Many cloth diaper smells and absorbency problems trace back to the laundry routine rather than the diapers. The same handful of mistakes comes up again and again, and each one has a simple fix. Check your routine against the list below.
Too little detergent
Cloth diapers hold urine and soil in layers of fabric, and a small squeeze of detergent may not lift it all out. A sharp smell as soon as a diaper gets wet, or diapers that look dingy after washing, can point to this.
Instead, follow the amount on your detergent's label, and use its dosing chart for heavily soiled loads if the pack has one. Do not overcorrect either, because extra detergent that never rinses out causes its own problems. A detergent sold for dirty diaper laundry, such as Rockin' Green Dirty Diaper Laundry Detergent Powder, Unscented, is one option. Check its pack for directions.
Overloading or underloading the drum
An overstuffed drum stops the diapers from moving, so water and detergent cannot flush through the layers. A drum with only a few items gives little agitation, so soil is not rubbed out.
Instead, fill the drum loosely and check your washer's manual for its load guidance. If you have only a few diapers, add some clean cotton items such as towels so there is something for them to move against. If your machine uses very little water, check the manual for a water level or deep-fill option.
Skipping the pre-wash
Putting soiled diapers straight into one wash means the main cycle has to deal with everything at once. A short pre-wash does the first, heavy part of the cleaning so the detergent in the main wash has less to cope with.
Instead, shake solids into the toilet, run a quick cold rinse or pre-wash cycle on its own, then follow it with the main wash and detergent. Cold or cool water is a common choice for this first step, but your diaper maker's care instructions have the final say.
Fabric softener and dryer sheets
Softener and dryer sheets can leave a coating on fabric that makes it less absorbent, and many diaper makers advise against them. Skip both, and check your diaper's care card for what the maker allows.
The same caution applies to diaper creams. Some can leave residue on fabric, so follow the cream's label and the diaper maker's advice, and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure which product suits your child's skin. If static bothers you in dry winter air, try air drying some pieces instead.
Extra rinses in hard water
When diapers smell or feel stiff, adding rinse after rinse looks like a harmless fix. In hard water it may not be. Rinse water carries the same minerals as the wash water, and some diaper care guides caution that repeated rinsing in hard water can leave mineral deposits in the fabric. Stiff or dull diapers can have more than one cause, so treat hard water as something to check, not a verdict.
Instead, find out whether your water is hard before you change the routine. Check the water quality report from your municipality if it publishes one, or look for white scale on your faucets and kettle. If it is hard, read your detergent pack for its hard water directions, since some packs list a different amount, and follow your diaper maker's care instructions before adding a water-softening laundry product. If suds are still there after the final rinse, look at the detergent amount first instead of adding more rinses.
High heat on covers and elastics
Hot washes and hot dryers can break down the waterproof layer on covers and leave elastics slack. Absorbent inserts can often take hotter settings than covers, but the care label on each piece has the final say.
Instead, read the care label on each piece and keep a mixed load within the limit of the most delicate item in it. Turning up the heat does not make up for a skipped pre-wash or a short measure of detergent. Line dry covers, or tumble them on low if the label permits.
Long gaps between washes
Soiled diapers that sit for many days in a closed bin can develop strong odours and stains that are harder to remove. Clean diapers left damp in the drum overnight can turn musty too.
Instead, pick a steady rhythm. Many families wash every second or third day, and your diaper maker's care instructions may name a limit. Keep used diapers in a lidded pail or a wet bag, and move finished loads out of the drum right away. A stash big enough to stretch between washes, but not so big that you are tempted to wait, makes the rhythm easy to keep.
Detergent, fasteners and wet bags are all in our cloth diaper accessories, and you can browse cloth and reusable diapers if your stash needs topping up.
Shop this guide
- Simple Joys by Carter's Baby-Girls 4-Pack Diaper Covers (ships via Amazon)
- ALVABABY Wet Dry Bags with Two Zippered Pockets, Dinosaur & Fish, 2 Pack (ships via Amazon)
- La Petite Ourse One Size Pocket Cloth Diapers with Inserts, Sunflowers, 6 Pack (ships via Amazon)
- Pee Pee Teepee Elephant Blue Baby Boy, 5 Count (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Cloth & Reusable Diapers
- See all: Cloth Diaper Accessories
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Common questions
My diapers smell clean until they get wet. What does that mean?
It often means some soil or residue is still in the fabric. Re-check the detergent amount, the pre-wash and the rinses from the list above. If your child's skin looks red or a rash is not improving, ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist rather than adjusting the laundry first.
Do I need a special detergent?
Not necessarily. Plain detergent used according to its label and your diaper maker's advice is the starting point. Some families choose a fragrance-free option such as Tru Earth Baby Laundry Detergent Eco-Strips, Fragrance Free.
Do new diapers need washing before use?
Check the care card. Natural fibre inserts, such as cotton or bamboo, can need several washes before they reach full absorbency, so a brand-new insert that is slow to absorb is not automatically a fault.
Still not sure what is going wrong in your routine? Contact us and we will help you work through it. We reply within one business day.