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Laundering Methods
Washing Diapers, Drying Diapers, and Lanolizing Wool Covers
There are two methods to choose from when deciding how to wash or dry your cloth diapers, and even to lanolize wool covers. With either method you choose, you will want to set you washing machine to use HOT water and do an extra rinse. DO NOT USE BLEACH OR FABRIC SOFTENER OF ANY SORT on your diapers. Bleach destroys the integrity of the fabric, while fabric softener leaves a coating on your diapers. Even dryer sheets will severely cripple their absorbency, ruining your investment.
Now for the fun stuff!
First, the easy way:
The dry-pail method of washing is simple and straight forward. Throw wet diaper into diaper pail or trash can with tight-fitting lid to keep the stink in after flushing any solid waste down the toilet. When pail is full or you are about to run out of diapers, dump them into the washer with some detergent or a couple scoops of Oxi-Clean.
To dry, toss them in the dryer on high for about an hour or hour-and-a-half, depending on the thickness and quantity of the diapers.
Wool has natural antimicrobial properties so covers only need to be hand-washed with tepid water and air-dried. To lanolize, fill your kitchen sink with warm water and dissolve a fair amount of lanolin into it. Let cover soak until water cools, massaging it between your fingers once or twice.
Then, the hard way:
The wet-pail method of washing involves using a round diaper pail filled with a solution of water and vinegar or detergent after solid waste has been flushed. Oxy-Clean also works well. When it is time to launder them, empty some of the excess water into the toilet and dump the rest into the washer with the diapers. If you do not have a fabric softener dispenser you can put some vinegar in a Downy ball and drop it in at the beginning of the cycle.
To dry, go outside and pin them up on your clothesline. There is no comparison to the sun when it comes time to figure out how to get rid of those stains when trying to sell off your used diapers. Go back outside and clean up.
To lanolize, massage lanolin through both sides of your wool cover after cover has been hand-washed and air-dried, being careful that spots are not missed.
Copyright © 2002 Christian UC All rights reserved.
