4Real Forums: Cloth diapers and germs?

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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Topic: Cloth diapers and germs?

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RamFam
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Posted: July 01 2008 at 10:02pm \| IP Logged

Forgive my ignorance, but...
If you don't wash cloth diapers with bleach, how do they and your washer stay germ-free? Have there ever been problems with e. coli or anything?

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Leah
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folklaur
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Posted: July 01 2008 at 11:22pm \| IP Logged

hhhmmmm.....well since no one has answered, I'll have a go

.

I used cloth, and I didn't use bleach, because it DESTROYS the diaper covers.

Your dryer should get hot enough to kill most everything.

Also, you can use things like vinegar and baking soda.

I am guessing you have had your babies have a leaky accident with even disposable diapers. You just washed out the clothes, right? Same thing.

mathmama
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 5:21am \| IP Logged

Yes, the hot water in your washer will kill the bacteria. When your cloth diapers come out of the wash they are as clean as anything else and so is your washer. Bacteria that hurt us thrive at body temperature and the hot water in your washer is much too hot for them to survive. I have never used bleach and we haven't had any issues here and we have had someone in cloth for nearly 4 years straight.

Beth

Fe2h2o
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 10:10am \| IP Logged

We don't use a dryer (not common around here at all), but sunlight is a fabulous thing!

I do a hot wash, and dry in sunlight. Friends who are doctors (and use cloth) have said that that is all that is needed.

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folklaur
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 10:35am \| IP Logged

Yes - forgot to say, sunlight! It is a "natural bleach" from what I understand. I can't hang my clothes out where we live now.

I recently read that your washer's hot cycle probably really *isn't* hot enough to kill everything. I have read articles that say you would need to get to 160 degrees to kill stuff. Here is a little snippet I recently found:

"According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) in order to be effective in killing germs laundry (linens) needs to be processed at a minimum of 160 degrees Fahrenheit for at least twenty-five minutes."

Most of us don't have our hot water heaters set that high.

insegnante
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 10:43am \| IP Logged

I might just be ignorant about different issues with fabric versus skin, but doesn't most of the germ removal come with the physical washing away itself, not direct germ killing? Like when you wash your hands after changing a diaper, in case "anything" got on them, hot water should be used but the water wouldn't be 160 degrees, would it? If the baby were known to have a GI illness maybe you would look into different measures during that time, but the rest of the time I wouldn't have thought there were special concerns about the machine washing and drying not being enough.

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Sparrow
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 2:28pm \| IP Logged

Tea Tree Oil is also anti-bacterial, you can add a drop or two in while you wash.

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mama251ders
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 2:29pm \| IP Logged

I use tea tree oil to disinfect my diapers. Just a couple of drops in the rinse cycle usually does the trick. It also helps eliminate stale odors. Also, make sure NOT to overdo it with soap trying to get the diapers clean. It will actually have the opposite effect and make your diapers super stinky.

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Betsie

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RamFam
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 2:34pm \| IP Logged

cactus mouse wrote:

I am guessing you have had your babies have a leaky accident with even disposable diapers. You just washed out the clothes, right? Same thing.

Good point, Laura.

Okay, more ignorance: Where do I get things like Tea Tree Oil and lavender oil?

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Leah
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monique
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 2:41pm \| IP Logged

Young Living

I love their oils! Lemon oil is also great for odors.

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doris
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 4:35pm \| IP Logged

I wash my nappies at 60 degrees rather than 95 -- I think the latter *would* kill germs but would also ruin the nappies very quickly.

I do use an antibacterial nappy wash, though. It's called Nappy Fresh.

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sewcrazy
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 9:19pm \| IP Logged

I get TTO and lavendar oil at Trader Joes.

I don't have one in dipes right now. But we never had issues with illness from dirty dipes. Soap and warm water will remove the majority of germs and the sun/dryer will get rid of the rest. Dipes come out of the dyer sweet smelling.

LeeAnn

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LeeAnn
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RamFam
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Posted: July 02 2008 at 9:55pm \| IP Logged

sewcrazy wrote:

I get TTO and lavendar oil at Trader Joes.

Thanks, LeeAnn. I'll have to look harder next time I'm there.

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Leah
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