Green Planet Baby: Cloth Diapers, Diaper Covers, Organics

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Prefold and Fitted Diapers. A waterproof cover is needeed in addition to these diapers.

What is the difference between bleached and unbleached diapers?

Bleached prefold diapers are white because the cotton yarn was bleached in the factory prior to weaving the material. Cotton is naturally an ivory or light brown color. The bleaching process turns the cotton fibers white and also removes the natural cotton oils in the fibers. In doing so the strength of the fibers is reduced and the resulting woven material is slightly less durable. The bleaching process can lead to additional pollutants being released to the environment through airborne and waterborn emissions. Recent improvements in bleaching technology has reduced but not eliminated this impact.

Because unbleached diapers retain much of their natural cotton oils in the fiber matrix they are softer and more durable than bleached cloth diapers. Unbleached prefold cloth diapers must be washed at least 2-3 times after you receive them before they become absorbant. We recommend washing the diapers in hot sudsy water and drying them on high heat and repeating as many times as necessary for the diapers to become absorbant. You can test the absorbency by making a pocket of the diaper and slowly pouring 1/2 cup of liquid into the diaper. If the liquid pools and does not soak in fairly quickly, keep washing. Depending upon the detergent you use and the hardness of your water and the natural variations in cotton materials you may have to wash these up to 5 times before they become fully absorbant. Do not under any circumstance use fabric softner as this causes the fabric to be coated and thus repels moisture. Despite the added effort necessary to break in these diapers, they are extremely popular and by most accounts well worth it.