Washing cloth diapers is easy.

Woman in India washing outside with a chicken
How to Wash Cloth Diapers
    You could spend hours researching this topic (believe me I have) but let me simplify it for you. Rather than becoming an expert on the difference between soap and detergent, water softness or PH, if you have a question, just email me and I’ll find the answer.

It is really quite simple to wash cloth diapers.

Regular wash routine:
•    If soiled, use a sprayer on your toilet or shake the solids from diaper prior to washing. (See below for a picture) Beast-fed baby poop does not need to be washed off.
•    Take out insert and toss into a dry pail (no water in pail) with liner and wash at least every other day. Do not go longer than three days before washing. Soaking diapers is not recommended.
•    Dump everything into the washing machine--the diapers, cloth wipes, dirty covers, and the pail liner (turned inside out to wash the side touching the diapers).
•    Don’t overfill the washer (limit to 24 diapers)
•    Use your washer's highest water level. (Add a towel for high efficiency front loaders.)
•    Pre-rinse with a cold water cycle and no detergent.
•    Use a regular hot water cycle and ½ the recommended amount of detergent and only 1/3 the amount for front loaders.
•    Dry diapers in the dryer on warm or hang dry or a combination of both. Covers are best hung dry and only occasionally put in the hot dryer to reseal.

Avoid the following:
•    No chlorine bleach. This breaks down diapers, ruins elastic, and can void the warranty.
•    No fabric softeners. These coat fabric and reduce absorbency.
•    No Soaps (leave soap scum)
•    No enzymes, dyes, fragrances, essential oils, whiteners, optical brighteners, or other fabric enhancers as these leave residue
•    No diaper rash cream unless you line the diaper to protect it or use one safe for cloth diapers such as Northern Essence.

Most common Problems:   85% of American households have hard water which tends to leave calcium and detergent deposits on diapers making them hold odors or become water repellent (not good for diapers!). This is especially true of synthetic diapers. In addition oils from fragrances, fabric softeners, or diaper rash creams may have the same effect. Check to see if there are still bubbles in the water during the last rinse cycle as this is a sign of detergent residue on the diapers. If this happens to you, “strip” your diapers with 1-2 tbs. Dawn or Ivory dish soap in your kitchen sink or use ¼ cup Calgon, RLR, or Rain Drops water softeners (not the bath additive) in the rinse cycle of your washer until there are no suds. Calgon can be found locally at Byerlys or Cub.(ancient Chinese secret, remember? or am I that old?)

Starting Solids: Wash the poopy diaper off with a sprayer attached to your toilet. Buy a small trash can with a removable pail and put the wet diapers in there to wait for washing. Here's what it looks like.

           sprayer

After your baby starts solids may we suggest the Bum Genius Sprayer? Click on Diaper Accessories, on the left.

Diaper-Sprayer

Another option: Liners can be used between the diaper and the baby's skin, letting moisture pass through to the diaper while preventing solids from soaking into the diaper, which will take the mess out of washing your cloth diapers. Just flush away the mess, and spend more time with your baby instead of dunking diapers. These bio-degradable flushable liners are an all natural paper product; they are unbleached and biodegradable. They come in 200 sheets in the baby size and 100 sheets in the toddler size.
imsevimse-liners

Specific manufacturers suggestions (must follow not to void the warranty) Some of them are contradictory, hmmm.
Tiny Tush : Use 1/3 the suggested detergent amount and add an extra rinse cycle when heavily soiled.
bum Genius! : Do not soak. Complete a second rinse to remove detergent residue. Once a month, optionally use up to ¼ cup bleach in the hot wash to sanitize diapers and fight odors. Use only detergent and water. Do not use laundry additives(including vinegar, baking soda, and fabric softeners.)
Thirsties: Do not pre-soak diapers. Do not use vinegar when washing cloth diapers made from synthetic fibers. In lieu of vinegar, use 1tsp. of lime juice. If your diapers need a thorough deep cleaning, you can use a bit of OxyClean Baby in place of your regular detergent. An occasional full-cycle tumble dry on high is beneficial to sealing the waterproofing layer.
Happy Heinys: Cold soak for 10-20 minutes. Use slightly less than ¼ cup of detergent. Add a downy ball of vinegar to the wash if the diapers have a urine scent. Dry on high heat. No bleach.
Fuzzi Bunz: No bleach. Never dry on a high heat.
ImseVimse: Do not use bleaching agents on the diaper covers. We recommend that you simply hang the diapers and covers to dry. You can dry them in a dryer but this puts wear and tear on the fabric.

FAQ
How do I wash my new diapers for the first time?
You should wash synthetic diapers once before use as they have been handled. Natural fabrics such as cotton, hemp, and bamboo have oils which must be removed before the diaper is fully absorbent. Wash these natural fabrics in hot water four times before use. They will get more absorbent as you use and wash them more (up to eight more washes).

What detergent should I use?
I use Tide and it is recommended by Happy Heinys. Detergent manufacturers do not need to list the ingredients but basic Tide powder seems have the fewest additives and many other people recommend it. The Diaper Pin recommends All Free and Clear. The Diaper Jungle recommends Arm and Hammer Essentials Free. Beware, if you go to these websites you may see contadictory information! I warned you! What is the worst thing that can happen? See "Most Common Problems" above.
If you prefer a more natural detergent the following are consistently recommended:
Country Save
Allen's Naturally (sold at Sweet Pickles)
Mountain Green Free and Clear
Planet Ultra
Fuzzi Bunz has a new detergent which I have found I work well and it is sold at Sweet Pickles.

Can I use chlorine bleach?
The use of chlorine bleach on pocket diapers voids all warranties and can lead to the breakdown of the waterproof layer, making the diaper unusable. That being said, bum Genus! allows chlorine bleach once a month. For bum Genius!, optionally use up to ¼ cup bleach in the hot wash to sanitize diapers and fight odors. OxyClean or Bac-Out are allowed on other diapers.

So I can't use bleach, what about stains?
Now think about it, they are diapers! Ok if stains really bother you, you can use oxygen bleach mentioned above in the hot wash or dry your diapers in the sun. Even in a window, the sun will bleach out stains.

What helps with diaper pail odor?
Sprinkling baking soda helps with odor. Do not use with bum Genius! diapers.

How can I reduce residue ?
Try ½ cup distilled white vinegar in the final rinse to balance ph, eliminate residue,
and soften. If there is a vinegar odor, try 1 tsp of lime juice. Do not use with bum Genius! diapers.

Click the bottle to see recommended detergent chart...or you could just buy Tide, Allen's Naturally, or the Fuzzi Bunz detergent.

Click here to download how to wash.

Disclaimer: Be sure to read all manufacturers specific instructions when washing your diapers, or you may void the warranty.