Yes, cloth diapers can be washed with other clothes, but with specific steps.
Combining Cloth Diapers and Other Laundry
It's common for people using cloth diapers to also have other laundry to do. The key to washing diapers with other items is to perform a thorough prewash cycle first. This prewash removes the bulk of the soils from the diapers.
- Prewash Cycle: The purpose of the prewash cycle is to remove the heavy soiling from the diapers. This means urine and fecal matter.
- Main Wash Cycle: After a prewash, diapers are relatively clean and ready to be washed with other clothes, towels, or similar items.
Step-by-Step Guide to Washing Diapers with Other Laundry
- Prewash Diapers: Perform a prewash cycle specifically for your cloth diapers. This should remove most of the contaminants.
- Add Other Laundry: Once the prewash is complete, you can add other laundry such as clothes and towels to the washing machine.
- Main Wash Cycle: Proceed with a standard main wash cycle. Use your regular detergent.
When your diapers don't make up enough to do a full load of laundry, you can do your normal prewash cycle to remove the bulk of the nasties and once this cycle is complete, you can throw in any clothes, towels, or any other laundry for the main wash cycle.
Important Considerations
While it's convenient to wash diapers with other laundry, there are some points to remember:
- Detergent: Use a good quality detergent that cleans well but is also safe for sensitive skin if you have items mixed in that are for a baby.
- Water Temperature: Follow the recommendations from your diaper manufacturer. However, most diapers can be washed in warm or hot water.
- Drying: Make sure all items are fully dry before storing.
Conclusion
Washing cloth diapers with other clothes is convenient and effective as long as a thorough prewash cycle is completed before mixing items. This ensures the other items are not contaminated.
