Caring for Your Adult Cloth Diapers

Washing and caring for your adult cloth diapers is now much simpler than it used to be

• Start by filling the diaper pail three-quarters full of water and add (3/4 cup) 175mL vinegar (not chlorine bleach).
• Then rinse the soiled adult diapers in the toilet; diapers wet from urine need not be rinsed.
• Rinse the diaper pail before refilling; disinfect occasionally with a solution of (3/4 cup) 175mL vinegar and (1/2 gal.) 2L hot water.
• The diaper-pail deodorizing tablets are often a curiosity for children. If you use these tablets, keep the pail out of reach of small children. In case of accidental ingestion, call your local poison control center.
• When the diaper pail is full, empty the contents into wash machine and spin out excess water.
• Fill the wash machine to the highest water level, using hot water.
• Use a phosphate-free detergent or a biodegradable soap (pure soap will not wash out well in hard water).
• Then run your adult diapers through an extra rinse at the end of the cycle during the first few months, if your have problems with diaper rash.
• Dry diapers in the dryer on a hot setting to prevent bacteria, or hang to dry. (Most diapers will stay softer if put in a dryer for 15 minutes, then hung outside on a line or rail to finish drying.)
• Air drying on a sunny day will disinfect the diaper naturally and will help cleanse adult cloth diapers. Diapers dried outside on the clothesline will last longer. However, your diapers can get stiff when line dried only. To address this problem, line-dried diapers can be made to fluff up for a few minutes in the drier.