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TIPS & FAQ’S Can I use fabric softener? No, Fabric softeners can coat fabrics and cause them to repel liquid. You can use, however, dryer balls to keep everything “fluffy”. What do I do with a soiled diaper when we are out? Ahh. Poo on the go. It’s something we all fear. I personally carry cheap sandwich baggies to scoop the poo out of the diaper if needed, and use my cloth wipes from there. If I’m at a friend or relatives house, I’ll flush or swish the solids. Once at home, I’ll dump the poop from the baggie into the toilet and flush instead of throwing it in the trash. Can I bleach the diapers to get stains out? No! Beaching will cause the waterproof lining to break down. You can spray the stain with a little lemon juice and set in the sun to bleach out any stains. Make sure you wash any diapers that you treat this way before using again. You can also use OxiClean versatile powder in your laundry occasionally to help with stain and odor removal. Please also keep in mind that this is a natural, porous fiber and it will stain. Keeping your diaper soakers looking new is not likely if your child poops. I'm not trying to be mean, just trying to keep your expectations realistic. I know part of the fun of cloth diapering is how soft, squishy and pretty everything is when it's new. But, once you add these diapers to your stash, you will be reaching for them as soon as they are clean- every time. My diapers are starting to stink, what can I do? You can do what some people call “stripping” your diapers. A typical “strip” would consist of: Your regular wash routine and then…one more HOT wash without detergent- cold rinse and an extra rinse, then one HOT wash with oxiclean with a cold rinse and an extra rinse. Generally people have problems with their diapers stinking if there is any amount of soap residue built up on the diapers. Adjusting the amount of detergent you use and adding an extra rinse to your wash routine can help deter any future smelly issues. What about wicking? Wicking is when the wetness seeps or "wicks" to the outside of the diaper's waterproof outer layer. In our experience, this only happened when the child is very wet. It may happen on occasion, if you are frequently nursing at night or your child is drinking a lot of juice between diaper changes. What is PUL? PUL stands for polyurethane laminate. Basically, it's a polyester fabric with a thin polyurethane coating to make it "waterproof". Does PUL breath? Technically, yes. Then how is it "waterproof" you ask? Well, it won't hold water like a water balloon. But it will keep the wetness inside for a period of time. The moisture from the inside of the diaper will slowly wick out, or breathe, but it is so subtle, you won't notice unless your child is drenched. If your child is drenched, you'll notice a dampness on the outside of the diaper around the waist or at the legs. This is normal, and is just a sign that the "wee" one - pun intended, should have been changed a while ago. HELP! Diaper rash! Diaper rash is never fun, but it is inevitable in cloth diapers or disposables. I suggest you use your best judgment. However, this is how we have handled diaper rash in our home:
So despite what you've already read about using creams, ointments and vaseline for diaper rashes, I've tested them out with these diapers and have had NO PROBLEMS, except some slight discoloration, but that's going to happen- it's a diaper and it gets pooped in. Regardless, you know your child's bum better than anyone on the internet, go with gut instinct.
My diaper pail stinks! Dirty diapers do stink and dealing with them can be gross. You can buy scented disks to put in your diaper pail, but the cheapest and most effective way I have found to keep the odors at bay is using baking soda. That's right. I buy a few boxes of baking soda at the store and keep them in the changing table. After a really nasty diaper (our over night ones are the stinkiest) I just sprinkle some powder in there and the stench is gone. The use of baking soda also helps fight stains in the laundry too! Do you offer velcro closures for your diapers? No. The reason is because we aren't big fans of velcro (or aplix) in this house hold. I do have a couple of diapers for both children with aplix and we only use them as a last resort for the following reasons:
I have found that snapping the diapers isn't a huge deal with a squirmy toddler or baby. Yes, there will be moments where you just can't get it right, but then again, I had those moments when my son was in 'sposies. I have an infant, can I just change the soaker? I know infants go through a billion diapers a day, ok- so maybe 10, and having enough cloth diapers to get through 2 days would be a lot. My suggestion is: if you use the small soaker and it's NOT wet through AND the wet zone isn't damp, you could just take the soaker out and use the diaper with just the wet zone (which should be plenty of absorbency for your infant). This way you could feasibly get 2 changes out on one diaper in those early days. Try it out and see how that works. Please keep in mind, our Utility Diapers are not covers, and are not intended to be reused with out being washed first. I'm experiencing some leaking- what should I do? First, make sure it's true leaking and not wicking. The diaper will wick moisture around the waist and legs when it is totally drenched. Also, make sure you have the waist and legs fitted nicely around your child. If you can get one finger width in to the waist or the leg openings easily, it's to loose. Don't be afraid to stretch this diaper, the elastic in it is designed to really stretch- test it out and see for yourself. Also, I would check to make sure that the soaker's are making contact with all your baby's body parts. Please keep in mind that the diaper will gain absorbency over time and if you've just purchased your diaper, give it a few more washings to become more absorbent. Still have a question? Email me and I'll post it here! |
