Frequently Asked Questions
* Scroll down to learn about cloth diapering and how to wash and care for diapers *
- I've heard it's hard to wash cloth diapers with a front loader?
Sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error to figure out the right
wash routine for your cloth diapers, but with a little bit of
persistence most people LOVE their HE machines for cloth
Rockin’ A Frontloader
We have compiled a list of the different front loader models, along
with successful wash routines for each. Since Rockin’ Green is clean
rinsing, you should be able to easily Rock a Frontloader now!
Bosch Nexxt
-Soak Cycle. 1T Rockin Green. Let it soak for 30min or
more. This washer uses minimal amounts of water so the soak helps to
get the diapers good and wet before the wash. Drain
-Hot wash. 1T Rockin green with extra rinse.
-If it has been 3 or more days for the diapers it helps to do an additional warm/hot wash with no detergent.
Frigidaire Affinity FL HE
-normal wash on cold/cold with tiny bit of detergent
-normal wash on hot/cold with tiny bit of detergent (1 tbs of RnG)
-extra rinse
GE Spacemaker Model #: WSSH300GWW
-1st run through is this: no detergent, Rinse cycle, cold/cold, med spin
-2nd run through: 1 tbs of RnG, perm. press cycle, hot/cold, med
spin, heavy soil/stain and extra rinse option turned on
- 3rd run through: no detergent, quick wash cycle, warm/cold, high spin
GE WCVH6800J1WW
- start a cold rinse by pushing "speed wash", "normal soil", "medium spin", "tap cold", NO detergent.
-Once the cold rinse is complete pull out the wash drawer. Add 1
tablespoon of Rockin Green Soap. With the following settings-
"whites", "normal soil", "medium spin", "warm", "extra rinse". *Use
the My Cycle option to program your wash routine for future washes.
HE Cambrio/Toploader
-Rinse&Spin (cold/cold) with no soap
-Then a Normal cycle, set it to hot/cold with an extra rinse and a pre-soak with 2 tbs of RnG.
Kenmore Elite H3
-Rinse/Spin - 2nd Rinse, No spin, Tap Cold
-Heavy Duty - 2nd Rinse, Hot/Cold, High Spin cycle)
Kenmore HE2 Plus
-Rinse/Drain & Spin Cycle on Cold/Cold. I always make sure to press the Prewash & Second Rinse buttons
-Add 2 TBSP of RG to detergent bin
-Whitest Whites Cycle on Hot/Cold, High Spin Speed, Prewash, & Second Rinse.
LG Frontloader
-Cold/cold on delicate with water plus
-Hot/cold on cotton wash with water plus, 2tbsp of RG
-Cold/cold on delicate with water plus, no soap
LG WM0642HW
-Rinse & Spin (default setting of warm/cold) -
-Sanitary (again default water settings extra hot/cold) 1:45 1 table spoon of rockin green.
Maytag Epic Z
-Wash on sanitary setting with highest water and extra rinse. We throw in two sopping wet towels for extra water/weight. -
-Extra Rinse/Spin cycle
Maytag Epic
-on the 'cycle' knob select 'heavy duty'
-adjust the soil level to the maximum
-select hot for wash and cold for rinse
-push the 'prewash' and 'extra rinse" buttons
-use 1 tbs of Rockin' Green
Maytag Neptune
-1st cycle: heavy soil cold/cold with extra rinse
-2nd cycle: heavy soil hot/cold with extra rinse and 1-2 tbsp.
Rockin' Green, sometimes adding a presoak for heavily soiled diapers
*Delay wash option is good for washing diapers overnight.
Samsung HE FL model number:WF218ANB
-Rinse and spin cycle with extra rinse (cold water) no detergent
- Hot/cold heavy duty cycle with extra wash/extra rinse +detergent
-Rinse and spin cycle again with extra rinse
Note: These wash routines are sent in by customers, and as with
anything there are more than one way to wash diapers. So if you have a
method that works for you, continue to do so. If you are having
trouble, and are looking for a different routine give these a whirl.
- What do all these diaper terms mean?
All-in-One Cloth Diapers - These
convenient diapers are one piece; a laminated waterproof outer shell
and a sewn-in absorbent liner. This makes diapering your child and
washing diapers a breeze. Some all-in-ones adjust to fit children from
newborn to potty training, and some come in a variety of sizes
resulting in a trimmer fit.
Pocket Diapers - An
innovative design featuring a pocket to place inserts for added
absorbency, and a fleece covering to wick moisture away from baby’s
skin. Just separate the insert prior to washing. Having the insert
separate from the outer material hastens drying time. Some pocket diapers adjust to fit children from newborn to potty training, and
some come in a variety of sizes resulting in a trimmer fit.
Fitted Diapers - Fitted
diapers have the shape of a disposable diaper, but are made of cotton,
bamboo, hemp, or other material. They generally have snaps or velcro to
easily form the diaper to your child. They require a waterproof cover
to prevent moisture from wicking onto the child’s clothes. Separating
the outer covering from the moisture absorbing material quickens drying
time. Some fitted diapers adjust to fit children from newborn to potty training, and
some come in a variety of sizes resulting in a trimmer fit.
Pre-folds - These
diapers are the most economical. Pre-folds are rectangular shaped. To
put them on your child, you fold them, place them on your child, and
then secure them with pins or snappi fasteners, and cover with a
waterproof outer covering. Separating the outer covering from the
moisture absorbing material quickens drying time. Most pre-folds come
in variety of sizes. See http://diaperpages.com/newspaper_fold.php to learn how to fold a pre-fold. It's so easy!
- How many prewashes are necessary?
After
you receive your new diapers, they require washing before use to wash
off the natural oils and make them more absorbent. Just follow these
easy steps:
- Make sure you have detergent that will not harm the diapers (we've found Rockin' Green to be the best, or see or this helpful website for information on common detergents)
- Separate
materials into different piles (bamboo, hemp, cotton, fleece, etc) as
natural oils of the materials can damage other materials during
pre-washes
- For fleece and PUL material, one pre-wash and dry is sufficient
- For cotton, 3 pre-wash/dry cycles
- For bamboo and hemp, 10 pre-wash/dry cycles are ideal for maximum absorbency
- How do I wash the cloth diapers?
When you take the diaper off your child, wet diapers and breastfed baby poo diapers go directly into a wet bag. Diapers of children taking formula, or solids can be shaken into toilet or sprayed clean into toilet, then transferred to a wet bag. You can also line the diaper with a bio-liner
to catch solid messes - just shake the bio-degradable liner into the
toilet and flush the mess away! Pocket diaper inserts should be
removed from pocket prior to dumping in wet bag, and Velcro fasteners
should be attached to the back tabs before going into wet bag.
On
laundry day, dump diapers and wet bag into washing machine. You can
start by doing a cold soak (or cold pre-wash) and then turn the dial to
hot. Add 1/2 the recommended amount of laundry detergent (or 1/4 the
recommended for HE washers). Do an extra rinse unless you use Rockin' Green
detergent (or another completely soluble detergent). Put
into dryer or hang dry. Don't use dryer sheets as they have chemicals
in them which can affect the absorbency of the diapers.
- What if used the wrong laundry detergent and now my diapers are less absorbent?
If
you notice your diapers are becoming smelly, or that water is beading
up instead of absorbing into the diaper, it is probably because of
detergent residue on the diapers. You can 'strip' the detergent from
the diapers by filling up the washer with hot water and adding a few
drops of dish detergent. When it is on the rinse cycle, see if there
are detergent bubbles. If so, keep rinsing until you don't see anymore
bubbles. The bubbles are the old detergent coming off the diapers. When
the water is clear, finish the cycle and dry the diapers.
- What if there is a yellow stain from breastfed-baby poo?
Simply
leave the wet diaper in the sun and the stain will disappear in
minutes! It doesn't matter if the diaper has already been in the dryer
- the stain will not set.
