ALL ABOUT CLOTH DIAPERS CANADA

ALL ABOUT CLOTH DIAPERS CANADANikky pant laundering, because it helps maintain
Baby will require 7500 or more diaper changesthe waterproofing.  Use Ivory soap flakes, not
from birth to potty training.Ivory Snow liquid--the liquid is a detergent, not a
Before I had my first baby, I decided on clothsoap.) In one case, the customer had hard water,
diapers because of economy, but I had visions ofand the soap had not rinsed out but had actually
myself steaming a kettle of diapers on the stoveformed “curds” inside the cloth diaper
in order to sterilize them.  I struggled to find alayers!  If you insist on using soap, despite all this,
way to fold the square cloth diapers that werethen use soap with 1/2 cup of washing soda
standard equipment at the time.  Now the(Arm & Hammer washing soda is one brand,
prefolded diapers have taken the work awayfound in the laundry detergent section of any
from folding, and after four children and 36,000grocery store).  In hard-water areas, rinse first
diaper changes, I’ve learned that there’swith 1/3 cup of washing soda to eliminate soap
nothing mysterious or scary about washingingrained from previous washings, or a curd may
diapers either.  (Actually, I learned that after theform.  If curds form, use 1 1/2 cup of white
first month into my diaper-changing career!)  Myvinegar to eliminate them.
husband changed cloth diapers too.  With theWHAT CAUSES THIS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
Velcro closures on diapers and Nikkys, he didn'tSOAP AND DETERGENT?
worry about poking baby with a pin.  We usedAccording to the World Book Encyclopedia,
the laundry method described on the next page. “The most important feature of detergents is
Like all parents, we have a busy schedule but withtheir ability to clean effectively in hard water. 
the modern-day convenience of automaticHard water contains certain minerals, and many
washers and dryers, it takes no more effort thansoaps cannot be used to launder in it.  Such
pushing a few buttons to do a load of diapers.soaps react with the minerals to form a
Here are some of the common questions parentssubstance called lime soap or soap curd.  Lime
have asked us, about diapering.  Hope you find itsoap does not dissolve, and so it is difficult to
helpful,remove from fabrics and other surfaces.  It also
Gracecauses bathtub ring.  Detergents do not leave
HOW MANY CLOTH DIAPERS DO I NEED?such deposits, and they also penetrate soiled
Even if you wash cloth diapers every day, youareas better than soap does.  The chief
should have at least 3 dozen diapers, preferably 4ingredients of soap are 1) fats, and 2) chemicals
dozen.  If you buy less than that, they’llcalled alkalis.  Manufacturers may use animal fats,
wear out from the frequent washing, beforeor such vegetable oils as coconut oil or olive oil. 
baby is potty trained.Most soapmakers use sodium hydroxide (often
WILL MY BABY GET DIAPER RASH IF Icalled lye, or caustic soda) as the alkali.”
DON’T STERILIZE THE DIAPERS?SHOULD I USE FABRIC SOFTENER ON CLOTH
Normally, hot water washing and thorough rinsingDIAPERS IN CANADA?
will leave your cloth diapers sanitary.  Of course,No, fabric softener leaves a coating on the fibres
common sense prevails—a health nurse phonedin the cloth diaper which will decrease absorbency
to tell us her concerns about rinsing cloth diapersin the cloth diaper.  Also, fabric softener has been
in the toilet.  She explained that if the toilet is notfound to cause an allergic rash on some babies. 
kept reasonably clean, it is better to use aFabric softener is not necessary if you don’t
separate bucket for rinsing diapers.  Apparentlyoverdry your cloth diapers.  If you wish to use it
some of the homes she visited had very pooranyway, use about 1/5 the amount you would
housekeeping habits.  The biggest cause of diapernormally use.
rash is simply leaving baby in a wet diaper tooHOW TO WASH CLOTH DIAPERS IN CANADA
long, so that the rash-causing bacteria have a1.  Store wet diapers in a diaper pail.  Rinse
chance to multiply in the warmth, darkness, andsoiled diapers in the toilet, using the diaper duck or
dampness.  If you are in doubt about therubber gloves.  No water is needed in the diaper
sanitation of your cloth diapers, use 175 ml ofpail if you wash within 1 or 2 days.
vinegar in the final rinse.2.  Put cloth diapers in washer and put through a
SHOULD I USE A PURE SOAP, LIKE IVORYcold rinse.  (If diapers are not very soiled, you
SNOW, ON CLOTH DIAPERS?may skip this.)
We don’t recommend ever using pure soap3.  Remove cloth diapers from washer and fill
(as opposed to detergent) on cloth diapers. washer with HOT water and detergent.  DO
Many customers have told us about the problemsNOT USE BLEACH, IT WEAKENS THE FABRIC.)
which have resulted from using pure soap on4.  Put cloth diapers through hot wash and rinse
cloth diapers.  One customer told us that usingcycle.
pure soap had plugged up their farm septic5.  If desired, put cloth diapers through a second
system and that the man who did the clean-uprinse cycle.
told her not to use soap again, and to switch to6.  If you wish, add 175 ml vinegar to final rinse.
detergent.  Some customers have had the hoses7.  Dry diapers.  If using dryer, use hot setting,
on their washing machines clog up because of thebut do not overdry as the diapers will not be soft.
soap residue.  Customers have sent us cloth8.  If using prefolded cloth diapers, no need to
diapers to look at which have actually becomestack them.  Just take them out of the dryer
water repellent because of the waxy build-up ofand leave them in a laundry basket near the
soap residue.  (Ivory Snow is recommended forchange area.