Ever find that your cloth diapers have become stinky and you just can’t get them to smell fresh anymore? Or you go to change your baby’s cloth diaper and find it just isn’t absorbing and causing leaks? If so, it may be time to strip your diapers.
Over time, a soapy build-up can occur if your detergent leaves residue. That is why it’s always important to include an extra rinse when washing. Here is a simple step-by-step guide on how to strip your diapers.
Step 1: Wash your diapers as you normally would. It is important to start with clean diapers before the stripping process is started.
Step 2: Fill the washer with hot water. Make sure the water level is higher than the diapers.
Step 3: Put your diapers in the washer and let the agitation cycle begin.
Step 4: After the diapers have gone through the agitation cycle for a few minutes, add 1 – 2 squirts of liquid Dawn.
Step 5: Allow the washer to agitate the Dawn while keeping an eye on it.
Step 6: Continue the wash as normal.
Step 7: Once the wash cycle is finished, run the rinse cycle as many times as necessary until the bubbles are gone. This may take as many as 3 – 4 times.
You may have to complete this process more than one time in order to completely strip your baby’s cloth diapers of any residue.
How Often Do I Strip My Diapers?
The good news is you may never need to strip your diapers. If after a normal wash your diapers have a bad odor that just won’t go away, you may want to try to rewash them, or use a bit more detergent next time. However, if that does not work, then I would suggest stripping.
If you find that your diapers are repelling moisture, rather than absorbing, it may be due to detergent build-up. Before you strip your diapers, make sure you do not have another problem with your diapers. You may need to add extra absorption such as another insert or doubler. It may be the particular brand of cloth diaper.
I have noticed some pocket diapers seem to have PUL that allows moisture to come through. If this is not why your diapers are leaking, then you may want to try stripping. If you choose, you can strip your diapers on a regular basis to ensure that you will not have any issues with residue build-up. Some mamas choose to strip their cloth diapers once a week, or once a month for this purpose.
GUEST BLOGGER
is a SAHM of 5 wonderful boys ages 2 months to 14 years. She has been cloth diapering for over two years and has a passion for helping other moms learn all about it. She also loves to write, sing and spend time with her loving family.
You can read more about Beth at her blog, The Diaper Cover.
Bryana is the owner of 
Becca is a part-time Spanish Teacher and part-time Stay-At-Home-Mom. She's a cloth diaper expert who enjoys spending time with her family, crafting and selling her wares in her very own
Julie is a mom to three kids including a set of identical twins. Through cloth diapering her twins she developed a passion for the industry and is an avid cloth diaper advocate. You can also find her on her blog
what if you have a front load,how would you strip them?
for front loaders I’ve just squirted the dawn into the soap dispenser and have run a wash with that. then do extra rinses (or washes depending on your machine) until there aren’t any bubbles.
I read on another blog (from a CD manufacturer) that she had never had to strip her diapers in 7 years, and that she had treated hers really badly over the years, including forgetting some of them for like a week. I think maybe everyone is a little strip happy, when really all that is needed is a change in the amount detergent or something. Before you feel you must strip, try just using your diapers again and washing them again, and see if you have the same problem. Sometimes you just have a really full insert and don’t realize it, particularly if you just shake it out or leave it ‘in’ the diaper instead of pulling it out manually. Shrug. ^^
I read on some CD-ing site (not sure which, sorry) that Dawn can wreck your washer somehow.
I read that Dawn is bad for the washing machine, too, Krystal, and was going to post that. Personally, I would not take a chance on using it in my washer, but I might try doing the dipes in the sink. I also stripped mine after my daughter had a seemingly incurable infection by boiling anything that didn’t have PUL in or on it. Yes, it took a long time. No, I never want to do it again. But it worked!
I agree that some people are ‘strip happy’ I have never tried it so I don’t have a real opinion good or bad. I once did use a little bleach when I was having ‘stink’ issues and that worked great but there are many solutions to the same problem.
As for front loaders, I’d be careful using anything other than HE detergent… you may void the warranty. Check this out before you do it.
What are you saying, man? I recognize everyones got their own opinion, but really? Listen, your website is cool. I like the hard work you put into it, specially with the vids and the pics. But, come on. Theres gotta be a better way to say this, a way that doesnt make it seem like most people here is stupid!
Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.
Thank you for another great post. I want to thank you for the effort you have made in writing this article Stripping Your Cloth Diapers
| Cloth Diaper Blog. The All In One Cloth Diaper Resource.. I am hoping for more from you in the future as well.
Beneficial information and wonderful design you got here! I want to thank you for sharing your ideas and putting the time into the stuff you publish! Great job!
Finally, found what I was on the lookout for! I am definitely having fun with reading every bit of it. Delighted I found this article Stripping Your Cloth Diapers
| Cloth Diaper Blog. The All In One Cloth Diaper Resource.! I have you bookmarked to check out new articles you write.
I wished to say that it is great to know that somebody mentioned this as I had a hard time discovering the same info elsewhere. This was the first place that gave me the information. Thanks.
Very fascinating post – is perhaps old, but it was new to me. I wished say thanks for this good post Stripping Your Cloth Diapers
| Cloth Diaper Blog. The All In One Cloth Diaper Resource.! I definitely enjoyed reading every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked to check out new articles you publish.
naklejki ścienne to wspaniałe dekoracje do mieszkania naklejki na ściany ornamenty architektura naklejki scienne
I think one of your advertisements caused my internet browser to resize, you might want to put that on your blacklist.
Well, I don’t know if that’s going to work for me, but definitely proved helpful for you! :) Excellent post!
I just added this blog to my rss reader, excellent stuff. Cannot get enough!
Let me start by saying nice post. Im not sure if it has been talked about, but when using Chrome I can never get the entire site to load without refreshing many times. Could just be my computer. Thanks. wajadud555
Once I came over to this post I can only see part of it, is this my net web browser or the internet website? Should I reboot?
Reading this post Stripping Your Cloth Diapers
| Cloth Diaper Blog. The All In One Cloth Diaper Resource. jogs my memory of my previous roommate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this post to him. Fairly certain he will have a superb read. Thank you for the information you publish.
Finally, an issue that I am passionate about. I have looked for information of this caliber for the last several hours. Your site is greatly appreciated.
just as expected, you have a very nice post here. i will definitely bookmark your feeds. keep on posting my friend.
I admit, I have not been on this webpage in a long time… however it was another pleasure to see It is such an essential topic and ignored by so numerous, even professionals. I thank you to help making people more aware of possible issueExcellent stuff as typical.
Good post. It is really help to us. Its give us lots of interest and pleasure. Its opportunity are so fantastic and working style so speedy. Its really a good article. It gives me lots of pleasure and interest.