Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait...

cedenton

I just lurked on a post that said you don't have to use special detergents on prefolds, that you just rinse, wash, and dry them.  I went with a diaper service because I couldn't worry about stripping, and fancy detergents and worrying if I was messing with absorbency.

Was I misinformed?  What do you do with brand new prefolds and how do you launder them? 

tamarar5

I just used my regular detergent when washing my prefolds and never had any problems! I didn't use fabric softener and line dried when it was warm enough (I lived in the north, so 5 months of the year they turned into diaper-icecubes rather than drying).  I never had to strip my diapers.  Once in a rare while I would wash them with white vinegar or a little bleach-- if I bleached, I did an extra rinse cycle to make sure the bleach was all gone.

Hope that helps!

gollywollypog

My prefolds are so, so easy to wash.  I love the simplicity of prefolds and covers.  I wash all the diapers together but the prefolds and inserts go straight into the dryer on regular dry.  I have washed with Charlies, All Free and Clear and Tide original and have never had a problem with my prefolds.  They are my most reliable diaper!  I'd stop the service if I were you and save a bunch of money. 

For brand new prefolds I boil them in a huge pot for about 30 mins then dry.  Then I put them in with the rest of my stash and wash with all the rest as needed.  They take a few more washes to be fully absorbant but it's nbd!

KatelynEA90

I use Tide original on everything.

giraffe54

KatelynEA90:

I use Tide original on everything.

Same here.

Prefolds just need to be washed 5-6 times if they are new to up their absorbency. After that, they are so easy. No velcro or PUL or snaps or microfiber to worry about.

cedenton

Okay, so it goes something like this, right?

~buy

~boil and dry

~add to stash/use

~rinse out if necessary/drop poop in toilet (I don't see him have many poops that need rinsed out right now, usually he pees at the same time and everything gets absorbed - is that normal? Of course, I don't see the majority of his poops b/c he usually does it during the day while I'm at work.  I'm a little concerned the nanny might balk at the idea of having to rinse them when right now she just throws them in the pail.)

~wash every 2-3 days

~rinse/wash/dry (no softener)

So what are some brands you reccomend?  Bleached or unbleached?

gollywollypog

You don't have to plop poops into toilet until he starts solids.

Heres how it goes

buy, boil and dry, add to stash/use, put in pail/wet bag, put contents of pail/wet bag in wash, rinse in washer, wash, extra rinse, dry.

cedenton

KLilley:

You don't have to plop poops into toilet until he starts solids.

Heres how it goes

buy, boil and dry, add to stash/use, put in pail/wet bag, put contents of pail/wet bag in wash, rinse in washer, wash, extra rinse, dry.

Okay, so no need for a diaper sprayer?

bugandbibs

cedenton:

KLilley:

You don't have to plop poops into toilet until he starts solids.

Heres how it goes

buy, boil and dry, add to stash/use, put in pail/wet bag, put contents of pail/wet bag in wash, rinse in washer, wash, extra rinse, dry.

Okay, so no need for a diaper sprayer?

Not until you start solids and his poo changes. Trust me, you will know

alrdytkn1222

::butting in becuz i like how specific you are being::

I need prefolds for NB,snappi, covers?

Whats the best cheapest way i could start?

I have fuzzibunz OS and im getting really frustrated with all the above mentiones pul,liner,snap,elastic wear and tear. My toddler is leaking and im just getting stressed.

Id like to start prefolds with my newborn who is 2 weeks old and skinny. Over 8.5lbs but very skinny long legs.

Suggestions if you would,please! Thank you!

giraffe54

alrdytkn1222:

::butting in becuz i like how specific you are being::

I need prefolds for NB,snappi, covers?

Whats the best cheapest way i could start?

I have fuzzibunz OS and im getting really frustrated with all the above mentiones pul,liner,snap,elastic wear and tear. My toddler is leaking and im just getting stressed.

Id like to start prefolds with my newborn who is 2 weeks old and skinny. Over 8.5lbs but very skinny long legs.

Suggestions if you would,please! Thank you!

 

I would definitely skip the NB sized prefolds and go straight to infant ones, plus on order of the next size up (I still use my infant ones trifolded for my 5 month old in a cover). I'm a big fan of Imagine Smart Fits, but I think most indian cotton prefolds are more or less equal. Imagine brand prefolds are very cheap and durable. I think 4 snappis is enough. At the NB stage, because I was changing LO so often, I just bought a couple extra covers and only trifolded. I snappi now that she is bigger when I feel like it. 

I really liked Thirsties covers at the NB stage, but I think Bummi's superbrights would fit tighter. The NB ones only fit my chunky LO until she was about 8 /12 pounds. I think the smalls would fit tight as well.  

sosoph

I just want to say that we use Tide on our fitteds/pockets with no issue, so it's not just prefolds.(ours are only natural fibers, though; no synthetics)

byrne15

cedenton:

KLilley:

You don't have to plop poops into toilet until he starts solids.

Heres how it goes

buy, boil and dry, add to stash/use, put in pail/wet bag, put contents of pail/wet bag in wash, rinse in washer, wash, extra rinse, dry.

Okay, so no need for a diaper sprayer?

I use a sprayer now that he is on formula.  When he was BFed I didn't use the sprayer.

oliversmommy32912

KatelynEA90:

I use Tide original on everything.

Same here. Even my synthetics.

tjkdlhb

I used Tide w/out issue to the diapers... the problem was she broke out from the fragrances and additives.  If your baby doesn't have sensitive skin it may not be an issue.

I use TinyBubbles now

Aurora_Borealis

Prefolds are about the easiest diapers to launder. The only thing easier to wash would be flats.

The overwhelming majority of problems with stink, repelling, absorbency, etc are with synthetic diapers. Polyester and other synthetic fibers by their nature hang onto smells, oils (particularly from poop or from liquid laundry detergents) and the like that cause such issues.

Prefolds are cotton and pretty much indestructible. Just pre-wash with no detergent (most do cold, but I do hot), hot wash with powder detergent (I love Tide) and an extra rinse. That's it. Before DD started solids I just tossed everything in the washer. Now I just shake/scrape the poo into the toilet and flush.