What Can I Use to Soften My Cloth Diapers?

I use Chinese DSQ prefolds and they are very soft. The Gerber ones aren't as soft or as absorbent. I washed them about 5 times to fluff them before they were used the first time. I mix my own detergent of 4 squirts Simple Green and 3 tablespoons of Arm and Hammer Washing soda (not baking soda) in each cycle. I do one quick cold and one normal cycle hot. I occasionally use vinegar in the rinse but not often. I dry them on high heat in the dryer. The tumbling in the dryer and the heat gets them soft. Mine are never soft when I line dry. Don't use fabric softener whatever you do, or they will lose their absorbency and not come clean.

Hi D., I too used cloth diapers with all 3 of my children. Loved them, they were always so nice and white. I used Downy Fabric Softener with no problems to my childrens skin. They came out so soft from the dryer andduring the summer I hung them out on the clothes line and they still stayed soft. Good luck.

HI D.
I only read a few down, don't use fabric softener your diapers would be much less absorbent! I used DSQ prefolds(diaper service quality) but they don't call them that most of the time now. I got the unbleached ones and washed them a handful of times before using. They did soften & fluff up after about 4/5 washes. So you didn't say how long you've had these prefolds, or what kind they are. My tip for the covers, I used bummies wisper wrap or the velcro closing kind - air dry them so they last longer.
I did the clod rinse, hot wash w/ soap, cold rinse w/ some vinegar. In the summer I hung them on the line 2 together and they'd flap together and soften a bit. I'd toss them in the dryer for a min if they were real stiff.
If that doesn't help you can message me.
:) A. H

I use (chinese) prefolds & pocket diapers with Allen's Naturally - Everything is plenty soft. I have an HE washer, do a cold wash/rinse followed by a hot wash/cold rinse. (Both cycles with an extra rinse.) I dry the inserts and prefolds and hang the covers/wet bags. I have been told not to use vingear, softners, etc. on the cloth diapers. *I did wash and dry the prefolds a few times before first use; they got nice and fluffy/soft.

Molly from Tree City Diapers in Ann Arbor (now called The Little Seedling) is a great resource for such questions. I would contact her through the store or their listserv on the website. She's very helpful/experienced with cloth diapers. You don't want to go to so much extra trouble if there's an easier solution!

My best friend used cloth diapers with her daughter and bought some of these dryer balls (blue "prickly" looking balls) at Target in the dryer cycle. You can also use tennis balls (2 in the dryer) to soften your clothes. Hope this helps!

D.,

Contact Ruth at selestialsoap.com. She can help you.

Best wishes!

Nicole
Dirty Deeds Diaper Service
Rochester, MI
www.deedsdiapers.com

I find if I use the vinegar as a final rinse when double rinsing- and they get softer. I mix between line dry and dryer and they aren't too bad. Just remember- no fabric softeners.

Glad to hear you are using cloth diapers. I love mine and try to encourage others.

D.,

Is there a reason why you can't use fabric softener in your last rinse?

L. C.

Hi D. I commend you for going the EXTRA mile with the diaper commitment!! Is that due to your commitment to the environment?

There is a fabric softner that is safe for babies skin---no bad chemicals. It is Shaklee's Soft Fabric Concentrate. Let me know if I can help you get more information for you.

Warmly,
M.

Hi D.,

My clothes are soft. Here is what I do - hope this helps you in some way.

I have front loader - I wash in cold - cold (occasionally warm cold but noticed no difference so mostly cold cold)

anyway I use Tide HE sometimes and mostly the costco natural HE soap. No bleach no softner.

I time dry for about 75 minutes....

as a note my diapers are the DSQ prefold

for the covers I use handwash cycle - for diapers I use the cotton cycle

It does take several washes (and I mean several!) for the prefolds to quilt up and when they are quilted they are very soft :)

How many times have the prefolds been washed? It takes quite a few HOT HOT washes to fluff them up if they're brand new. What I did was boil mine on the stove. It looked silly and my husband thought I was nuts but it really cut down on the hot wash and dry routine to fluff them up. Just wash them alone in super hot water a few times and dry them in the dryer after each wash. You don't want to cook your AIO's, covers and pockets :) Good Luck!