Cloth diapering is not paper diapering. In cloth, you can't keep a child in a pee soaked diaper for hours on end. It's the dark side of the equation on choosing to use cloth vs. paper. The chemicals in paper diapers are pretty caustic to the body, but they do absorb a crazy amount of liquid. Most cloth fanatics like to gloss over the problems of cloth diapering, but I think it's good to get it out in the open along with solutions.
I change my guys every 2 hours approximately. But I don't think I'd let a child sit in a soaked diaper regardless of the textile choice. Of course, I change soiled diapers immediately. And changing a heavy diaper is crucial to leak prevention.
Why is it still leaking when I change them often enough?? It could be one of a few things. Check your diaper for repelling. If you pour a little water (just a few tablespoons) does the water soak into the diaper? Or does the water run off? If the water runs off, it means that it could be detergent build up, which I'll explain later. If it absorbs effectively, then it could be your diaper cover. The diaper cover is pretty much bullet proof, but the gussets that allow for stretching, contain a lot of bumps and grooves that can detergent can cling to as well.
How to fix detergent build up. Stripping. No, you don't have to get naked. You just need the blue Dawn dish detergent (1 T will be plenty) and add it to the hot wash with your diapers. Rinse, rinse and rinse until all the bubbles are gone.
To prevent build up in the first place, use a good detergent recommended for your diaper. I know a lot of people who go for diaper covers for variety, but unfortunately, it creates more work for you. Figure out the brand you use the most and go to their website for laundering instructions. I know that Bummis has an extensive list of detergents that work really well on their diapers. My favorite is Rockin' Green Detergent and I've never had a problem with it. I just use the recommended amount of detergent for my diaper load and no repelling ever. I know some people who use Sports Wash you get at Walmart, with rave reviews. Country Save and Charlie's soap are usually recommended detergents as well.
Also, a good rule of thumb is to dry the cotton, line dry the plastic. So if it's an absorbing textile? Go ahead and dry it. If it's a plastic/rubber/PUL material? Hang dry to keep it from wearing out faster. Again, check the manufacturers recommended suggestion for laundering and you can't go wrong.
I have two in diapers currently. I pretty much stick to Fuzzi Bunz and Happy Heiny's because they both fit my children the best. I love love love Rocky Mountain Diapers and Whamies and Kanga's etc. but the two fit on the same setting for the FB and HH it's just easier to stick with those. I have about 35 in rotation and wash every 2 days. I use the microfiber insert from FB mostly because they are a 4 layer insert as opposed to the usual 3 layer from most manufacturers. I have a HE front loading machine from LG. I wash in cold with an extra rinse to get off the extra stuff I can't spray off into the toilet. Then I put 2 T of Rockin' Green Unscented Hard Rock into the detergent receptacle. I do the sanitary cycle with a prewash/extra rinse and that has always worked for me. I put the inserts and prefolds I use into the dryer and take the covers and line them to dry out in the sun on the back porch. The sun bleaches out any leftover stains. When the diapers are done line drying (it's usually as quick as the machine drying cycle out in the Colorado sun) I stuff the diapers with the inserts and put them in a pretty cloth cubed bucket. My other bucket has wipes and wipe solution at the ready. When I need to change a diaper, I separate the insert from the cover and put them into the laundry tote in the laundry room. If it's a poop, I take the laundry tote into the bathroom, toss the wipes and remove the insert and throw them in the tote. Then I spray the cover into the toilet and toss into the laundry tote and then take the laundry tote back into the laundry room. My laundry room is adjacent to the toilet. I should probably just put a door hanger on the bathroom door for the tote, but I only have 2 poops a day and hate to open and shut the bathroom so much to keep the baby from running in there (he is addicted to playing with the toilet paper, sprayer and plunger!)
That's it! If you have any questions, just ask and go see my laundering 101 at www.diaper-dash.com for more details!
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