Washing and Care Instructions

1st Wash

  • Wash RagaBabe Cloth Diapers once before first use, using the routine below for your type of washer.
  • Wash RagaBabe Inserts separately from your diapers the first time (so natural oils of cotton and hemp will not get into the diapers). Washing 3 times will provide greater absorbency before first use. For greatest life of your diaper shells, we recommend washing diapers separately from inserts.

    Recommended Routine

    • Flush all solids down the toilet. Rinse under a faucet if necessary (or use a diaper sprayer).
    • Remove insert from diaper.
    • Fasten laundry tabs firmly so the Velcro doesn't catch onto items in wash.
    • Store used diapers and inserts in RagaBabe's Custom Laundry Bag. Our zipper-sealed waterproof bag seals odor and liquid on the inside!
    • Wash diapers at least every other day.
    • When washing our RagaBabe Laundry or Wet Bags, close the zipper half way to prevent it from turning itself inside-out and causing unnecessary abrasion to the laminated surface. (And of course, be sure it is empty!)

    Top Loading Washers

    • STEP 1: Give diapers/inserts a SHORT WARM or COLD RINSE and SPIN
    • STEP 2: WARM WASH (120 degrees F. maximum) diapers or HOT WASH inserts in the highest level of water possible with 1/4 of the amount of residue free detergent* that is recommended on the box. (1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of powdered detergent such as Country Save. YES, teaspoon, not tablespoon!) You may add 1/2 capful of Calgon if you have hard water.
    • STEP 3: When the wash is complete, run the diapers through a WARM RINSE or inserts through a HOT RINSE to remove any detergent. (Option: Run another wash cycle with NO detergent.)
    • *see TYPE OF DETERGENT section below.

     

    Never use Bleach, Fabric Softener, or Dryer Sheets!

    • Chlorine Bleach (including chlorine in pools) will permanently damage the fabrics and ruin the effectiveness of your diapers and inserts.
    • Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets are unnecessary and will deposit chemicals on your diapers that repel liquid and may produce rashes.
    • Washing temperature over 120 degrees F (50 C) can reduce the life of your diapers and deteriorate the water-resistant lamination.

    Front Loading or High Efficiency Washers

      Some people have more trouble getting diapers clean in HE washers because less water is used and diapers may not get thoroughly rinsed of detergent. HE washers use sufficient water for regular clothing, but not when washing a load of diapers that are designed to absorb and hold a lot of liquid.

      The water that is supposed to be cleaning and rinsing is trapped inside the diapers, unable to slosh around and do it's job. So...

    HE Washer helpful tips:

    • If your washer has a 'Bulky' or 'Comforter' setting, use it to increase the water level. If not, try using the 'Delicate' setting as it may increase the wetting action of the washer.
    • Throw in a very WET towel. The heavier load should add more water.
    • If smell or rash issues develop from inadequate water, some washers will allow you to add several gallons of water through the detergent tray. (Use a milk jug or hose hookup -- a washer hose attached to a splitter on your washer faucet. Place a shut-off valve on the other end. Add water toward the beginning of STEP 2 and 3 below.)
    • Get your hands on a used 'old fashioned' top loader for your diapers! ;)

    HE Routine:

    • STEP 1: Give diapers/inserts a SHORT WARM or COLD RINSE and SPIN
    • STEP 2: WARM WASH (120 degrees F. maximum) diapers or HOT WASH inserts in the highest level of water possible using less than 1/4 of the amount of residue free detergent* that is recommended on the box. (1 teaspoon of powdered detergent such as Country Save. YES, teaspoon, not tablespoon!) You may add 1/2 capful of Calgon if you have hard water.
    • STEP 3: When the wash is complete, run the diapers through a WARM RINSE or inserts through a HOT RINSE to remove any detergent. (Option: Run another wash cycle with NO detergent.)
    • *see TYPE OF DETERGENT section below.

    Type of Detergent

      The type of detergent you use for washing diapers is very important. Using the proper amount of residue free detergent* and the right amount of water will ensure that your diapers are not only getting clean, but that the detergent is getting completely rinsed away. Using a 'regular' detergent and typical washing routine may reduce diaper life, and create smell and rash issues.

      RagaBabe recommends Country Save powdered detergent as our favorite choice (available at Amazon). The washing results are excellent and the powder is very economical. A five pound package will be sufficient for 300 or more diaper loads using our amounts. Many customers also have good results washing their inserts with Tide Original Powder.

    * Residue free detergent means it is free of...

    • Conditioners/Softeners
    • Dyes
    • Brighteners
    • Perfumes
    • Stain Blockers
    • Fillers

         Drying Your RagaBabes

        • Place your diapers and inserts in the dryer set to warm. Depending on the load and your dryer, even RagaBabe 'Easy' All-In-Ones with their built-in soaker often dry in less than an hour.
        • Line drying or air drying is always an option.

        Energy Saving Quick Drying Tips...

        • Use dryer balls or tennis balls. (Remember-- NO dryer sheets!)
        • If drying a lot of inserts in a load, open the door to check if they are stuck to the side of the drum. Using RagaBabe Snap'n Drys will prevent this and accelerate drying time while keeping them fluffy.
        • Older models of washers have slower spins. Consider an extra spin before drying.

        Diaper Stains and Smell Issues

          RagaBabe diapers are designed with fabrics which resist these issues, but occasionally if you encounter a problem, here are some solutions...

        Smell:  If you notice an unusually strong ammonia smell on the diaper after your baby wets, it is usually because the ph level of the urine becomes too alkaline upon saturation within the insert. The number one cause of this is detergent residue build-up, which may be the result of improper detergents or using too much.

          This condition can also lead to rashes and cause your diapers to repel liquid. Unfortunately, the new high efficiency washers (HE) contribute to this. Inadequate water is used in the wash process. (See HE helpful hints.)

          Spraying individual diapers and inserts with BioKleen's BacOut before dropping them into the your laundry bag, can help keep smell minimized until laundry day. You can also add a little BacOut to the wash cycle.

          If you notice an ammonia smell on diapers coming immediately out of the wash, the urine is not being removed sufficiently. First solution-- try to increase water if using an HE machine. If using a top load non-HE machine that has adequate water, you may have to slightly increase the amount of detergent.

          If smell is a continual problem, you may have to strip your diapers and inserts (see Stripping section below), in order to get a fresh start.

        Stripping Diapers and Inserts:

           If you are continually having issues with stinky, ammonia smelling diapers after using the corrective measures above, you may have to try 'stripping' your diapers and inserts.

        • Starting with clean diapers, wash them in hot water using a small amount of blue Dawn dish soap (non-ultra concentrated preferred). Use 1/4 teaspoon for top loaders and 5 drops for HE washers.
        • Run two more hot washes without soap, or wash until clear.
        • Sun drying diapers and inserts is a great option after stripping-- otherwise, use the dryer.

          Your diapers should now be free of detergent buildup. Be sure to follow the recommended wash routine and tips, so that you will not have to repeatedly strip your diapers. As discussed, you may have to change your detergent, the amount, or increase water level. At RagaBabe, we have tested our recommended detergent, Country Save, for over 5 years with excellent results.

        Stains:

          We recommend using BioKleen's BacOut, an amazing product that will help prevent stains and keep your diapers smelling fresh. It has a natural lime peel enzyme that breaks down organic matter (including poop).

          After water rinsing a dirty diaper, you can give it a quick spray of BacOut before placing it in the laundry bag. You can also use BacOut around the house on countertops, sinks, drains, and carpets.

          Placing your wet, clean diapers in direct sunlight to dry is also a great way to get rid of stains, while sanitizing as well.

        Diaper Rash Creams

          RagaBabe Cloth Diapers are extremely hypoallergenic. They have been tested on babies with extremely sensitive skin. In many cases, rashes will disappear when changing from disposables to RagaBabes. (See our About Us page for how rashes lead to RagaBabes!)

          If you need to use a diaper rash cream, you MUST use one designed for cloth diapers that does not contain waxes and petroleum jelly that will affect the absorbency of inserts and our AIO diapers. We also recommend using one of our liners when using a recommended rash cream with our 'Easy' AIO diapers, to prevent penetration of the oils into the soaker.

          We recommend Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm (our first choice) or CJs Butter rash creams for cloth diapers.

          After using one of these rash creams, it is important to hand scrub your liner or inserts with a drop of blue Dawn and rinse very thoroughly with water to remove soap before you place in the laundry. Wash separately from diapers.

        Storing your RagaBabes...

        Preparing your used diapers for storage-  We recommend starting off by running your 'clean' diapers through a complete hot wash cycle with no detergent to remove any lingering detergent residue. Sun out any stains before storing to prevent them from setting. Next and most importantly, your diapers must be 100% dry before storing long term. Moisture could lead to mold or bacteria growth. If you normally hang dry, you'll still want to run them through the dryer after they are dry by your normal standards for 20- 30 minutes on low or medium to be sure any excess moisture is gone.

        Storing new and used diapers-  Basements, attics and garages are NOT ideal for storing diapers. Store them in a temperature-controlled room. Putting them inside pillow cases on a shelf in a closet is probably the best option. Informally keeping them in a dresser drawer or in a basket in the closet is fine. They should NOT be stored air tight or in plastic. Rubbermaid totes are ok as long as they are not over packed and there is room for air. If you use a tote, open it up and check on your diapers at least a couple times a year. If sitting long term, putting them through a wash cycle once every year or two will keep elastics and PUL from getting brittle.  Diapers need to breathe to be sure the elastics don't disintegrate and PUL doesn't dry out.  If stored properly, your diapers will stay in top-top shape for years on end.