Earlier this week we had a customer asking about resolving issues like mildew in cloth diapers. Thirsties brilliantly addressed the mildew issue, and we made a handout from their information that we give our customers on just such occasions.
So how do you get mildew on your cloth diapers? When your diapers are left to sit to long before you wash them, they can mildew. Mildew can also occur if you store your diapers in an airtight container or while they’re still wet. If you live in a humid climate, you might have to battle some mildew, too. Mildew on cloth diapers will look like black spots these can be large or small in size.
Here’s what Thirsties suggests:
Mixture of 2 tsp. salt, 2 tsp. lemon juice, and 2 1/2 Tblsps. warm water - Mix the ingredients into a paste and rub onto the mildew spots. Let sit for a half hour. Wash with the next cloth diaper load, and dry in the sun or put in the dryer for 15 minutes on high.
-This should kill the mildew and get rid of the stain.
Vinegar - Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold. Pour 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle, spray on the area with mildew, and let set for a few hours. Wash with the next cloth diaper load and dry in the sun.
You can also add ¼ cup baking soda and ½ cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle if they have odor.
-This should kill the mildew, but the stain will still be visible.
- This is for natural fiber diapers only. Not for laminates, microfiber, or households with hard water.
Tea Tree Oil – Add 1 teaspoon tea tree oil to 1 cup water in a clean spray bottle. Shake to blend, and spray on mildew spots. Let sit overnight, and add to your next cloth diaper load. Dry in the sun.
-This will disinfect, but the stain will still be visible.
Grapefruit Seed Extract – Add 10 drops grapefruit seed extract to 1 cup water in a clean spray bottle. Shake to blend, and spray on mildew. Let sit overnight, and add item/s to next cloth diaper load. This will disinfect, but not get rid of the stain.
-This will disinfect, but the stain will still be visible.
Oxyclean Baby – Follow directions on package.
-This should disinfect and remove the stain.
After any kind of treatment, please wash your diapering products and rinse thoroughly. Drying in the sun will aid in disinfection and stain removal.
Please keep in mind that drying in the dryer will set any stains.
To remove stains naturally, you can use a 50/50 solution of lemon juice and water sprayed on the stain. Put in the sun for a couple of hours. If stain is still visible, wash and repeat.”
So how do you prevent mildew from growing on your diapers? Thirsties has tips for that, too:
Mildew grows in warm temperatures and humidity. There also seems to be a link to sugar in the growth of mildew.
-[Thirsties recommends] using a dry pail to store your diapers for washing – no soaking.
-Please do not keep any soiled or wet items in an airtight container for longer than a few hours.
-Humid climates have more trouble with mildew, and might need more frequent washings. You might also need to use the dryer to keep mildew from forming.
-Make sure that your diapering products are dry after laundering. Take them out of the washer and dryer as soon as the cycle is done. Check to see that they are totally dry before storing.
- A half cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle will help to clean and disinfect your diapers. This is for natural fiber diapers only. Not for laminates, microfiber, or households with hard water.
-A few drops of Tea Tree Oil mixed with ¼ cup of baking soda in the prewash cycle will aid in stain removal, disinfection, softening water, and cleaning of your diaper laundry.”
Have you had a mildew issue before? Which of these techniques worked for you? Tell us in the comments!
Sonya Choron. (2011, Sept. 14). How To Remove Mildew From Cloth Diapers. Retrieved from http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/blog/how-to-remove-mildew-from-cloth-diapers/.