Our son is almost four months old. He’s been in cloth diapers since he was three days old, and as I’ve mentioned before, it’s been much easier than I expected to use them. One thing I had read about was how detergent can build up in diapers over time, creating a residue that makes them less absorbent. So yesterday I washed a load of diapers without any detergent at all. I did my normal cold cycle with baking soda, but then for the hot cycle I used more baking soda instead of detergent. I added my normal downey ball with vinegar to that cycle. The diapers came out just as clean as ever, and after an afternoon in the sun they are stain-free, as usual. I’m going to wash tomorrow’s load of diapers the same way, so that all of his diapers will have been laundered without detergent at least once. I think I’ll do this every few weeks going forward. I like the idea of removing any detergent residue using baking soda and vinegar. Even though the detergent is all-natural, the idea of a detergent residue is less than pleasant. And we need those diapers to be as absorbent as possible – our little guy is a peeing machine. He’s on the floor next to me right now, getting “air time” and he’s peed three times in the last half hour! Air time is how we ward off diaper rash (which is rare in cloth-diapered babies anyway). Every day he spends at least a few hours on a towel next to me, without a diaper at all. I keep a prefold diaper handy and clean up his frequent offerings. It’s working great – he hasn’t had any diaper rash so far, and we’re hoping to keep it that way. We bought some diaper rash ointment when he was born, but I read that it shouldn’t be used with cloth diapers, as it will reduce their absorbency over time. So air time became our solution, and I love it. He seems to enjoy it as well.
Kelly from Almost Frugal says
If he ever does get diaper rash, breast milk is a great way to heal it.
My kids are the exception to the cloth diapered babies rarely get diaper rash rule. All three got wicked rashes in cloth diapers, which is one of the reasons we now use disposables.
Rebecca (Green Baby Guide) says
Joy wrote a post about this problem a long time ago on the Green Baby Guide. She discovered that some brands of detergent are worse than others for build-up. Biokleen powder will not build up on cloth diapers–and it’s cheaper than even mainstream detergents! (I wrote a whole post about that!)
I like the idea of doing a baking soda wash/vinegar rinse every few weeks. Not only will you get rid of any potential build-up, you’ll save money on detergent in the long run.
I wash diapers in cold with Biokleen and a vinegar rinse. I have never had any problems with absorbancy, so I guess that worked fine. You are right about the diaper cream, though. We have some ruined diapers thanks to diaper cream.
Thanks for joining us on Thrifty Green Thursday!
Condo Blues says
Did you do anything differently with your Downy ball to get it to open in the washer? I tried using vinegar in a Downy ball but it it didn’t open like it should have. It might have been my ball since it was pretty old or my washer which was a refurbed 1987 model that was on it’s way out (and beyond it’s last repair) or a combo of both.
FrugalBabe says
Kelly, we bought the diaper rash ointment right after our son was born, because he was starting to look a bit red. But when I read that we can’t use it with cloth diapers, I switched to the air time method instead. Some days he’s diaper-free for 5 or 6 hours, and we haven’t had any more of the redness ever since. It will be interesting once he’s crawling… I’ll have to follow him all over with that prefold diaper… :)
Condo Blues, I just bought a regular downey ball, but it was new three months ago. Our washer is old, we got it in 2004 from a place that refurbishes them. But the downey ball opens every time. You might try getting a new one – thet’re very inexpensive.
Mrs Mogul says
I use disposable Pampers. They are the only ones that don’t leak. I tried G Diapers but they leaked. I grew up in cloth diapers so good for you!
FrugalBabe says
Mrs. Mogul – I’ve heard that from everyone I know who had tried G diapers. They must work for some people, because they still sell a lot of them, but everyone I know who has tried them has given up on them. :(
Frugal Trenches says
I am so glad cloth diapers are working out so well for you both!
Cathy says
Great idea! I’ll trying to use eco-friendly laundry detergent, too. I’ll have to try just washing with baking soda.
rachel says
It’s so handy that our little guys are almost the same age. This post is a great reminder to do our next few diaper loads detergent-free!
Massimo doesn’t get nearly as much nakie time as your boy, but he’s never had diaper rash either…
Alissa says
I have to do this periodically as well. It’s amazing, actually – while the washer is agitating, I’ll lift up the lid and see all these suds in there. I usually have to do 2-3 detergent-free washes before the suds are gone. And I only use 1/8 of the amount of recommended detergent as it is! I haven’t tried baking soda or vinegar – what purpose do they serve?
Francois Viljoen says
Hi Frugal Babe
Wish I could offer some advice. I don’t have any kids of my own yet, so I’m pretty clueless with this type of stuff. :)
I assume that it is cheaper to use cloth diapers than disposable ones? Is it a lot cheaper? (for future reference)
Francois
Greenbaby says
What an incredibly terrific and simple idea. Our diapers stink like sweat socks (even when they’re just wet) if we don’t strip them–but this would do it without having to put them through an extra rinse cycle. My family will start using this tip immediately. We love it when you grace our Thursday with your brilliant, earth-friendly frugality!
Frugal Babe says
Alissa, I always use baking soda and vinegar, the vinegar as a fabric softener, deodorizer, and sanitizer, and the baking soda as a deodorizer. I usually just add about 2 -3 tablespoons of detergent to the second cycle. This time I just added extra baking soda instead.
Francois – Yep, it’s a ton cheaper to use cloth – especially if you make them yourself. I’ve written quite a bit about this:
http://frugalbabe.com/2008/07/29/cloth-diapers-really-are-the-frugal-way/
Greenbaby – Thanks!
Francois Viljoen says
Frugal Babe,
I saved the link in my “stuff to share with future wife” bookmarks section. ;)
Michelle says
Great post! How much baking soda do you use when you are using it regularly and when you are using it as a substitute for the detergent?
Frugal Babe says
Michelle,
I normally use about 1/2 cup in the first wash cycle. For these loads I did the same half cup in the first wash, and then another 1/2 cup instead of detergent. I was just making this up as I went along, I have no idea if this is the best amount. But it worked for us.
Michelle says
I’ll give it a go! Thanks :)
Jill says
I use Charlie’s Soap laundry powder on my twins’ diapers and it works very well!