This section could equally be titled “disadvantages of cloth diapers.” Yes, cloth diapers will save you money — some estimates are savings of $800 or more over two and a half years of diapering — but they cost time and effort. If you’re considering cloth, be sure you know what’s involved in caring for them. Diaper stains are difficult to remove, so to help prevent permanent staining, soiled diapers must be rinsed in the toilet as soon as they’re taken off. Then they must be wrung out and put in a pail containing water with a teaspoonful of Borax to deodorize and kill ammonia-producing bacteria. Before laundering, the water must be wrung out. Diapers must be washed within a day or two of being soiled and they must be washed separately from the rest of the laundry. Wash them in a good-quality detergent, using the hottest cycle on your washing machine. As detergent residue can cause diaper rash, it’s best to put diapers through two rinse cycles. Diapers must be thoroughly dried — in the sun is best. Then they must be folded and stored.
