The Washing Conundrum – How to WASH dirty Cloth Diapers ?

Cleaning poop and pee itself is a big bone of contention among expecting parents. Reusable diapers add more fuel to that fire — because unlike disposables, they have to be washed. Every. Single. Time.

When convenience is the trump card, even parents who are convinced about cloth diapering often find themselves staring into a black hole of doubts:

• Am I using the right detergent?
• Is hand washing enough or is machine wash a must?
• Will soiled diapers ruin my washing machine?
• Why do stains remain even after washing — does that mean the diapers are still dirty?

If these questions sound familiar, you’re not alone.

Our Early Cloth Diaper Washing Struggles

Post-delivery, my husband rinsed and washed the traditional Indian cloth nappies in the hospital. In just two days, there were so many to wash that it felt overwhelming amidst the post-partum issues.

Once we were back home, we shifted to machine washing after rinsing pooped diapers. Even then, poop stains would remain after washes. The stains were particularly stubborn on the few modern cloth diapers we owned at that time. It bothered me a lot.

Initially, we were doing only one wash — the main wash. Pre-wash was mostly skipped because nappies were rinsed immediately after soiling and stored in a basket. In those early postpartum days, I couldn’t stand the sight of an open basket in the room, so I switched to a closed laundry bag.

That decision made things worse. Closed storage led to stinking, smelly diapers. I finally learnt (the hard way) that proper storage is one of the most essential steps in successful cloth diapering. I moved back to an open, airy basket — and things immediately improved.

I’ve covered diaper storage in detail here .

Despite the frustrations, I somehow found my way back to cloth diapers — and I’m glad I did. This blog is an attempt to ensure you don’t repeat the mistakes we made and instead start your cloth diaper journey with confidence.

How to Wash Cloth Diapers (Without Losing Your Mind)

Let’s simplify washing cloth diapers into clear, manageable steps.

Step 1: Soiled Diaper Storage

• Remove poop from the diaper.
  A strong jet spray works well once baby starts solid food and poop becomes more solid.
• Rinse and store in an OPEN & AIRY pail.
  Pee-only diapers can go straight into the open pail without rinsing.
• Avoid closed laundry bags — airflow prevents stink and ammonia build-up.
• Wash diapers daily or on alternate days.

👉 The goal here is simple: don’t let moisture + warmth sit together.

Step 2: Pre-Wash (This Step Is Non-Negotiable)

• Secure wash tabs (especially for newborn diapers) to protect Velcro.
• Wash only diapers with a small amount of detergent.
• Use additive-free, non-fragrant powder detergent
  (Surf Excel, Tide, etc. — no fancy baby detergents needed).
• Liquid detergents haven’t worked well for me, though some families do use them successfully.
• Use cold or warm water, shortest machine cycle OR soak for 10 minutes and hand agitate 5+ times.
• Rinse once.

✔️ After pre-wash, there should be no urine smell left.

Step 3: Main Wash (Actual Cleaning Happens Here)

• Add detergent as per the brand’s recommendation.
• Machine wash:
  • Hot wash (max 50°C)
  • Add other laundry so the drum is 60–70% full
• Hand wash:
  • Soak for 10–20 minutes
  • Agitate 10+ times
• Rinse 2–3 times until:
  • Water runs clear
  • Diapers don’t smell like detergent

Step 4: Drying

• Use extra spin for faster drying (especially in monsoon or winter).
• Sun-dry whenever possible — it’s nature’s stain remover.
• Dryer is fine too.
• Dry diaper covers with the coloured side facing the sun to protect the laminate.

The Basic Washing Logic (Keep This in Mind)

1. Remove pee and poop so your main wash isn’t full of waste.
2. Do a proper hot wash to clean.
3. Rinse out detergent completely.
4. Dry thoroughly.

That’s it. No magic, no shortcuts.

Why Natural Fibre Cloth Diapers Are Easier to Wash?

One big learning from our journey: natural fibre diapers are far more FORGIVING!.

Diapers made with natural fibres like cotton and hemp:

• Release poop and urine more easily during rinsing
• Wash cleaner with simpler routines
• Are less prone to long-term stink and ammonia build-up
• Handle small washing mistakes better than synthetic fabrics

We personally faced repeated stink issues with synthetic cloth diapers. Eventually, we shifted to fully natural fibre options. This change made washing simpler and stress-free.I’ve written in detail about why natural fibres work better here (link blog here).

And if you’re already dealing with stinky diapers — don’t worry. There are ways to fix it, which I’ll be covering in upcoming blogs.

This is also why we recommend and use:

• EcoSnug Fitted Cloth Diapers – made entirely with natural absorbent fibres that clean up well and are gentle on baby’s skin
• EcoSnug Flat Cloth Diapers – single-layer, breathable, quick-drying, and extremely wash-friendly, especially for Indian climate and frequent washing

👉 You can explore them here.

If you want to understand why we switched to natural fibres , I’ve explained it in detail here.

And if you’re already dealing with stinky diaper issues, don’t worry — there are proven ways to fix them. I’ll be covering those solutions in upcoming blogs.

Stains Do NOT Mean Diapers Are Dirty

This needs to be said louder. Stains are cosmetic. Not hygiene-related.

If:

• Diapers don’t smell
• Baby has no rashes
• Washing routine is solid

…then the diaper is clean, even if stains remain. Sunlight often fades stains over time, but chasing a “perfect white diaper” can lead to over-washing and damage.

Clean > white. Always

A Few Important Don’ts ( And WHY?)

❌ No Dettol

❌No Fabric Softeners

This isn’t just a “rule” — there’s a solid reason behind it. Both Dettol and fabric softeners contain fragrance and chemical additives, most of which are trade secrets. These fragrances don’t remove odors — they mask them. As a result, you lose your most important washing check:

👉 the clean smell test.

Even worse, these chemical residues:

• Build up in the pores of the fabric
• Coat the fibres instead of rinsing out
• Make diapers harder to clean over time

The long-term outcome? – Persistent stink, ammonia smell, and recurring wash issues. So the simplest solution is also the best one: just avoid them altogether.

❌ No Bleach (as a Routine)

Bleach is not the enemy — and yes, it can solve certain problems. However, if you have a solid wash routine, regular use of bleach is not necessary and often avoidable. Overuse can weaken fabrics and isn’t required for everyday cleaning.

When and how bleach should be used — and when it shouldn’t — is a topic we’ll cover in detail in upcoming blogs.

For now, focus on:

✔️ Correct storage

✔️ Proper pre-wash

✔️ Adequate detergent

✔️ Thorough rinsing

✔️ Use additive-free detergent only

✔️ If you have hard water (TDS > 250), use a water softener

Get these right, and most problems never arise.

The Bottom Line

Washing cloth diapers doesn’t have to be complicated — but it does need to be intentional.

Once you understand the basics — proper storage, a consistent pre-wash, an effective main wash, and thorough drying — the fear around stains, smells, and machines slowly disappears. Most wash issues don’t come from cloth diapers being “hard”, but from skipped steps, masked smells, or over complicated routines.

Natural fibre diapers make this journey even easier. They’re more forgiving, easier to clean, and kinder in the long run — both for your baby and for you.

And remember: stains are not the enemy, stink is.

If something feels off, it’s fixable. Cloth diapering is a learning curve, not a test — and you don’t have to figure it out alone. We’re right here with you, every step of the way 🤍.

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Here is a New Parents Guide to Cloth Diapers that might come in handy in your Cloth Diapering Journey.

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