The Best and Easiest Way to Wash Cloth Diapers

Co-authored by Denise Stern and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: February 20, 2023 References

Reusable cloth diapers are great for saving money and reducing waste in landfills, but how do you clean them when it’s laundry day? While cleaning cloth diapers may sound a little gross at first, they’re completely sanitary and washing them is a breeze. Whether you just started using cloth diapers or only need a reminder on how to clean them, we’ll help you through it! Keep reading for everything you’ll need to know about washing cloth diapers so they’re safe and ready to use.

Things You Should Know

First, rinse your cloth diapers in a cold water cycle without any detergent to prevent stains from setting in.
Then, wash the cloth diapers in a hot water cycle with mild detergent. Run an extra rinse cycle to remove any detergent residue.
Hang your diapers up to dry. If the tag says they’re dryer-safe, you can put them on a low-heat tumble cycle.
Wash cloth diapers every 2–3 days so odors and stains don’t set in.

1

Scrape any solid waste into the toilet.

Flush the waste so it doesn’t get into your washer. After you change a cloth diaper, you can toss wet ones right into your wash, but poopy diapers need a little extra attention. Use toilet paper to wipe as much of the solid waste into the toilet. Once you get rid of all the solid waste in the diapers, it’s sanitary to wash the cloth diapers in your washer.^{[1]
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Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
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- Alternatively, rinse the waste into the toilet with a diaper sprayer for a more thorough clean.
- If you don’t plan on washing your cloth diapers right away, store them into a diaper pail until you’re ready to do a load. Rinsing them with water or adding a dash of baking soda to the pail will help get rid of odors until wash day.

2

Rinse the diapers in a cold pre-wash cycle.

A cold rinse makes it easier to remove stains. Toss all of your diapers into the washer and set it for the shortest, coldest cycle. Without adding any detergent, run the cycle so poop stains don’t set in and ruin the fabric.^{[2]
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- Add a splash of lemon juice to the load to help lighten stains and whiten the fabric.^{[3]
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3

Wash cloth diapers in a hot water cycle with mild detergent.

Hot water and detergent kill the bacteria left on your diapers. As soon as the cold rinse cycle finishes up, add mild laundry detergent made for sensitive skin to the load. Only use the recommended amount of detergent for your laundry load since the excess can irritate your baby’s skin. Set your washer to a full hot water cycle and let it run through.^{[4]
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- Clean your diapers separate from any other laundry just to keep your clothes sanitary.
- Avoid using fabric softeners or any anti-static products since they could give your baby a diaper rash.

4

Run a final rinse cycle.

One last rinse removes leftover detergent residue. Your baby has pretty sensitive skin, so any detergent leftover on your cloth diaper could cause some irritation. You can use either hot or cold water for the final rinse; just run the shortest cycle your washer has to finish washing your cloth diapers.^{[5]
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- Check if your machine has a “double rinse” or “extra rinse” function that you can add to your wash cycle. That way, you won’t have to manually run a rinse cycle afterward.

5

Hang the cloth diapers to air-dry.

Air-drying prevents the fabric or elastics from getting damaged. Dryers can ruin the elastic on cloth diapers, which may cause them to leak over time. Hang the cloth diapers on a line in direct sunlight to help kill bacteria and lighten the stains. Otherwise, you can just put the diapers on a drying rack in a well-ventilated area until they’re completely dry.^{[6]
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- Some cloth diapers can go into your dryer on a low-heat tumble cycle. Just check the tag to see if they’re dryer-safe.

6

Wash cloth diapers every 2–3 days.

Frequent washes will prevent stains and odors from setting in. Babies can go through a lot of diapers during the day, so you’ll have enough for a load within a couple of days. Since the diapers can get stinky, get into the routine of washing diapers about 2–3 times a week.^{[7]
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- Cleaning the cloth diapers regularly also ensures you don’t run out of them.

7

Strip cloth diapers when they have buildup.

You can make old cloth diapers absorbent again by stripping them. Layers of detergent and hard water both cause buildup to form on cloth diapers over time, which could make them leak. Fill a tub with hot water and add 3 tablespoons (25 g) each of washing soda, Borax, and Calgon water softener. Toss in your diapers and let them soak for about 4–6 hours.^{[8]
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- Wash the diapers one more time after they soak to get rid of any residue.
- Soften hard water if it’s causing the buildup on your cloth diapers.
- If detergent is causing the buildup, try using less when you wash cloth diapers.