Do Cloth Diapers Stink?

NO! Cloth diapers don’t stink any worse than paper diapers! If your cloth diapers are smelling after they have been washed, you’ll need to assess your current diaper laundering routine. The most common reason for odors with cloth diapers detergent build up. Proper cleansing is essential to avoid detergent build-up  and odor issues.

A few factors that can influence how clean your cloth diapers are getting; these include:

• water type,
• water temperature,
• type of detergent,
• type of washing machine.

If you experience problems, usually a small change to your laundering routine will solve the issues.

I am Worried about Washing Cloth Diapers!

Isn’t the extra laundry going to be a lot more work? No, it’s not going to be a LOT more work, it’s going to be a BIT more work.

You will do about 1 extra load of laundry every 2-3 days. How? First, you’ll empty the  diaper pail into the washing machine, add a the detergent, and turn the dial? Don’t forget you’ll have to move your cloth diapers from the washer to the dryer in about 30 minutes. When dry, just put them in a nice basket and keep them handy beside the change area (no folding required!). This whole process shouldn’t take more than 5-10 minutes of your *actual* time (every 2-3 days!). Your very capable washer and dryer took care of the rest.

This may vary slightly based on the number of cloth diapers you have, and therefore, the number of washes you have to do. Most families can plan on approximately 20 minutes per week.  EASY and probably less time consuming than a trip to the store to get the paper versions. Don’t forget the time you’ll SAVE not hauling your paper diapers out to the curb for garbage pick up.

I think the 20 minutes each week to use cloth diapers is a great trade-off for baby, your wallet and the environment.