This blog post is continued from last week's Basic Care and Use Tips For Cloth Diapers: Part 1  Dry Hang your cloth diapers to dry or dry in dryer on low. Inserts, flats, and prefolds may be dried on higher settings. *Routine drying in the dryer will hasten the life of any diapering product - especially on diapers or covers with components such as hook and loop fasteners and elastic. Add a dry towel or wool dryer balls to the dryer to speed the drying process. A monthly 15 minute dryer cycle on hot is beneficial to lamination. Drying in direct sunlight is the very best method for drying and disinfecting, and at getting rid of stains. However, take care not to leave diapers out longer than neccessary, as UV rays and high temperatures can also have an ill effect on diapering products. Cotton and hemp diapers will be somewhat stiff when hung to dry. One option to soften sun-dried textiles made from natural fibers is to use the dryer while still slightly damp. Stripping Even if you follow all of our Care and Use instructions, you still might end up with occasional stinky and less absorbent diapers due to water mineral residue. In this case, we recommend running your diapers through a HOT wash with no detergent, followed by two rinses. You may need to change detergents. If you are still having trouble, you will need to strip your diapers of the residue causing the problems. Following are the instructions for diaper stripping. Strip only as needed, as it can be harsh on your diapering products. Standard machines: Maximum load size is 24 XS/S or 18 M/L diapers. Starting with clean diapers: 1. Fill machine with hot water on the highest water level, using a heavy cycle. 2. Add 2 Tablespoons of Dawn Classic dish soap to the wash water and agitate for about 10 seconds. 3. Add diapers and run wash cycle, adding two extra warm rinses. 4. If the rinse water is slimy or has any bubbles during the last rinse, you should add another rinse. HE machines: Dawn dish soap is NOT low sudsing, and will most likely void the warranty on your machine. We recommend stripping with RLR, or stripping with Dawn in the bathtub or a standard machine as above. Maximum load size is 15 XS/S or 12 M/L diapers. Starting with clean diapers: 1. Put diapers into the machine along with a large, wet bath towel. 2. Wash on Hot with RLR, using a heavy cycle. 3. Add two additional warm rinses. 4. If the rinse water is slimy or has any bubbles during the last rinse, you should add another rinse. Important: If you have residue on your diapers, you will want to strip the diapers but also take care of what is causing the problem. First make sure you are using the correct wash instructions above. If you are not using a recommended detergent, you will want to strip your diapers and change to a cloth diaper safe detergent. Make sure that if you use a diaper cream that it is cloth diaper safe. You may want to use a liner when using diaper creams. For hard water, you will need to use a water softener such as Calgon Water Softener to your wash load. Stain removal... If you use Thirsties Prewash and Superwash with your new cloth diapers, it will naturally brighten and help to keep stains at bay. Staining and cloth diapers unfortunately go hand in hand. We here at Thirsties always try to stay up to date on laundering issues, and suggest the most eco-friendly and safe methods for cleaning diapers and covers. Here are a few natural solutions for lifting stains...

-Prewash on cold. With every load of laundry, we suggest a prewash with cold water.  DO NOT dry in the dryer as heat will set staining. Add Thirsties Prewash to the prewash cycle to help lift stains and fight odor. *Although soaking can aid in stain removal, we do not recommend soaking anything but natural fiber diapers for any longer than 10 minutes. This is due to the fact that it can eat away at lamination, and lock in odor. -Dry in the sun. This works 99% of the time. The UV rays of the sun fade the stains away. We recommend drying in the sun as a normal routine as it helps to deodorize, lift stains, and disinfect naturally! 50/50 solution of lemon juice/water: You can mix them in a spray bottle, spritz on the stain, and put in the sun for a few hours. Add the item to a prewash with your other covers and/or diapers. Do not wash on Hot or dry in the dryer if the stain is still visible.  Repeat process if necessary.  Please make sure that the products are thoroughly washed and rinsed after stain removal is finished.