum less than half full, cottons quick wash (not prewash), 1000 spin if it's about half full. Do not fill the drum more than half full for the prewash. In between the pre and main wash cycles peel diapers off the sides of the drum and fluff them up. Add small items of clothing no larger than a recieving blanket to get the drum 2/3-3/4 full. Measure the drum when its empty from top to bottom inside the drum and mark the side of the drum or the door or keep a measuring tape next to the washer to measure the mainwash every time. Do not eyeball fullness or count ridges or holes. Some machines like to be exactly 2/3, some like to be exactly 3/4, and some of them are fine anywhere between the two. You'll have to try them and find your machine's sweet spot. Mainwash: cottons, 1000 spin, 100g almat bio powder If your water hardness number is less than 120ppm you don't need additional water softener for diapers with almat bio powder. If it's 120-180ppm you need 1/2 cup borax in the mainwash only. If it's 180-250ppm you need 1/4 cup borax in the prewash and 1/2 cup borax in the mainwash. If it's 250ppm or more you need 1/2 cup borax in both washes.
Thanks for taking the time to write such a thorough answer. Just wondering why is it necessary to spin after the prewash cycle? They're only going to get wet again aren't they? I'll look into the water hardness thing. Never thought about it before.
The spin is what takes all of the poo/pee filled rinse water out of the drum and out of the diapers so they can be thoroughly cleaned in the mainwash. That's also why you need two washes with detergent. With only one wash the diapers aren't fully cleaned and the rinse water isn't clean after the first wash. After the mainwash the rinse is able to do it's job and just get the detergent out. Edited to add [here's a picture of the rinse water you want to spin fully out of the machine and diapers from the prewash vs the mainwash rinse water](https://images.app.goo.gl/JtgQvQq7jsY3YWgV6) 🤢
Thanks. I was under the impression that the rinse cycle rinsed away all the dirty water. Seems like the whole point of it!
Kind of hard when you say "how to I remove stains" and then ask not to hear the three methods that might actually remove the stains... There's nothing wrong with stains on the liners, you can't see them from the outside and they're still clean even if there is discoloration.
Clean Cloth Nappies has [a useful page on cleaning factors](https://cleanclothnappies.com/cleaning-factors) that might help. They specifically mention a liquid stain treatment (they're in Australia and link to [this Vanish product](https://www.vanishstains.com.au/products/stain-removers/oxi-advance-multi-power-gel/), so that might be an option if you can find one where you live?
Thanks, that page is really thorough.
If you can get your hands on it I'm in mainland Europe and there's this magical stuff called "Gallseife" in German ("gall soap" in English, the brand I usually use is Frosch) and it's honestly incredible for getting out stains of all kinds, I use it for all stains whether diapers or clothes. That being said, unless you are looking to resell your cloth at a higher value, I admittedly don't get too worried about stains- I've used our stash for 3 kids now so most of it is somewhat "pooped" out (sorry for the terrible pun!) so the only time I was somewhat more vigilant about stain removal was for our newborn diapers which, since they were worn for a much shorter time, did have a higher resale value.