Cloth Diaper Delimas - HE Washers

For those of you that have an HE or front loader washing machine you know how great they are for the environment and saving water. It is ironic that they are not so good at getting cloth diapers clean. Diapers need a lot of water to slosh around in. I never had an issue with stinkies until I upgraded to an HE machine. I actually miss my top loader for diaper loads.

If you ever peek into your washer mid-cycle you will notice that there is hardly any water. Diapers absorb the majority of the wash water. Also, HE washers determine the water level by the weight of the load. Since diapers are lighter even less water is used. Your diapers end up rolling around with barely any water.

If you have an HE washer that allows you to customize the amount of water the washer uses, you are lucky! My washer has no such option :(


So I simply add a bit more to the washer.

Do a prewash/ rinse cycle first. This is important to remove any solid waste that may be left on the diapers. Then start your wash load as normal. When the washer is done filling I add about 2 pots of hot water to the load. Always follow with an extra rinse at the end of the cycle.








Now the water level is where is should be, right up to the bottom of the drum. Not too much water but just enough. The diapers now have a sufficient amount of water to agitate.







I believe in keeping it simple. This process may seem like a pain but it is so much easier than constant stripping, soaking, unnecessary sanitary cycles, additives, boiling, etc.

This process may not be for everyone, but it has been a LIFESAVER and a time saver for me :)