Handwashing Instructions

​Sink Handwashing

1. To start, rinse diapers as thoroughly as possible. Either in cold or warm running water or in the warm basin. Agitate them for 5 minutes to remove any visible/loose solid waste.
2. Plug the sink or tub drain and add about 1/8 to 1/4 cup of detergent or more specially, 1 teaspoon per gallon.
3. Add water as hot as you can stand, being sure to leave room for the cloth diapers to move freely.
4. Add the diapers and swish until they're all wet and soapy. At this point you could let them soak if you wish.
5. Knead the diapers with your hands like you're kneading bread for several minutes (rubber gloves makes this less icky).
6. Unplug the sink or tub and let the water drain out.
7. Rinse the diapers under hot or warm running water until the water is clear. There will be more stains but diapers that smell clean after a rinse are clean and sunning will remove stains.
8. Wring out your diapers and place in the dryer or hang to dry.

 *Depending on how many diapers you are using while hand washing, you may need to wash more frequently.
 
Plunger Handwashing
 
TIPS
§  When hand-washing cloth diapers, sometimes keeping it simple is better. What I mean by this is go back to the basics – prefolds, flats, and covers. These types of diapers are the easiest to hand wash and tend to dry quicker than All in One’s or Pocket diapers
§  Try making your own washer with a 10 gallon bucket and plunger. This can be done indoors or outdoors. You could even fill up your tub with water and plunge the diapers in the tub. I have found that the plunger is the best way to agitate the diapers and get them clean.
§  No need to substitute your cloth diaper detergent, use the same amount of detergent and you are good to go. If you are however washing fewer diapers at a time while hand washing, you may want to adjust the amount of detergent you are using for each wash accordingly.
§  My typical washing machine routine consists of 3 washes (cold rinse, hot wash with detergent, and hot rinse). When hand washing cloth diapers, you may not have access to hot water, or even have enough water to do 3 washes. You may need to adjust your wash routine to fit your needs. I found it best to use this routine while hand washing my diapers:

1. Cold Rinse (plunge/agitate diapers in cold water for 50+ plunges). If you feel you need to do more, go right ahead. It may be a trial and error in the beginning to see what works best.
2. Refill with cold water and wash with detergent (plunge/agitate diapers in cold water for 50+ plunges). I then like to let the diaper sit in the soapy water for 30 minutes or so. If you can wash the diapers in your tub, you can use hot water for this one. I hand washed outside and did not have access to hot water.
3. Come back to soapy diapers and plunge 20-30 more times. Empty water and refill with cold water.
4. Plunge diapers again until soapy water is gone.
5. Hang dry diapers or better yet, sun them. The sun will act to kill bacteria and get out the stains. If you have access to a dryer, you can always throw your diapers in there as well.

Optional Tools for Plunger Washing:
 
http://breathingwasher.com/