Cloth Diaper Tip of the Day: We get asked a lot if it’s really necessary to do 4-5 wash AND dry cycles to prep diapers and inserts made from natural fibers like cotton, hemp, and bamboo. The answer is YES! “Prepping” basically means you are preparing the fabric to be able to absorb fluid by removing the natural oils that cause repelling. A hot wash with detergent followed by a dry cycle on medium to high heat helps to loosen the oils from the fabric so it washes out easier with each subsequent cycle. If you skip the dryer part, you have less oil removed in the next wash cycle. It really takes a good 10 cycles to remove ALL the oil but 5 wash and dry cycles will make the fabric absorbent enough to start using on your little one and make it so you can wash them with your other diapers and not have to worry about the microfiber absorbing the oils and possibly have repelling issues. So while it may seem like a lot of work in the beginning, it is not as much work as having to deal with repelling and leaks that end up giving you more laundry to wash! Do the 4-5 wash and dry cycles, then test for repelling with a bead of water. If the water absorbs right away, you are good to go. If it still sits on top, you need to do a couple of more wash and dry cycles. Maximum absorbency will happen somewhere between 8 to 10 wash and dry cycles. :) --Gina
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 15:30:01 +0000
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