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Stripping Cloth Diapers

Stripping cloth diapers is something most cloth diapering mamas will have to do from time to time. There are many reason why you would need to do this.

The most common culprit is detergent buildup. This buildup will cause stinkyness, water repelling and diaper rash. Using too much detergent can make it difficult to get your diapers fully rinsed out. What happens, wash after wash, is a nice little build up forms on the diapers. You really only need to use about 1/4 to 1/2 of what the manufacturers recommend.

Another culprit that may have you needing to strip your diapers is using the wrong kind of detergent. Many natural detergents have oils in them that will build up on your diapers. Also, detergents with fragrance, brighteners, etc. will leave stuff on your diapers, which you don't want.

Diaper rash creams, especially those with zinc oxide are very difficult to get out of cloth diapers and can cause water to repel. Also, diaper rash creams that have fish oil in them can make your diapers stink like fish.. ewww!! A definite good reason for stripping cloth diapers!

So, when is it time to strip your diapers?

If they are really stinky, even after washing.
If they are repelling instead of absorbing water (this happens alot with pocket diapers when they get detergent buildup).
After using diaper cream with zinc oxide, oils, or waxes.
If your diapers start to leak and not absorb as well as they used to.

Just like all things cloth diaper related, stripping cloth diapers varies from family to family. Everyone's washing machine and water quality varies. You may find you need to experiment to find what works best for you. How do you know it worked?? Your diapers will be clean, odor free and working great! Trust your nose. If your diapers smell stinky, they are not clean.

Here are some basic instructions for stripping your diapers, which can be adjusted to better suit your personal laundry needs.

Stripping Your Diapers

Step 1: Start with clean diapers. Wash and rinse like you normally would. You don't need to dry them since they are just going to get wet again.

Step 2: Wash your diapers in super hot water without detergent, just hot water. You may want to turn the water heater up to do this. Make sure to read the manufactures instructions for your diapers before doing this step. Some diapers shouldn't be washed in very hot water.

Step 3: Rinse your diapers again, in a hot cycle if you can. Peak into the washer during the rinse to see if there are any bubbles in the water. Repeat this step as many times as you need to until there are no more bubbles in the water. No bubbles means there is no more soap buildup on your dipes, which is what you're after! This can take 4 or more rinse cycles, so don't be surprised if you have to rinse over and over again.

Step 4: Dry your diapers. Even better, dry them out in the sun. Sunshine is great at getting rid of stains and killing germs.

Additional Tricks for Stripping Cloth Diapers: Stripping Cloth Diapers with Dawn

Add a few drops of Original Dawn Dish Detergent to Step 2 above. This can help get rid of any oils that may be on the diapers. Note: if your washing machine is still under warranty, some washing machine manufacturers will tell you that using Dawn in the washing machine will void their warranty, so check this out before using this trick.

Add 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda to Step 2. This can help eliminate odors that have built up on your diapers.

Using Vinegar with Cloth Diapes

Add about 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle of Step 2 above.

If you normally use vinegar in the rinse, try not using it. Sometimes vinegar is really helpful, but sometimes it can react negatively with hard water, leaving a stink behind.
Bac-Out by Bi-o-Kleen is a product that can help with stripping cloth diapers. You can find Bac-Out at many natural food stores. Just make sure to rinse the diapers really well, probably several times. Some babies are very sensitive to the ingredients in Bac-Out.
Try using Calgon Water Softener if you have hard water. Be sure your diapers get rinsed out really well after using.
Use Oxy-Clean in Step 2 above and then rinse, rinse, rinse. Oxy-Clean can break down the fibers of your diapers, so I don't recommend doing this method very often.
You may be able to find a product called RLR at your local grocery store. It is a laundry treatment that is not as harsh as bleach and can really do wonders for diapers with a lot of build up. I have used this on my pocket diapers when they were really leaking and it fixed the problem on the first try. Follow the package instructions and make sure to rinse your diapers really well afterward.
Bleach. I know I've said not to use bleach on your cloth diapers. But, sometimes it is the only thing that will get the job done. I would definitely save this as a last resort and make sure to rinse like crazy! And, using bleach will void the warranty for some diapers - it's a good idea to check with your diaper manufacturer before washing your diapers with bleach.

Most people I know strip their diapers once a month or every other month. Though some people have to do it much less. If you find you are spending too much time stripping cloth diapers, try using a different type of laundry detergent or experimenting with your laundry routine.

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