Cloth 101: Wet Towel Trick

Sometimes finding a good laundry routine for a front loading or high efficiency machine can be a little tricky. Today, we'd like to share with you a couple of our tips specifically for this type of washing machine.

• First, a full load of cloth diapers is 12 - 15 cloth diapers or covers and inserts. Putting more than this in a load can keep your diapers from getting as clean as they need to be. Your diapers need room to move around freely to get as clean as possible.
• We recommend washing every other day, regardless of what type of machine you have. This prevents bacteria growth and stink issues.
• If your little one is eating solid foods or drinking liquids other than water, formula or breast milk, we recommend rinsing your diapers before you put them in your wet bag or pail. This will also help to prevent staining and stink issues.
• If you are still having issues getting your diapers clean and you have a front loading machine, we suggest our "Wet Towel Trick". To 'trick' a high efficiency machine into adding more water to your laundry cycles, try adding a saturated towel (or two if they are small) to the beginning of your wash routine. Let the towel go through all the wash cycles (hot, cold and rinses) to make sure the machine adds the most water possible to every cycle.

Cloth Diapers 101: What detergent to choose?

What detergent to use with cloth diapers can be a hot topic with some and is a very personal decision based on many factors.

What works best for you may not work well for your friend who lives across town for a variety of reasons: how old your child is, what types of food they eat, whether you have hard or soft water, what type of washing machine you use and many more variables.

We often are asked what is the best detergent to use. Unfortunately, there is no one answer that suits everyone. To help you on your search to find the perfect laundry detergent for your cloth diapers, we'd like to introduce you to a great tool developed by the Real Diaper Industry Association. The Real Diaper Industry Association is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit advancing, networking and promoting the cloth diaper industry. Many cloth diaper manufacturers and retailers work together to try to provide the best information possible to help everyone be successful in their cloth diapering. That is why they provide the Detergent Determinator, a searchable database that lists a wide variety of laundry detergents with details about the type of ingredients they contain.

When you check the brand you are using, be sure to keep in mind that as manufacturer of bumGenius, Flip and Econobum cloth diapers, we suggest that you avoid the following ingredients:

• Optical brighteners - if the box mentions anything about making your colors brighter or your whites whiter, don't buy it. Optical brighteners remain in your clothing and are designed to "bend the light" so you see the colors brighter or whiter. They do nothing to extend the life of your clothing. Optical brighteners caused buildup.
• Enzymes - if the box talks about removing certain kinds of stains easily, don't buy it. Enzymes attack protein-based stains. Those same enzymes can react with your baby's skin and cause a mild rash.
• Perfumes/Fragrances - that mountain breeze is best left on the mountain where it came from. Really, perfumes and fragrances are oil based. Oils are left in fabrics when rinsed. Again, this can cause a diaper rash and buildup.
• Dyes - dyes can remain in your fabrics when rinsed, potentially causing diaper rash and buildup.

For best results, we recommend only using detergents that are free of all these ingredients. These will be noted by 5 green symbols on the RDIA Detergent Determinator chart. If you have further questions about your laundry routine, detergents or additives, give us a call at 1-888-332-2243, e-mail us at contactus@cottonbabies.com or live chat with us through the link on the bottom of the left hand column of www.cottonbabies.com

Recently Restocked: bumGenius Laundry Detergent

It's back! The detergent you love has arrived in our warehouse this week and orders will begin shipping in the order they are received. Over the last few weeks we've heard from so many who love the bumGenius laundry detergent and we thank you for your patience while this shipment made it's way to our warehouse.

Also recently restocked are 3 packs of Aden + Anais Bamboo Muslin Swaddles, a customer favorite and a great gift for a baby shower. Order one today, these items don't like to sit on our shelves very long!

Cloth Diapers 201: What is Hard Water?

If you call or live chat with Cotton Babies customer service for some troubleshooting assistance, many of the questions we will ask revolve around your laundry routine. How often you wash? What detergent are you using? How much detergent do you use? How many cloth diapers do you wash in a load? Do you have a high efficiency machine or a traditional machine? Do you know if you have hard water?

What is hard water? Hard water is water that has high mineral content. This is different from region to region based on what types of minerals are in the ground where you live and what your water sources are.

Why is it important to cloth diapering? The level of hardness in your water can affect how well soaps, shampoos and detergents work. It can determine how much soap or detergent you need to use to get your dishes, hair and laundry clean.

How do I know if I have hard water? There are a couple of ways. First, there are hard water maps that will tell you generally if you have hard water or not. Another more specific way to find out is to check with your local water utility company. My water company has a place on their website where I can fill in my zip code and it will tell me the water hardness in grains per million. I have 7 grains per million, which is considered hard water. If you water company doesn't have a website, the information should be available with a simple phone call.

If I have hard water, what do I do? If you discover you have hard water and are having issues with stink, there are a couple of changes you can try. First strip your diapers so you have a fresh start. Next, try using a little more than the recommended amount of detergent in each load to make sure your cloth diapers are getting clean. If you find you have really hard water, adding Calgon water softener to your cloth diaper loads (and other laundry) may help your detergent work more effectively.

I thought I had hard water, but it's really soft! If you find out you have soft water and are having leaks, this may be due to detergent buildup. In this case, you will want to strip your diapers to start fresh and begin using slightly less than the recommended amount of detergent in each wash cycle. This will help prevent detergent buildup. Soft water may also mean you need to add an extra rinse to your laundry routine to make sure all the detergent is out.

If you have further questions, give us a call at 1-888-332-2243 or live chat with us at www.cottonbabies.com

Have you had issues with hard or soft water? How did you adjust your cloth diaper laundry routine?

Cloth 101: How to store your dirty diapers

Once you decide you are ready to start cloth diapering, another major decision is how you will store those diapers once they are dirty. There are two main types of dirty cloth diaper storage a wetbag or a pail.

Diaper pails designed for cloth diapering are a little different than those designed for disposable diapers. Most disposable diaper pails are designed to keep air (and smells) out. When thinking about storing dirty cloth diapers, one of the key things is to make sure you have air flow. This air flow helps to prevent mold from growing on your damp dirty diapers. Many pails designed for cloth diapers have a filter to prevent any smells from filling the room. The second thing to consider when choosing your diaper pail is size. We recommend washing every other day, so your diaper pail will need to hold those diapers for you until laundry time. If you have more than one little one in cloth diapers, you may need a larger diaper pail. You may also choose to line your diaper pail with a washable fabric liner, to make clean up a little easier.

Wetbags are another option for storing dirty diapers. These bags are also made to allow air flow; they are available in a variety of fabric types, colors and prints and usually have either a drawstring or zipper closure. Wetbags come in a variety of sizes also. Large wetbags can be kept at home instead of a diaper pail; smaller wetbags are designed to fit in your diaper bag to hold just a few dirty cloth diapers for a short outing.

How you choose to store your diapers is a personal decision for your family.

Things to consider when choosing your storage:

• Where you will change your little one's diapers
• How much space you have in your home
• How many children are currently wearing cloth diapers in your home
• How far you have to carry the dirty diapers from the changing area to the laundry room

The key to dirty diaper storage is to make sure your dirty diapers are not completely sealed up; so air can flow around your diapers to help prevent mold. How do you store your dirty diapers until it's time to wash them? Do you prefer a diaper pail or wetbag? What is your favorite brand of pail or wetbag?

Cloth Diapering 201: How To Strip Your Diapers

It doesn't take much time in cloth diapering circles before you encounter the term "stripping". What exactly is "stripping" your cloth diapers, how do you do it and how do you know when you need to perform this task? No worries, we're here to help.

Stripping in the cloth diapering community refers to the removal of detergent, diaper cream or other items that may leave residue in the fibers of your cloth diapers. One analogy is to think of kind of like stripping paint from a piece of wood furniture.

There are several reasons you may encounter along your cloth diapering journey where we would suggest stripping your cloth diapers. Here are a few of the most common:

• Using a detergent that has enzymes, scents or brighteners. These ingredients can cause build up in your diapers, which can lead to leaks. New to cloth diapering? You can read more about detergent choices in this article.
• A caregiver accidentally uses diaper cream without a fabric barrier. No, it's not the end of the world, but yes, it can be somewhat stubborn to remove.
• You're beginning to experience leaks and there is no change in your child's diet or input.
• Your child has been diagnosed with a yeast infection or other type of communicable rash.
• You're having trouble with stinky smells in your diapers, even after washing.
• You need to switch laundry detergents. Maybe you've discovered your child's skin is sensitive to a particular brand, in which case you want to remove all residue and start with a clean slate.

So now that you know the situations in which we recommend stripping your cloth diapers, how do you do it? For bumGenius, Flip and Econobum products, we recommend this method:

• Wash once in hot water with one teaspoon (for high efficiency machines) to one tablespoon (for regular washing machines) of original liquid Dawn (blue formula) and up to 1/2 cup regular, liquid chlorine bleach in the wash cycle.
• Do two additional hot water washes with no detergent to completely rinse the diapers clean. If you still see suds, keep rinsing until the diapers are rinsed clean.

If you are using other brands of cloth diapers, we recommend checking with that manufacturer for their recommendations.

The other frequently asked question is "How often do I need to strip?" There really is no rule or guideline for this. We have found that those who live in hard water situations tend to get detergent buildup faster than those with softer water. Also, if you use a detergent that has enzymes or brighteners, you may find you need to strip more frequently than if you use a detergent completely free of these ingredients. If either of these situations apply to you, you may need to strip your diapers once every 3 or 4 months. We do not recommend using bleach more than once a month, so please keep that in mind if you are stripping your diapers on a regular basis.

If you have more questions on this topic or need more personalized recommendations, e-mail us at contactus@cottonbabies.com or call us at 1-888-332-2243. We're always glad to help you.

Cloth Diapering 101: What is Odor Remover?

What is bumGenius Odor Remover?
bumGenius Odor Remover is an all natural formula designed to remove odor in diapers, diaper pails, clothing and more. It quickly eliminates the source of odor causing bacteria in cloth diapers. It is non-toxic, biodegradable and completely free of chemicals, oils, detergents, perfumes and solvents.

How do I use it?
bumGenius odor remover comes in a convenient spray bottle, perfect for putting near your diaper pail or laundry facilities.
It quickly eliminates the source of odor-causing bacteria in cloth diapers. First, remove waste from your cloth diaper. Next, from a distance of 6-8”, spray directly onto soiled diaper, lightly covering the soiled area. (Please do not spray on baby.)
For best results we recommend spraying every diaper, cover and insert. Do not soak diapers. Always store diapers in a dry pail.

Why should I use it?

As your little one grows, you will likely find you need to adjust your laundry routine to curb the smells you encounter as their diet changes. Adding bumGenius Odor Remover is a quick, easy addition to your laundry routine that yields immediate results.

Kristen, a Cotton Babies customer, said it best,

"We previously used cloth diapers and after spending all the money with the diapers, pail, liners, wet bag...etc... I just couldn't bring myself to buy this spray, because really, it was just one more expense. The smell of amonia would seep through the pail and into her room inevitably every time. This time...we bought it. It's a God-send. It's wonderful. No smell. It's perfect. I love it and am recommending it to everyone that I know that cloth diapers."

While it is designed to eliminate the odors in diapers and diaper pails, it also works great on pet urine, trash cans and more! I personally keep a bottle near my washing machine for any kind of stinky laundry. I even use it in my school aged sons' tennis shoes.

bumGenius Odor Remover comes in a 8 ounce spray bottle for only $5.99

Cloth Diapers 101: How do you wash cloth diapers?

Ahh, a topic all cloth diapering parents have to learn at some point in their cloth diapering journey. Yes, cloth diapers do take a little more effort than some other types of laundry, but the extra TLC (tender loving care) can help your cloth diapers reach their full potential.

Think of it this way, if you spent $100 (or more) on a pair of jeans that you wanted to wear every other day for two (or more) years, you would follow the manufacturer's suggested care to give them the longest life possible, right? Cloth diapers are much the same.

For bumGenius, Flip and Econobum diapers, we recommend the following basic routine:

• As you would with the rest of your laundry, separate your diapers into like materials. Wash natural fibers separately from synthetics.

• Wash the entire load on cold with a laundry detergent recommended for cloth diapers. Washing once on cold water is important to remove leftover "yuck" from your diapers.

• Wash the entire load again on warm or hot (100F/40C) - also with detergent. We do NOT recommend the sanitize cycle, as it is too hot.

• Do a second rinse.

• We recommend that you line dry your diaper covers, pocket diapers and anything made with hook & loop closures. Inserts and prefolds can be tumble dried on a medium heat setting.

I hear you asking, "But what detergents are recommended for cloth diapers?" Generally speaking, you want a detergent without brighteners, scents, dyes or fabric softeners. You can read more about these additives in Jenn's post Good Detergent / Bad Detergent. Want to save time and skip the research? 

Please keep in mind that each type of cloth diaper may vary sightly in their recommended laundry routines, so please read the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Keep them handy, because as your child ages, expands their diet (as well as their output), your laundry routine may need to be altered slightly.

As always, if you are having trouble finding the laundry detergent or routine for to fit your needs, give us a call at 1-888-33-BABIES (1-888-332-2243) and we'd be glad to help you find a solution that works for you.

Cloth Diapers 201: HELP! I need to use diaper cream!

One of the benefits of cloth diapering is that many parents discover they have less diaper rash once they switch to cloth. But sometimes life happens, be it a virus, food sensitivity, an unfortunate poopy diaper that stays on too long or other issue that can leave baby with a diaper rash. We get quite a few calls about how to safely use a diaper cream without ruining your cloth diapers or running the risk of voiding the warranty. Here are some of our favorite tips:

When using any cream or lotion product, we recommend using a barrier to protect your cloth diapers. Creams and lotion are designed to coat your baby's bottom and to repel moisture. Creams and lotions will cling to the inner fabric of your cloth diapers the same way it clings to your baby's bottom. The same ingredients that repel moisture to help baby's bottom to heal will repel moisture from the fabric of your cloth diapers, which can lead to leaking. So what is a parent to do?

Here are a few anecdotal tips and tricks from the Cotton Babies' staff:

• We recommend bumGenius Stay Dry Liners or Bummis Fleece Liners. Be sure to wash the liners separately from your cloth diaper laundry to avoid contamination.
• No local cloth diaper store and need a middle of the night solution? Try cutting up an old cotton flannel shirt or t-shirt to use as a liner in your cloth diaper.
• Don't want to worry about added laundry? Keep a Flip diaper cover and a set of Flip disposable inserts in your stash for a convenient diaper cream solution that won't add extra work to your laundry routine.
• If your pediatrician recommends using a diaper cream and you are looking for a product with natural ingredients, you may be interested in Angel Baby Bottom Balm, Grandma El's Diaper Rash Remedy & Prevention or Mother Love Diaper Rash & Thrush.

Remember, if your baby has recurring diaper rash, you should consult your pediatrician for further assistance.

Something Stinks in Here

We all have those days, those loads, those diapers...

Those days - weeks really, when too many days squeeze in before you get the diapers washed again. Those loads - that sit too long before they get dried. Those diapers - that explode with a knock-you-on-you-butt ammonia smell the minute urine hits them.

The stinkies have hit again.

But today I am not going to detail all kinds of stinky remedies. I am only going to give you the easiest one.

Two steps:
1. Follow your usual washing routine, but add in 1/4 cup of bleach.
2. Add a lot of extra rinsing. A LOT.

Every now and then I run my diapers through 3 or 4 wash loads in a row with no detergent. It does wonders for preventing build up and keeps things fresh.

Laundry in a Minute

I deal with a mind boggling amount of laundry each week. Having nine people in the house will do that to a family, especially when those nine people include a spitty baby, a daddy who gets really dirty in his work, a three year old who loves to play in the sand, and a little princess who loves to wear multiple outfits each day. Adding in the multiple washes suggested for cloth diapers can make me feel like I am getting backed up even further. Here are some ways that I stay on top of things, maybe they can help you too.

1. Sort clothes. I have two hampers (light and dark) in the laundry room and the kids can sort their clothes as they bring them downstairs, and so can I. Grabbing a load of laundry to throw in is easier that way. All family clothes and towels except my husband's work clothes go in here. No special baby laundry, it all goes in the same place.

2. Throw sheets directly in the washer. They don't get sorted. Sheets always seem to back up my system more than anything, so I don't strip any beds unless the washer is already empty.

3. Start wash as soon as I am done with my morning shower. That way I feel like I am getting something done even if the rest of my day is unproductive.

4. Don't start any (normal laundry) loads after 3pm. This gives me time to make sure everything gets dry and gives me a fighting chance at getting to fold it. I usually fold a couple loads at a time while either indulging in a little television or a book on CD.

5. Now we get to how the cloth diaper washes fit in. The CottonBabies recommendation for washing cloth diapers is to do a cold wash, a hot wash, and then a second rinse. I like to start the diapers about dinnertime in the cold wash, start the hot wash before I go to bed. Then when I get up I do that final rinse when I would normally start laundry.

So maybe that has made things seem a little complicated. Let me break it down for you. Pick a time when you are not doing laundry and, well, do laundry - the diapers. It will take you less than five minutes to get them started, and less than two minutes to start them again. Starting that last rinse is just a couple minutes too. Time yourself sometime and see how long it actually takes you, you will be surprised!

And after drying I no longer fold my diapers. I toss the covers in a drawer, stuff the pocket diapers and all the rest of them go in a big hamper.

Your washing machine is like your willing servant. You only have to take a moment to give it some instructions (load it) and send it to work (start it) and then you get to go do something else. That is multi-tasking at its finest!

Smells like... Nothin'

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get your diapers really clean.

Ah, but what does this really mean? It means having nothing left on the diaper but the fabric itself. This is the reason that you want a detergent without brighteners, scents, dyes or fabric softeners. All of these things are meant to leave a little trace on your fabrics. It's all well and good to have some optical brighteners and scents cling to your t-shirt. But when it clings to the fabric of a cloth diaper and then you add in urine on top of that, there are going to be problems. You should be able to stick your face right into a clean diaper from the dryer or line and smell nothing. If you still smell something, you need to rinse some more.

Cleaning your cloth diapers means that you need to get all traces of pee, poop, sweat, dirt, and detergent out of the fabric before you are done. If any of that stuff is left on the diaper you will find yourself with smell problems and possibly rash problems as well. bumGenius Odor Remover is a new way to help break down the stinkies before you even wash.

Since everyone has different skin, water, and washing machines, no one recommendation is perfect for all. It may take a little trial and error to figure out the right detergent and number of rinses for your hardness of water, sensitivity of skin, washing machine, and kind of diaper before you find the right combination for your family. You may still need to use a little bleach every now and then to help strip out the stubborn stuff but you certainly won't need it with every wash. There are also other ways to strip your diapers (remove detergent or rash cream build up) like Dawn dish soap.

Taking a clean load of diapers out of the dryer is one of the small joys in life for me. But maybe I am just really weird.

For more detailed information see Cloth Diapering - Just the Basics.