Cloth Diaper Wash Routines for Soft, Normal, and Hard Water

Taking your water type into account is very important for finding the best wash routine for your cloth diapers. The wrong wash routine can lead to leaking, repelling, and odors. The first tip that I have for all water types is to use a cloth diaper safe detergent to wash cloth diapers. Using a detergent that contains brighteners, fragrance, or other additives can cause odors, leaking, and diaper rash.

Soft Water:
-Make sure you are thoroughly rinsing your diapers. You may need to add an extra rinse when washing cloth diapers. Check for soap bubbles during the rinse cycle. Rinse until there are no more bubbles. You know it's soap bubbles when the bubbles do not disappear right away.
-Do not use too much detergent or it will build up in your diapers.
-Add baking soda to your usual wash cycle.
-Add vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Hard Water:
-Try using more detergent than usual if you are having issues with your diapers leaking or smelling like ammonia.
-If you are adding vinegar when you rinse your diapers, try washing your diapers without vinegar.
-Rockin' Green cloth diaper detergent has a formula specifically for hard water.

Normal Water: 
-If you need to strip your diapers often, you may be using too much detergent when you wash your cloth diapers which is causing build up.
-On the other hand, if you are having issues with stinky diapers that don't smell clean, you may not be using enough detergent.
-Wash your diapers with a few squirts of original Dawn dish soap every few weeks.

When considering a washing routine and/or adding any additives to your cloth diaper wash routine, always check the manufacturer's warranty so you do not damage your diapers or void the warranty.