How many prefolds, flats and covers do I need to in order to cloth diaper full-time?

Washing every three days:

How do I wash my flats and prefolds before use?

Flats only need one wash and dry before the first use.

Bleached prefolds need to be washed and dried three times before they are soft, absorbent and ready for use. Dry on hot. They will shrink about 10% after the first wash.

Unbleached prefolds have not been processed so they will have a slight waxy coating on them. This is the way cotton grows in nature. They need to be washed and dried five times to remove the natural waxes and oils. Use hot water and a very small dash of Dawn dish soap. The dish soap cuts through the wax coating. They will shrink about 10% after the first wash. Dry on hot.


How do I care for my hand dyed prefolds or flats?

We use non-toxic colorfast professional Procion dyes which become part of the fabric and will not fade or bleed. All of our dyed prefolds and flats have already been washed and dried prior to arriving at your home. They should only need one additional wash before use. The prefolds have been washed with a dye fixative so they should not bleed onto other fabrics, but it is still a good idea to not set wet dyed diapers on other fabrics during the first week.

What is the difference between a prefold diaper and a flat diaper?

The main difference between a prefold diaper and a flat diaper are layers. Both types of diapers are made from the same type of material; Birdseye cotton. They are both absorbent, easy to clean and quick to dry.

A flat diaper is simply one layer measuring about 27X27 inches which is folded into a diaper…a triangular shape bringing the front flap up and fastening the two remaining corners together with some sort of fastener like pins or a Snappi. Since it is only one layer, it will dry quite fast.

A prefold diaper has layers in it, so some of the "folding" has been done for you. A typical Infant or Premium prefold diaper will have four layers on either side and eight layers down the middle. It is rectangular in shape and can be folded and put in a close fitting diaper cover or pinned or Snappied like a flat diaper. It will take a bit longer to dry due to the middle 8 layers, but one cycle in our dryer is usually more than sufficient for comparison purposes.


How do I care for my Bummis Covers?

Covers can be used until soiled or smelly. Air dry in between uses and rotate covers with each diaper change. The covers can be washed and dried right along with your diapers in your washer and dryer. Remember to close the tabs before washing and drying to avoid lint build-up on the tabs.


How do I care for my Stacinator Wool covers?

Hand wash your wool cover in cold water with like colors. Hang to dry. You may have a bit of shrinkage after the first washing. You may re-lanolize as needed. We recommend using Eucalan wool wash to care for your covers. It has natural lanolin right in the bottle. You never have to worry about when to lanolize. It is done for you each time you wash.

What is the best way to keep dirty diapers and covers until wash day?

Keep a dry cloth diaper pail. Some people choose to line their pail with a wet bag. Washing every 2-3 days is recommended. Wet diapers can go straight into the pail. If you are breastfeeding your child those diapers can go straight into the pail too! Any solids should be removed prior to putting in the pail. Simply hold the dirty diaper over the toilet and empty. A Deo-Disk can be added to your pail for a clean and fresh citrus smell.

How should I wash my dirty diapers?

Prefolds or flats and Bummis Covers can be washed together.

Using only ¼ of the recommended detergent to avoid build-up, put your soiled diapers through a long hot wash and a cold rinse. If you notice any detergent scent after the rinse, send the diapers through another cold rinse.

Prefolds or flats and Bummis covers can be dried on hot or line dried. Prefolds will take an hour to an hour and a half to dry. Prefolds or flats can also be lined dried then tossed into a hot dryer with a damp washcloth to soften them up.

Please avoid fabric softeners, chlorine bleach or any other whitening agents as this will shorten the life of your diapers and make them less absorbent.