My Cloth Diaper Wash Routine

This post is part of the weekly Cloth Diaper 101 Blog Hop hosted by My Cloth Diaper Stash.

This weeks Topic: Cloth Diaper Wash Routine

First - there isn't 1 perfect way to wash cloth diapers. :)

The Method I Use:
I mentioned slightly my wash routine a few weeks ago when I posted about how and why I started cloth diapering, today I'll share more in depth.

I use the "dry pail method" of storing dirty diapers, my pail is similar to this one.  I wash them everyday to every other day.  That sounds like a lot but you get used to it, and I do have 2 in cloth diapers.  I found that my diapers came out cleaner and had no lingering smells if they were washed in smaller loads, more often.  Washing more frequently minimizes the risk of mold and bacteria growing on your diapers.

To Wash:
I put all the diapers in the washer, normally still stuffed, I don't go through the work of un-stuffing the diapers. Almost always all the diaper soakers un-stuff themselves in the wash.  First wash on a COLD cycle with an extra rinse and no detergents.  Then when that wash is over I run them on a second wash this time with HOT water and laundry detergent and oxygen bleach with an additional extra rinse again.

These two detergents are the only soaps I trust to wash my diapers with (and our everyday laundry).  I have never had any problems with the soap building up on my diapers (been using it for 2 1/2 years) and I know there are NO harmful chemicals in them that will harm my babies or make them react to.  These detergents are not scented.  I use about 1-2 TBS of detergent and 1-1 1/2 of the oxygen bleach.  I know some people really like Rockin' Green detergents, but I've never tried those before. I have used soap nuts and they work well too. :)

When they are finished washing I will almost always hang dry my diapers outside on the line or inside on my drying rack.  Very occasionally do I put the diapers in the dryer.  Some say the dryer is good for cloth diapers every once in awhile, but I don't want to risk putting them in there too often.  We all know that the dryer will make fabrics wear much faster. : )

What's your wash routine?  What detergent do you find washes your cloth diapers best?