To care for and clean AWJ Cloth Diapers, remove solid waste, wash them well, remove stains, and dry them properly.
Caring for and cleaning AWJ cloth diapers is essential for parents who want their little ones to stay comfortable and safe.
We know that cloth diapering can be a confusing task for any parent when starting out. But with the right knowledge and tips, you can easily make cloth diapering a part of your child’s everyday life. This guide has all the info you need to keep your baby clean and comfy when using cloth diapers with AWJ.
Make sure you treat you AWJ cloth diapers just as you do any other diapers, whether disposable or reusable diapers.
Table of Contents:
- What type of diapers have AWJ in them?
- What do you do with solid waste in AWJ diapers?
- What you'll need to wash AWJ diapers
- Wrapping up the care of AWJ cloth diapers
"What type of diapers have AWJ in them?
Many types of diapers can have an Athletic Wicking Jersey Liner, however the most common type of AWJ cloth diapers are:
"What do you do with poop in AWJ diapers?
Athletic Wicking Jersey (AWJ) diapers make it easy to rinse off poop! It slides off clean whether you are using disposable diaper liners, reusable liners, or just the diaper itself. To clean poop from your AWJ cloth diapers (All-in-One, AI2, or Pocket diapers) just follow these steps:
1. Remove any solid waste from the diaper: Before washing the cloth diaper, it's important to remove any solid waste. To remove the poop, you can use a diaper sprayer or gently shake the diaper over the toilet. To make things easier, you can always use diaper liners.
After removing the solid waste from the diaper, it is important to rinse it. You should start by using the pre-rinse cycle before moving on to the full wash cycle. This will help with any poop stains left on the AWJ diapers.
3. Pre-treat stains: If there are any stubborn stains on the diaper, you can pre-treat them before washing. Apply a small amount of Oxy-clean stain remover to the stained area. You can use Oxy-Clean for soaking if needed, but it's not recommended for every wash.
What You'll Need to Wash AWJ diapers
- Detergent
- Washer
- Dryer
- Stain remover
- Laundry basket
When picking detergent for cloth diapers with Athletic Wicking Jersey, it's crucial to choose one that's gentle on your baby's skin.
The detergent you choose should also be effective in removing stains and odors. Avoid detergents with additives, fragrances, or fabric softeners. These can lead to buildup and decrease the diapers' absorbency. Some popular options include Regular Tide, Rockin' Green, and Tide Free & Clear Gentle.
The best type of washing machine for cloth diapers is a top-loading machine. These types of machines have an agitator and use the adequate amount of water needed to clan AWJ cloth diapers properly.
It is recommended that you use dryer with adjustable heat settings, so you can choose a low heat option. This helps to keep our AWJ diapers new and prevent any damage to the fabric or elastic.
Do not use high heat as it can lead to shrinking, damage the PUL or TPU on the fabric. Using wool dryer balls can help to speed up the drying process and reduce static cling. You might need to dry your cloth diapers with AWJ twice, especially bamboo AIOs, as the inserts are inside the diaper.
To remove stains from AWJ cloth diapers, use a gentle, chemical-free stain remover. Some popular options include Oxiclean and Buncha Farmers stain remover stick. These have worked great for stains even after they have set in. They also work wonderfully if you need to reset your pre-loved diapers.
After fully washing your AWJ diapers, but before drying them, you can also place them outside facing up towards the sun. This practice is called "Sunning" and it uses the sun to remove any left over stains.
Please keep in mind that well water can turn the inside of your cloth diapers, especially the Athletic Wicking Jersey (AWJ) of inserts gray. Though this does not affect the function of the diaper, it may bother some parents. If you'd like to remove those types of stains, sunning them may be your best option.
The best laundry baskets for AWJ cloth diapers are usually made of plastic or mesh. This type of basket can effectively handle the weight of dirty, rinsed diapers.
Breathability is also important when considering a diaper pail or basket. It is important to allow air circulation, which helps prevent any crappy smells from building up. Additionally, a laundry basket with handles can make it easier to transport the diapers to and from the washing machine. Large open wet bags also work wonderfully as a laundry basket hack for AWJ cloth diapers.
Pre-Washing Athletic Wicking Jersey AWJ diapers
- Pre-treat any stains
- Check pockets for objects
To pre-treat stains in AWJ cloth diapers, you can follow these steps:
1. Rinse: Start by rinsing the stained area with cold water as soon as possible. This helps to prevent the stain from setting in.
2. Soak: Fill a sink with cold water and add a stain remover or a mix of water and oxygen bleach. To clean a dirty cloth diaper, soak it in water for at least 30 minutes. If the stain is particularly stubborn, you may need to leave it in the water for longer.
3. Scrub: After soaking, gently scrub the stained area with a soft brush or cloth to help loosen the stain. Be careful not to scrub too hard, as this can damage the fabric. Be very careful with this step!
4. Rinse again: Rinse the cloth diaper thoroughly with cold water to remove any remaining stain remover or bleach solution.
To check for objects in Athletic Wicking Jersey (AWJ) pocket cloth diapers, you can follow these steps:
1. Start by turning the pocket cloth diaper inside out.
- Inspect the inner AWJ lining of the diaper for any objects or debris that may be stuck.
3. Use your fingers or a small brush to gently remove any objects that you find.
4. Make sure to check all the corners and edges of the pocket to ensure that it is completely clean.
5. Once you have removed any objects, you can proceed with the pre-wash and washing cycle for the cloth diaper.
6. Wash: Once the stain has been pre-treated, you can proceed with the regular washing cycle for cloth diapers.
Washing Cycle Specifically for AWJ diapers
- Set the washing machine on the appropriate cycle
- Add the detergent
- Load the washer with the clothes
To wash your AWJ diapers, you will need to run a pre-wash cycle. Follow it by a heavy-duty wash cycle with detergent. Lastly, run an additional cold/short cycle.
The pre-wash cycle helps to remove any excess waste and urine from the diapers before the main wash cycle. The heavy-duty or long wash cycle guarantees thorough cleaning of the diapers. The last cycle removes any detergent residue.
Drying Cycle
- Set the dryer on the appropriate setting
- Load the dryer with the clothes
- Hang drying
To properly dry cloth diapers, you can follow these steps:
1. Set the dryer on the appropriate setting: Choose a low to medium heat setting to avoid damaging the cloth diapers. High heat can cause shrinkage and wear out the fabric faster. Do not use fabric softener on your AWJ cloth diapers.
2. Place the cloth diapers in the dryer along with other types of diapers. Avoid overloading the dryer as this can prevent proper drying.
3. Hang drying AWJ cloth diapers can help preserve their quality and extend their lifespan.
Wrapping up the care of AWJ cloth diapers
- Remove clothes from dryer shortly after cycle ends
- Hang delicate items to dry
- Fold and put away clothes
To fold AWJ pocket cloth diapers after they come out of the wash, follow these steps:
1. Start by removing the clean pocket cloth diapers from the washing machine.
2. Shake off any excess water or fluff the diapers to ensure they are fully dry.
3. Lay the pocket cloth diaper flat on a clean surface, with the absorbent insert facing up.
4. Place the insert into the diaper
5. Next, snap buttons closed.
To fold AWJ AIO cloth diapers after they come out of the wash, follow these steps:
1. Start by removing the clean aio cloth diaper from the washing machine.
2. Shake off any excess water or fluff the diapers to ensure they are fully dry.
3. Next, snap buttons closed.
To fold AWJ Swim cloth diapers after they come out of the wash, follow these steps:
1. Start by removing the clean swim diaper from the washing machine.
2. Shake off any excess water or fluff the diapers to ensure they are fully dry.
5. Next, snap buttons closed.
Wash soiled AWJ diapers every 2 to 3 days to avoid stink.
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About the author:
Vanessa Tomchik is the founder and CEO of Lighthouse Kids Company - an Award Winning cloth diaper brand made with the highest quality recycled materials and Voted Best Cloth Diaper Brand of 2021, 2022. LKC has helped thousands of parents cloth diaper easily since 2017. Vanessa is passionate about natural parenting and toxic-free products and is a certified babywearing instructor as well as a former cloth diaper instructor for the Real Diaper Association (2016-2017). Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn.
