PUL Cover Care
1. Optional: Soak/Prewash Diapers in any temp water w/ or w/o detergent to get all the gunk off the diapers
2. Wash cycle on HOT (about 120 degree F) w/ detergent and disinfectant of choice(more on this below) to cleanse the diapers
3. Rinse diaper covers on preferred temperature setting at least once
1. Optional: Soak/Prewash Diapers in any temp water w/ or w/o detergent to get all the gunk off the diapers
2. Wash cycle on HOT (about 120 degree F) w/ detergent and disinfectant of choice(more on this below) to cleanse the diapers
3. Rinse diaper covers on preferred temperature setting at least once
Tip: Open washer during rinse cycle to see if there are suds. If so, then another 1 or more rinses are necessary until no more suds are present
Detergent Choices
1. Clean Rinsing/Zero Residue detergents
Examples: Charlie’s Soap, Envirorite, Sensi Clean, Dropps, Oxy-Prime Powder, Rockin Green, Nellie’s Laundry Soda, Sport Wash, Allen’s Naturally Liquid, Mountain Green Baby Free & Clear Liquid, VASKA, Country Save (has fragrance)
2. Clean Rinsing/Zero Residue detergent WITH small amount of Borax
Examples: Allen’s Naturally Powder, Country Save Powder (too sudsy for HE machines), Planet Ultra Powder, Ecos Liquid, Nature Clean, Lifekind
3. Mainstream Detergents WITH Enzymes but NO optical (UV) brighteners
Examples: Tide Free Powder, Cheer Free and Gentle, Seventh Generation, Bi-O-Kleen Premium Plus, Ecover Powder
4. Mainstream Detergents WITH Brighteners but NO enzymes
Examples: Purex Free and Clear
5. Mainstream Detergents WITH Enzymes & WITH Brighteners, to AVOID
Examples: All Liquid, All Free & Clear, Arm & Hammer Products, Dreft, Dynamo, Era, Fab, Gain, Ivory Snow, Method, MelaPower, Purex regular, baby and free and clear, SA8, Shaklee, Sun, Sunlight, Surf, Tide, Wisk, Xtra, Yes, Zout, most store brands
Tip: Optimally Clean Rinsing detergents should be a full-time choice for all your laundry or you could run into redepositing issues on your diaper covers, which could cause rashes.
Tip: If baby develops blister rash and you’re using hemp products, try a detergent without borax. Borax may be difficult to wash out of these fibers.
Tip: Small amounts of borax seem to be okay or even beneficial for killing bacteria in cotton. It is a good disinfectant and borax containing clean-rinsing products will clean better with no additives than borax free ones.
Disinfectant Choices
1. Additive-Free Oxygen Cleaners
Examples: Sun Oxygen Cleaner, Clorox Oxygen Cleaner, OxiClean Baby, OxoBrite, OxyBoost by Natural Choices, BioPac Non-Chlorine Bleach Powder
2. Small amount of bleach
3. More generous amount of baking soda
Tip: It is important to remember that much of the advice given in these instructions is opinion only. For example using bleach to disinfect differs from RDMA recommendations however we believe that it is necessary to kill the bacteria to keep baby rash-free and a disinfectant helps do this.
Help! My Diaper Covers Smell!
1. Urine Residue? Do they have a strong urine smell as is or right when baby pees?
Try adding Vinegar to the soak/prewash cycle OR to the rinse cycle – urine which turns to ammonia has a high PH, vinegar has a low PH and helps neutralize the PH which is good
Detergent Choices
1. Clean Rinsing/Zero Residue detergents
Examples: Charlie’s Soap, Envirorite, Sensi Clean, Dropps, Oxy-Prime Powder, Rockin Green, Nellie’s Laundry Soda, Sport Wash, Allen’s Naturally Liquid, Mountain Green Baby Free & Clear Liquid, VASKA, Country Save (has fragrance)
2. Clean Rinsing/Zero Residue detergent WITH small amount of Borax
Examples: Allen’s Naturally Powder, Country Save Powder (too sudsy for HE machines), Planet Ultra Powder, Ecos Liquid, Nature Clean, Lifekind
3. Mainstream Detergents WITH Enzymes but NO optical (UV) brighteners
Examples: Tide Free Powder, Cheer Free and Gentle, Seventh Generation, Bi-O-Kleen Premium Plus, Ecover Powder
4. Mainstream Detergents WITH Brighteners but NO enzymes
Examples: Purex Free and Clear
5. Mainstream Detergents WITH Enzymes & WITH Brighteners, to AVOID
Examples: All Liquid, All Free & Clear, Arm & Hammer Products, Dreft, Dynamo, Era, Fab, Gain, Ivory Snow, Method, MelaPower, Purex regular, baby and free and clear, SA8, Shaklee, Sun, Sunlight, Surf, Tide, Wisk, Xtra, Yes, Zout, most store brands
Tip: Optimally Clean Rinsing detergents should be a full-time choice for all your laundry or you could run into redepositing issues on your diaper covers, which could cause rashes.
Tip: If baby develops blister rash and you’re using hemp products, try a detergent without borax. Borax may be difficult to wash out of these fibers.
Tip: Small amounts of borax seem to be okay or even beneficial for killing bacteria in cotton. It is a good disinfectant and borax containing clean-rinsing products will clean better with no additives than borax free ones.
Disinfectant Choices
1. Additive-Free Oxygen Cleaners
Examples: Sun Oxygen Cleaner, Clorox Oxygen Cleaner, OxiClean Baby, OxoBrite, OxyBoost by Natural Choices, BioPac Non-Chlorine Bleach Powder
2. Small amount of bleach
3. More generous amount of baking soda
Tip: It is important to remember that much of the advice given in these instructions is opinion only. For example using bleach to disinfect differs from RDMA recommendations however we believe that it is necessary to kill the bacteria to keep baby rash-free and a disinfectant helps do this.
Help! My Diaper Covers Smell!
1. Urine Residue? Do they have a strong urine smell as is or right when baby pees?
Try adding Vinegar to the soak/prewash cycle OR to the rinse cycle – urine which turns to ammonia has a high PH, vinegar has a low PH and helps neutralize the PH which is good
Try increasing the amount of detergent & water– enough detergent is required to actually get the diapers clean in lots of hot water
2. Detergent Residue? Check the rinse cycle and make sure there are no SUDS left
Try increasing number of rinses
Try decreasing the amount of detergent & increasing water level
Tip: Diaper creams are not recommended because they are difficult to wash out. If necessary, insert a disposable liner first
Wool Cover Care
1. Initial Preparation to Lanolize Wool covers for 1st time
2. Detergent Residue? Check the rinse cycle and make sure there are no SUDS left
Try increasing number of rinses
Try decreasing the amount of detergent & increasing water level
Tip: Diaper creams are not recommended because they are difficult to wash out. If necessary, insert a disposable liner first
Wool Cover Care
1. Initial Preparation to Lanolize Wool covers for 1st time
Products: Lansinoh or Imse Woolcure or soap below
Procedure:
Rinse: several times with soap until water is not brown anymore.
Letting dry in between is good and recommended but optional if in a hurry
Lanolize: (see section 3) 2-3 times before full wool performance is reached
Tip: After initial washing and lanolizing, wool does not need to be washed often – just air the covers out in between uses.
Rinse: several times with soap until water is not brown anymore.
Letting dry in between is good and recommended but optional if in a hurry
Lanolize: (see section 3) 2-3 times before full wool performance is reached
Tip: After initial washing and lanolizing, wool does not need to be washed often – just air the covers out in between uses.
2. Washing: Only needed when they smell when dry or have been soiled
Products: Ivory, Olive Oil Soap, Gall Soap or other woolwash bars
Products: Ivory, Olive Oil Soap, Gall Soap or other woolwash bars
such as Eucalan Woolwash or Imse Vimse Woolcare
Procedure 1: Spot clean with above soap in warmer than room temperature water
Procedure 2: If particularly dirty or smell of ammonia soak in sink for 15 min
Procedure 1: Spot clean with above soap in warmer than room temperature water
Procedure 2: If particularly dirty or smell of ammonia soak in sink for 15 min
Use some wool bar soap and 1 tsp or more of vinegar
Then wash, rinse and lanolize normally (see section 3 below)
3. How to Lanolize
Fill sink with warm water
In saucepan boil 1 cup of water, add 1 tsp lanolin and few drops of woolwash, mix
Pour into sink with warm water, quickly stir in mix and add wool cover
Then wash, rinse and lanolize normally (see section 3 below)
3. How to Lanolize
Fill sink with warm water
In saucepan boil 1 cup of water, add 1 tsp lanolin and few drops of woolwash, mix
Pour into sink with warm water, quickly stir in mix and add wool cover
Push cover under a few times, let cover soak for 15 min or more then drain
Drying: gently but firmly squeeze out excess water – don’t wring
Drying: gently but firmly squeeze out excess water – don’t wring
Lay it out in its shape on 1-2 towels, roll it up and press to soak up more water.
Move to a dry spot on the towel and repeat. Lay flat to dry.
Tip: Wool is not waterproof like synthetics, but it is very breathable which is wonderful. The lanolin on the wool is water resistant but the wool is actually absorbent. The wool is supposed to get damp when the cotton inside is sopping. That’s okay – just air it out and use it again.
Wool is Amazing!
Synthetic diapers hold residues more so than natural fibers and are harder to get clean, hence one reason some prefer 100% cotton products & natural fiber covers such as prefolds with wool covers. Natural fibers are also more breathable and will help prevent rashes. Most diaper Covers, Pockets and All-In-Ones contains a layer of PUL (polyurethane laminate) which is what makes it waterproof and not breathable.
Tip: Wool is not waterproof like synthetics, but it is very breathable which is wonderful. The lanolin on the wool is water resistant but the wool is actually absorbent. The wool is supposed to get damp when the cotton inside is sopping. That’s okay – just air it out and use it again.
Wool is Amazing!
Synthetic diapers hold residues more so than natural fibers and are harder to get clean, hence one reason some prefer 100% cotton products & natural fiber covers such as prefolds with wool covers. Natural fibers are also more breathable and will help prevent rashes. Most diaper Covers, Pockets and All-In-Ones contains a layer of PUL (polyurethane laminate) which is what makes it waterproof and not breathable.