Cloth Diapers & Stain Removal

Stains are a normal part of cloth diapering.  It would be naïve to think that staining is something you can avoid, because cloth diapers, by nature, are going to catch some–well, you know.  Stains are not related to performance or durability, but they are, to put is simply, gross.  No one wants to see giant brown spots on the fabric they are about to place next to their baby’s delicate skin.  My little guy is quite the eater so I have had experience with staining and various stain removal methods, none of which damage the fabric or irritate his skin.  Here are some methods, in order of preference, that have proven to work for me:

• Sunshine.  Any cloth diapering mama will tell you that the easiest, most natural, and least expensive way to remove stains it to let them bask in the sun.  All you need to do is wash them using your usual wash routine and lay or hang them where the sun will shine its brilliant rays on them.  The other great thing about “sunning” your diapers is that the sun also helps to kills germs and remove odors!  If you are afraid of that “after-sun-crunch” effect, a handy tip that I use is to twist each diaper like you would wring out a cloth.  Voila!  Crunch is gone! 
• Lemon juice.  My second favorite way to rid cloth diapers of stains is to apply lemon juice directly to the stain and leave the diaper in the sun until the juice dries.  Not only are my diapers stain-free after this, they smell great!  I always like to throw them in the wash again after this, just for good measure. 
  
• Sanitize Cycle.  The one stain removal option that works brilliantly, but I don’t often get a chance to use is the sanitize cycle on HE washing machines.  I don’t own one so I have to take advantage of the use of one when they are available.  The important thing to remember here, is that high temperatures can actually damage your diapers so it is not advisable to use the sanitize cycle frequently.  Every once in awhile won’t hurt.  I would just make sure that I have tried everything else first.

• Paste.  Another easy way to address stubborn stains is to make your own paste.  Simply mix your favorite powdered (must be powder) cloth diaper detergent with a tablespoon of water and apply it directly to the stain.  Using an old toothbrush, brush the paste in a circular motion and let it set overnight.  The next, wash as usual.  I have found that this works more with lighter staining.

• Hydrogen Peroxide.  The thing you never want to use on cloth diapers is bleach.  It will break down the fabric and decrease the absorbency.  A safer and gentler alternative to bleach is hydrogen peroxide.  You can choose to 1/4 cup of peroxide to your wash cycle or saturate the stain thoroughly with the peroxide.  Allow the diaper to dry and repeat as necessary.  . This is much safer and gentler than bleach.  The hydrogen peroxide in your medicine cabinet can be used as a gentle stain-remover without the use of the sun. Simply wet the area thoroughly and allow to dry, and repeat as needed.  Apply the peroxide on a test area first, as it has been known to yellow some fabrics.

• White Distilled Vinegar.  Simply add 1/4 cup of white vinegar along with detergent during your wash cycle.  Vinegar helps to whiten and brighten your diapers, but it can also cause terrible odors when combined with urine so I suggest a few more rinse cycles after using vinegar in the wash.

Some important tips to remember when it comes to stain prevention are to never put  your cloth diapers into a hot water wash without first rinsing in cold water.  Placing them directly into hot water first thing will only serve to set in the stain.  Furthermore, never toss your stained diapers into a hot dryer.  Talk about a permanent stain!  It also helps to rinse the diaper off when you are disposing of the waste.  We use the dump and dunk method at our house.  Some cloth diapering parents have found it effective to use a wet pail  with water and vinegar to store their diapers.  We chose not to as this can be hazardous to children and even pets.

In the end, how you deal with stains is totally up to you.  It may take several attempts to find that method that works for your stubborn stains, so remember to remain patient.  Just as every baby is different, so is every cloth diaper.  There are just too many options to throw in the diaper, so keep your chin up and keep trying.

Are you a cloth diapering parent?  How to you treat stains?

This post is part of the weekly Cloth Diaper 101 Blog Hop hosted by My Cloth Diaper Stash. This weeks topic is about Stain Removal & Cloth Diapers.

The post Cloth Diapers & Stain Removal appeared first on Whey Beyond the Naked Truth.