Bumblees™ Care Instructions and Tips

Bumblees ™
Cloth Diaper Washing Instructions

1. I can't stress this enough. It is important to wash and dry all new diapers several times (at least 3) before putting on baby. This increases absorbency by removing the natural oils associated with the fibers.
1. Method One: (my favorite)
   1. Once you have enough diapers to wash, soak diapers overnight in a full washer tub of plain COLD water
   2. In the morning, set the washer full of water and diapers to the shortest wash cycle *NO detergent and let it run through the entire cycle
   3. Next, do a HOT wash (long cycle) with 1/3 of the recommended amount of detergent
   4. Double Rinse using a WARM short wash cycle and letting the washer proceed through the cold rinse (this ensures that all of the soap gets out)
   5. Machine or Line Dry
   
   Method Two: (place soiled diapers in washer)
   1. Set washer to short COLD cycle and run with *NO detergent
   2. Next, do a long cycle, HOT Wash with 1/3 of the recommended amount of detergent.
   3. Double Rinse using a WARM short wash cycle and letting the washer proceed through the cold rinse (this ensures that all of the soap gets out).
   4. Machine or Line Dry
   
   Tips:
   * It is not recommended to wash more than 2 dozen diapers at a time (washing too many causes pilling and less clean diapers)
   * Always wash diapers using the largest load setting (they need room to move around in lots of water to get clean)
   * Lift lid and peek on final rinse cycle: if you see suds, rinse again.
   * Soaking diapers overnight helps get stains out.
   * Washing frequently keeps diapers from getting ‘smelly’.
   * Avoid detergents with enzymes and harsh perfumes

Washing Instructions for Pocket Diapers

1. Dump solids into toilet.

2. Remove Insert.

3. Rinse out diaper in toilet if necessary.

4. Place in DRY pail (do not use wet pail method).

5. Wash per instructions above.

6. Dry inserts in dryer if preferred.

7. Hang pocket to dry (can be machine dried, but degrades the life of the diaper).

Washing Instructions for PUL Covers

Handwash using warm water and detergent
Hang to dry for best results
Can be machine washed warm

Tips:
DO NOT store soiled covers in diaper pail, wash immediately
Use laundry tabs provided to secure Aplix closures
Machine drying reduces waterproof ability

Lanolizing/Washing Wool Covers
Wool covers need to be lanolized before they obtain their maximum water repellency. Sometimes this takes two or three lanolizing sessions. To lanolize covers simply fill sink full of warm water and squeeze out about ¼ 1/4 inch lanolin such as Lansinoh or Purelan 100 into it. (Lanolin can be purchased from any store that carries breastfeeding supplies). Add a little bit of mild liquid soap to break water tension. Submerge wool cover and swish/wash gently. Press out as much of the water as you can (do not wring) and hang to dry.
If your wool cover does not repel wetness, just re-lanolize.

Due to the absorbent and antibacterial properties of wool, your cover can go for weeks without having to be washed (unless soiled). Just air dry between wearing. Spot wash with olive oil soap. Always hang to dry.
When you do need to wash your wool cover, just hand wash it using warm water and Eucalan wool wash or olive oil soap. Repeat steps for lanolizing. Hang to dry.

Storage for Soiled Diapers
Wet Pail vs. Dry Pail
Wet Pail- Popular when my Mom cloth diapered.
Pros-helped get stains out.
Cons-stagnant water led to really smelly diapers; water in a pail is a potential hazard to an infant or small child.

Dry Pail-Now the preferred method among cloth diaperers.
Pros-no drowning hazard, no stagnant water to drain off, less messy
Cons-stains may be harder to get out/pre-soaking required to reduce stains (but stains don’t mean the diaper’s dirty anyway…smell does)

Tips:
* Shake solids into toilet (dunking is optional) before placing diaper in pail
* If you dunk, wring out the water
* Wash at least every three days
* Use ‘Bio-Kleen Bac Out’ on stains before placing in pail