When to Throw Out Cloth Diapers?

D., I cloth diapered my kids as well, but I don't use that brand. If you wash with bleach, it will destroy the diapers little by little. Also, if you use fabric softener, it leaves a waxy coat on them (what makes it soft) and will make them less absorbant. Good luck!

Definitely try to strip them before tossing them out. You might also try folding up a prefold and using it as an insert, or putting an insert in if your daughter may just have more volume than your other kids.

Bleach is not necessary if you do the whole rinse, soak, hot wash with detergent thing. If you're worried about spots, you can put them out to dry in the sun and the sun will naturally bleach them without any chemicals.

That's all I've got! :D

It could be several different problems, or a combination.

1. build up- detergents can build up on diapers after several washes causing the diaper to repel and not absorb. you can find lots of different stripping methods on www.diaperswappers.com forums.

2. Elastic and PUL wear- check over the diapers for the strength of the elastic. when you pull both ends does it stretch far or little? How tight is it against your child's body? You can easliy replace elastic in diapers OR even sell a them to a mama who wants them and is sewing savy! If you have pocket diapers you can turn them inside out and check the pul. If it's delaminating, or has holes in the lamination, there is pretty much nothing you can do about it except for using a diaper cover on it.

3. age development of child-
As a child reaches potty training age, they hold more pee at one time resulting in a total diaper soak down when they finally go. My daughter started soaking through brand new prepped diapers...Turns out she needed more absorbency. I started using pocket diapers and adding an extra insert. At night I use a blueberry onesize, and it's insert, which is one layer of microfiber and two layers of hemp.

Nice to find another CDing mama!

Make sure they are really leaky, and not just repelling.
I have just seen this recently, but this is what you can try: take a dry washed diaper and soak the insert with water (SOAKING) fold it in half like it would look when on a baby and very slowly apply a little bit of pressure (not too much!) it it. If the PUL is done, the water will leak out like from tiny holes in the PUL. If there are only a few leaks - it will still be fine to use if the entire outer leaks or wicks it's probably done.
You can try running your bumgenius through the dryer on hot, can help reseal the PUL if it's not in too bad shape.
I have been using BG on one child for almost 2 years now and have no issues with the PUL, I did run into occasional repelling issues, which were easily fixed by stripping the diapers.
Good Luck!

Hi D.,

Don't throw your diapers out before you go through a stripping cycle with them. Chances are high that the detergent build up over the years has made them less absorbent. I've had to strip my diapers a couple of times when they stopped absorbing as much as before. Here's the website where I got the instructions of how to do it:

http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/washing-diapers.htm

Here's an excerpt from their website on how to strip your diapers. I've done it a couple of times, and it has worked each time.

"If you experience detergent buildup or repellency which can happen on stay-dry items, handwash in Ivory or Dawn dishsoap, but Ivory rinses out much easier than Dawn. This is called "stripping your diapers". This is not needed if you use Charlie's Soap in the first place. Rinse completely. Dish detergents cut buildup just like the cut the grease on your dishes. We do not recommend using dish detergent in your washing machine because you'll likely have oversudding and the product is not designed for laundry use."

I did use about 1 tbs of Dawn in my washing machine, and it went fine.

Good luck!
D.

The same thing happened to me! I used the BumGenius diapers and loved them...until every one of them started leaking. I don't know how long they are supposed to last but it seems like mine didn't last as long as they should have. I got 18-24 months out of mine. I also used a little bleach, but not every time.

Chances are highly likely that your elastic has gone bad. Mine went bad after only one year. Do they hug tight around the leg holes and the back? Here is a link on how to replace the elastic. I had to do it to every one of my BGs and now they work fine.

http://bloomingbums.blogspot.com/2008/06/tutorial-elastic...

I'd like to add a general note to all readers regarding laundering.

Fabric softeners will make diapers, towels, etc., more water repellent, and they won't work as well.

Plus they will be toxic, not only for the user but for those nearby. I have to leave the vicinity when someone enters wearing "soft" clothing, because I have trouble breathing, get headaches, and become jumpy and forgetful. Then my sleep can be seriously disturbed for the next couple of nights.

Half a cup of white vinegar added to the wash cycle works both to soften fabric and clean it of the oily coating that can make it more water-repellent. (Do NOT use in the same wash as chlorine bleach, though – this can cause the release toxic fumes.)

If you google "fabric softener toxic" or similar tag words, you'll find thousands of entries. Here's one well-written one:

http://www.therenewableplanet.com/blogs/the_daily_green/a...

I didn't use cloth diapers for my kids (husband wasn't willing) but my mom used them on my brother and I. So, I can't really give any idea on when to replace them, but I do have an alternate use idea for the old ones. My mother kept them all our lives. They made excellent handkerchiefs for runny noses when we were sick (so soft that they were better than any other) and some were designated dusting clothes for the furniture.