Prepping your Cloth Diapers and accessories is easy!
The prep process is referred to as the period of time in which you prep your new cloth diapers, inserts, and accessories for use on your child.
Why do we need to prep new diapers and inserts? Natural fibers come with natural oils and residues that can cause repelling or reduced absorbency if not washed out. Prepping helps strip those away and allows the fibers to fluff up and absorb properly.
- All PUL products (pocket diapers, covers, PUL accessories like wet bags and pods) only need one wash with detergent to be ready to go for first use.
- All inserts will need additional prepping in order to reach their full absorbency capabilities. Polyester fibers like microfiber only really need one wash, the same as PUL. This wash just cleans off any residual stuff from the manufacturing process.
- If you're choosing to use natural fiber inserts, there will need to be a total of 3-10 washes for full absorbency. These washes help to clean off residual gunk from the manufacturing process, and open up the fibers so they can absorb at their potential. Ideally the washes can be with hot water, and they can be consecutive, or be dried in between each wash for faster results.
- Fabrics like cotton will taker less washes, and fabrics like hemp can take the full 10 washes for full potential to be reached.
- Some people stop at 3 due to impatience, and that's ok! As long as you know they will get more absorbent as you wash and wear and keep that in mind.
- For many natural fiber inserts, shrinkage in normal and expected. Many fabrics are not pre-washed or pre-shrunk by the manufacturer, and the prep process does normally cause shrinkage. Each fabric and brand will vary in the amount of shrinkage that happens with each insert. At Redwood, our inserts can shrink up to 2 inches, with there exception of the trifold.
- AIO diapers will be prepped the same as inserts, with care taken to not damage the PUL.
- NEW! Snapless fitteds are coming soon to Redwood! When prepping, they require similar washes to other natural fiber inserts. Due to the blend of fabrics, anywhere from 3-10 washes will be enough. 3 is the bare minimum to get the fitted in a great, usable state. 10 would be the maximum needed to ensure the hemp/cotton layer is fully ready to do its job. For prep, hot water is ok, and helps the fibers open. Just ensure your hot water temp does not reach over 140* to ensure minimal fading of printed fabrics and the integrity of other fabrics. Drying absorbency is ok! just also ensure that your dryer is on air/low tumble for PUL items, and you can use med/high for all other absorbency.
- NEW! Preflats are coming soon to Redwood also! Their prep is also similar to other natural fiber inserts, where the 3-10 washes will be enough to ensure their absorbency potential. These are found to have little-to no shrinkage during prep and use.