Recommend a diaper pail/cloth diapering wash loads

SRose1005 · September 2014

Hi all! So DH and I were trying to work on our registry today and we're having some trouble with choosing one brand from another since we're both first time parents and we have no idea what we're doing. We're hoping to cloth diaper so I'll just have to carry them down to the laundry in our house to wash them, but I want something that keeps it from being super smelly so I can go a few days between diaper wash loads.

1. Am I being overly optimistic about how often I'll need to wash cloth diapers? Those of you who do/have done them how often do/did you have to do laundry?

2. When you do cloth diapers, can you use a diaper pail without disposable liners? It seems like an awful waste of plastic to have trash bags in the diaper pail since I'm just emptying the pail out rather than throwing the bag 'o diapers out with the trash, but it also seems like the pail would get disgusting all the time without liners. What's the answer?!

3. Anyone have a diaper pail they love that totally hides yucky smells?

Sorry to seem so clueless... it's only because I am

SRose1005 · September 2014

Thank you!!! Reusable liners! Of course that exists! I apparently only had half my brain at the store and I didn't see anything like that at the time.

SRose1005 · September 2014

Absolutely! Thank you!!

LuckyPenny1231 · September 2014

I use cloth and wash when my bag is full. Every 2-3 days. I use a planet wise XL hanging wet bag. I have 3 and rotate them. They go in the wash with the diapers.

I wouldn't use a traditional diaper pail with the plastic inserts. (Diaper genie, etc) It's a waste. Either use a hanging wet bag or they have reusable pail liners that you put in a regular trash can and then wash with your diapers.

rachel+family · September 2014

I use a PUL bag with draw string to transfer. Charlie banana has some nice hanging pails so you only need the reusable bag instead of a pail liner and a pail.
I have yet to discover how to keep it less stinky though. Ours only got stinky when DS started solids.

YaMrWhite · September 2014

Extra large planet wise wet/dry bag user here. Wash every 2-3 days.

storm08 · September 2014

We use a step trash can that has a lid lock like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004L9L3KW/ref=twister_B004L9L3MK and a thirstiest pail liner. It contains smells amazingly well. So well that during a 2 week diaper rash when cloth went on hiatus we didn't notice that we hadn't emptied it to clean the dirties when we switched to disposables for the duration of the rash. We rinse all diapers with a sprayer before putting them in the pail though, so I think that helps a little.

Lanatir · September 2014

We used a dog food container with the lid to throw our CDs into. The label claims it's airtight and odor proof. I have no proof it's airtight, but I haven't had any smell issues.

Since I have the ability to hang diapers, I usually leave the pail outside to "air out" while diapers are on the line, and every so often-- especially if I've found need to strip my diapers, I clean out the inside of the bin just in case.

How often I wash depends on a number of things. I have gone 4 days a few washings in a row (I'm probably ridiculous and have waited a day just so I'd have weather compatible with hanging the diapers on the line) and not had problems, but most CDs have in their care instructions and websites to wash every 2-3 days.

LGator2484 · September 2014

All the advice I've gotten from the cloth diapering forum says to use an open pail because the airflow makes stink go away. Seems crazy, but the experienced mamas all swear by it. I haven't tried it yet (ftm), but I'm planning on using a planet wise liner in a sterilite plastic hamper with a slotted lid (to allow airflow while keeping the dogs out). you should have 2 liners so you'll still have one clean while you throw the other in with your dipes wash.

If you go to forums>speciality>cloth diapering, there's a thread about this from about a week ago with lots of good input!

LGator2484 · September 2014

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12425726/open-pail-um-fer-real

Lanatir · September 2014

I'm definitely in disbelief about open pail causing less smell. I suppose it could work, but just end of the wash day the pee smell from DD's diapers burn my eyes and nose when I throw them in a 5 gallon bucket on laundry days. Maybe we just have some health problem I'm not aware of and that doesn't make DD seem off. Idk.

Lanatir · September 2014

I guess to add to that, though... I have been out and forgotten a wet bag and left a pee diaper in the diaper bag just sort of folded onto itself and found it a few days later and it didn't smell as bad, so maybe it does dissipate after a while?

Mrs_Bennett · September 2014

We use a cheap swing-top garbage can from Target as our diaper pail. The lid isn't air tight, but it keeps the smell contained. I use regular garbage bags as liners, and reuse them once or twice. Since we wash diapers two or three times a week, that means about a bag/week. There are reusable liners, but I've never tried them. I sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the can occasionally to help eliminate smell, but it generally isn't a problem.

KJsbabe · September 2014

I have two pail liners so when one is in the wash I have another to put diapers in. I have a Kissaluvs one and a Grovia one. I use a trash can with a flip top lid to store the dirty diapers in. It does a good job of keeping the small contained. I only smell them when I open the lid. I wash every other day.

shannjohnston · September 2014

We used a wet bag, not a pail. Hung it up on the doorknob, the big ones could easily fit 3 or 4 days worth of diapers plus extra liners. I've ordered a new version from fuzzibums that has an elastic top and zipper bottom so you never have to touch the dirty diapers (exciting!).

Not sure if they have it in the States, but we used Nature Clean or Seventh Generation laundry detergent. It is sold at most grocery stores here in the organics section which saved us a trip to a speciality store for specialty cloth diaper detergent.

SRose1005 · September 2014

@LGator2484 @Lanatir wow I'm right there with you about being in disbelief about open pails being the answer! I did read through that discussion you posted though LGator and I guess everything they're saying makes sense... maybe I'll give open pail a try! Bonus: a cheap well plastic basket with holes in the sides from the Target or something will be way cheaper than a diaper genie or something! If it doesn't contain the smell I can always try a wet bag or a pail down the line.

Cbeanz · September 2014

+1 to the planet wise hanging wet bags, no pail. Love them! We wash every 2-3 days.

lawwarrior · September 2014

I have a friend that turned me onto a great FB group all about CD. There are so many contradicting things out there and it can really be confusing, especially being a first time mom. I'm not planning on starting until the LO is 3 months old, just cause I'm not really interested in purchasing NB sized and this might likely be our only child. Anyways, the group is called Fluff Love and CD Science. Most moms use a regular trash can with a lid with a liner that can be washed right in with the diapers. The group can help you begin with a great wash routine and keep it that way!

mom2case · September 2014

I know a lot of people who just used a regular garbage can with a lid. We used a diaper dekor pail (we used disposable diapers for the first few months until LO fit in the OS cloth) and bought two of these liners. https://www.amazon.com/Kissaluvs-wpail-Kissas-Liner-White/dp/B0037NXP18/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410225849&sr=8-1&keywords=kissaluvs+liner They fit right in the pail so they worked perfectly for us. I typically washed diapers every third day.

Want a personalized experience?

Recommend a diaper pail/cloth diapering wash loads

Re: Recommend a diaper pail/cloth diapering wash loads

Choose Another Board

Search Boards