No one likes a stinky diaper, especially after it's been washed! Here are some washing tips to make sure you are getting the best cleaning:

1) Consider the type of washing machine you are using.

High efficiency machines are great for the environment, but terrible for washing diapers! There is just not enough water present to really soak those diapers well... and while we are obviously trying to minimize our impact on the environment, we end up using even more water when the diapers are not coming out clean and we end up doing multiple washes to "get that smell out" (many times unsuccessfully). Try adding a WET towel after your rinse cycle to increase the weight of your load and trick the machine into adding more water. And definitely do not skip on that extra rinse cycle to make sure all the detergent is rinsed clean.

2) Hard vs Soft water = very different problems!

The ammonia smell left behind after a wash can be either caused by too much detergent (detergent build up) or not enough detergent (dirty diaper). This is confusing to say the least, so a good rule of thumb is to think about the type of water you have where you live.

Hard water almost always requires MORE detergent... the ammonia smell is simply because your diapers are not getting cleaned enough.... try increasing the amount of detergent you are using.

On the other hand, the ammonia smell in places with soft water is often caused by too much detergent. Try a few rinse cycles with no detergent to see if bubbles form. If so, try a cycle with RLR to help remove the excess detergent, and start using 1/2 the amount of detergent you have been using up to this point.

In both cases, definitely throw in that wet towel too, the extra water helps to make sure all the detergent is rinsed out and the diapers get a good thorough cleaning.

You can adjust your detergent type as well: Rockin Green has a formula specific to areas with hard water (hard rock) and medium (classic) water. For those of you in Vancouver, you should not need more than 1/2 the amount of classic rock to keep those diapers clean, the water is very, very soft on the coast.

Aren't sure what your water type is? http://funkyfluff.ca/water-hardness-in-canada/ 

3) Washing load size

Once again, those high efficiency machines struggle when it comes to the weight of the load. You should never wash less than 8 diapers at a time... you just will not get enough water in the machine to give them a good cleaning (unless you would like to hand wash, but that's another story).

On the other hand, don't try to over stuff the machine either! Your hole stash of diapers will not get cleaned well when there is just not enough space in the machine! Finding that balance is key... which leads me to the next point:

4) Run washes regularly

The longer the diapers sit in the pail, the more they will stink. Seems obvious, doesn't it? But what is actually happening is that urine is breaking down into ammonia, which is a lot harder to get clean (especially from synthetic fabric which hold on smells like crazy!) Make sure to wash diapers every 2-3 days max to prevent this.

Any tips you have found work great getting your diapers clean? Share them with us in the comment section!

The early days of babyhood are often full of wonderment… and diapers. Newborns can easily go through 10-12 diapers a day, which means you may feel like you’re changing your baby A LOT.

That’s why prefolds are such a great solution for the first few months of life. They are the most inexpensive way to cloth diaper, they don’t have to be pinned or fastened in any fancy way, they ensure natural fibres are up against your baby’s newborn skin, and they’re easy to have ready to go for anytime you need to do a change, including those bleary-eyed, middle-of-the-night changes.

Let’s talk about cost first. Prefolds are a very economical way to cloth diaper, especially in the early days when you go through so many diapers per day and when you don’t typically need lots and lots of absorbency. And even if your baby does pee copiously, prefolds are layered in such a way that they absorb quickly and effectively.

Second, they no longer require pins, and in some cases, not even a Snappi. When you pair prefolds with a simple wrap-style diaper cover that has Velcro closures, you can just lay a prefold in the cover, fasten the cover onto your baby snugly and the elastic and the Velcro on the cover will keep everything contained and trim-fitting. Check our tutorial and learn to do the "poo pocket" fold and fasten your prefold snugly with a Snappi.

Third, prefolds are the ultimate in flexibility.  Because you can fold them in a myriad of ways, they offer great flexibility in putting absorbency where you need it AND they offer great versatility because they fold to fit your baby without a predetermined fit. The preemie size is good for bigger newborns too and fits perfectly in a newborn cover.

Fourth, they have no synthetic fibres as part of the construction of the diaper – no elastic, no snaps, no fleece or velour or microfibre – so they offer the most natural layer next to your baby's skin. Choosing a wool diaper cover ensures a completely natural experience. Currently the prefolds we have (and love!) are made from 100% certified organic materials. 

The most economic prefold choice is an organic cotton prefold but if you are looking for premium absorbency and trimness, check out BabyKicks Organic Hemp Prefolds.  If keeping a tight budget is your primary goal, the Bummis Organic Cotton Diaper Kit is a great way to get all the basics you'll need for a very economical price. So, what’s keeping you from trying prefolds?

Looking for a natural fiber, reusable cloth diaper liner? Well, look no more! Hemp Babies Raw Silk Liner (by cottonbabies) has natural anti-bacterial properties that may keep yeast and diaper rash at bay. 

Silk is the only 100% natural wicking material able to help keep baby's skin drier.

Cloth diapers and wool covers are a great pairing! While you don't need to wash your woolies after each use, you will have to lanolize them every once in awhile. sloomb Solid Lanolin is smooth and thick. It effectively lanolizes your woolies easily and a little goes a long way. sloomb lanolin is 100% pure USP pharmaceutical grade solid lanolin with no additives or preservatives.

It has very little natural scent and you could use it with a scented wool wash to make your woolies smell joyous and less sheepy. 

Use approx 1 tsp in very hot water to melt it down and mix well or shake in a closed glass bottle if you have one. Add to your water bath and soak woolies for approx 30 min. or longer.

The bumGenius Diaper Sprayer truly makes dealing with poop easy. You don't need liners or have the hassle of dunking and swishing.

Not only does a sprayer make rinsing cloth diapers a breeze, you can also use it for personal hygiene, rinsing potties and possibly the bathtub with its adjustable control settings. Installation is quick and easy. Many families consider a sprayer a must-have for cloth diapering.