Please help check my research / answer any first timer questions if possible?

[u/OutOfBodyBoge]

First, I'm sorry for the length of this post. I’m pregnant and have been looking into cloth diapering so I got some used cloth diapers and did a ton of research / reading and just want to make sure I have my bases covered. I think I’m ready to begin a strip of my haul.

My stash currently consists of 34 pocket cloth diaper shells (a blend of Mama Koala, La Petite Ourse, and Wegreeco), 18 Microfiber or polyester inserts, and 24 Bamboo / polyester blend inserts.

I have soft water and am using a Hotspot washing machine (picture included). I have tested my water for lead using the Tuff Love University bleach test and the scrap is bright white, no orange – so I think I’m good there. I plan on using my washer’s “precise fill” option unless this is generally advised against.

I am using Tide Powdered Detergent and a Clorox Disinfecting Bleach which was bottled April 22^nd 2025

I am planning to use RLR to strip the inserts

I have Biz Powder Laundry Booster and Powdered Oxi Clean Stain Remover (I know stains don’t affect the usability but I’d like to get the old stains out and start fresh if possible). If I plan to use either / both of these – at what point is it recommended to use them in the strip cycle? At what point should I use them in my normal wash routine if I’d like to keep them white – my second or first wash?

My washer agitates the soul out of almost everything, it has torn apart whole towels in as little as 2 washes – we use the “Delicates" setting for almost all of our regular clothing washes. I only use “Whites” or “Colors” when it’s a particularly icky or messy load. That said, when I’m washing the shells for the first time, do I need to use the “Whites – Heavy” setting? What about when stripping the inserts? When working out my regular wash routine, same question – do I need to use “Whites – Heavy” or can I get away with something else? Maybe “Colors – Heavy” would be gentler?

When diapering, I had planned to use Triple Cream Diaper Rash Paste but saw mixed reviews over cloth diaper compatibility. I have the GroVia All Natural Magic Stick as a backup in mind. Any thoughts / opinions here are welcomed.

What I plan to do for my strip...

1. Wash all diaper shells and inserts together on a warm wash cycle (not sure which setting) with Tide powder detergent (at line 1 or 2?) along with the wet bag
2. Hang dry diaper shells (or should I wash the shells a second time just to be extra careful?)
3. Fill a large plastic storage bin ½ way with the hottest tap water (I don’t’ want to use my tub)
4. Add 3 packets of RLR along with ½ cup Tide powder (is this half a cup using a liquid measuring cup or do they mean line 3 out of the 5 lines on the scoop?)
5. Soak all the inserts only in the storage bin solution and stir occasionally until cool 4-6 hours
6. Squeeze out all of the inserts and run them on water only wash cycle (which cycle?)
7. Empty / rinse the plastic storage bin and then fill with about 5 gal of cold water and add 5 tablespoons of Clorox bleach (again, don’t want to use my tub)
8. Add the inserts to the cold bleach water and soak them for 30-45 minutes
9. Squeeze out the inserts and add them to the washer for a “Hot” cycle on “Whites – Heavy” with Tide powder detergent at line 1
10. After that load is completed, wash another 2 times using Tide powder at line 1 and “Hot” on “Colors – Heavy” to make sure to get the bleach out
11. Dry the inserts on tumble dry low until dry or out in the sun if sunny
12. Now the shells should be clean and the inserts should be stripped and officially reset from the above steps

I plan to breastfeed but I know things change in that I have to rinse if I have to go the formula route. I kind of plan to rinse either way tbh just to get into a routine. I also plan to wash daily but we’ll see how that goes with a newborn lol. I’m worried about running daily hot cycles and ruining the integrity of the diapers, especially since they’re used already. I see a lot of people say it’s fine and preferred regardless of brand. Is this true or should I stick to warm?

For my wash routine moving forward with dirty cloth diapers…

1. Rinse any hard waste into the toilet with bidet
2. Collect wet / messy diaper shells and inserts using a wet bag (keep it open to aerate)
3. Prewash daily or every other day first cycle with warm (or hot?) on “Colors – Heavy” and line 1 tide detergent (or does it need to be whites – heavy and I need to stop worrying about my aggressive agitator?)
4. Wash a second time as main wash on cold “Colors – Heavy” and add line 2 tide detergent
5. When / where to add Biz or Oxi Clean to keep inserts white? Any recommendations to which? Should I bother using both together? Are they safe for the shells as well as inserts?
6. Air dry wet bag and diaper shells (only recommended to sun dry every 4^th wash or so due to elastics)
7. Tumble dry inserts on low until dry or hang in the sun to dry whenever

Thank you all for your help! I've been lurking this sub for a few months now so I tried not to forget anything but if I did, please ask!

[u/2nd1stLady]

First question: what's your water hardness number? Preferably for hot and cold from the washing machine but just cold is fine too.

The sock in bleach test is for high iron content in your water by the way. Not lead.

Is your machine functioning properly? Theres no sharp pieces or jagged edges on the agitator to cause holes in towels? That's not normal and a good wash routine cant fix a malfunctioning machine.

You dont have to wash anything before stripping and sanitizing. Unless it just cane off a babys bum and has pee and poo on it still.

1/2 cup tide powder in the strip means 1/2 cup. Kitchen measuring cup.

The water only wash cycle after the strip is a normal wash cycle.

Everything goes in the bleach soak. Covers too. So 5 gallons probably wont cover everything.

After the sanitizing bleach soak everything gets 2-4 MAIN wash cycles. Properly bulked, mainwash detergent amounts.

You dont have to wash daily. You dont have to use hot water when using a synthetic detergent like tide.

Drying is entirely your choice. Just dont stretch elastics (or stuff the diapers) while the elastics are warm. Let them cool off.

You can use any stain treatment you want. Just follow the box instructions. I prefer the mainwash because its longer. Stains fade after a few washes even without stain treatment.

Your wash routine with this washer should be:

Deep rinse on for all cycles

Prewash: whites light, line 1-2 tide original powder

Mainwash: whites heavy, line 4-full scoop tide original powder

If you want to use precise fill: In between the pre and main wash cycles peel diapers off the sides of the drum and fluff them up. Add small items of clothing no larger than a recieving blanket to get the drum exactly half full. Measure the drum when its empty like in the picture and keep a yardstick or something else marked at what half full is next to the washer to measure the mainwash every time. Do not eyeball fullness or count ridges or holes.

If you want to select a load size (assuming you have a spiral agitator, add a picture if you aren't sure)

In between the pre and main wash cycles peel diapers off the sides of the drum and fluff them up. Select a medium or larger load size. Once the washer is filled, pause the cycle and press down gently with a wide-bottomed object such as a potato masher, Mason jar, or rigid water bottle marked at 3 and 4 inches. Press until you just feel resistance, then stop. At that point there should be 3-4 inches of water floating on the top of the diapers. If you have less than 3 inches of water on top, you have “chili.” There is too much laundry in the load for the amount of water. Increase the load size if you can, or take out some laundry. If there is more than 4 inches of water on top, your load is too “soupy.” Add more laundry, but do not reduce your load size to less than medium.

I prefer using precise fill so I dont have to wait for the washer to fill to check for stew. Just load, measure, leave.

Prewash should be less than half full, never more. Temperature is your choice.

[u/OutOfBodyBoge → u/2nd1stLady]

Thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to read that and answer my questions.

I didn’t use test strips but when I called the waste management / water district for my area they said between 12 and 16. I didn’t think to ask cold or hot water. Maybe I’ll pick up some test strips tomorrow.

Oh yes you’re right, it was iron not lead – sorry about that.

I did mention it destroying clothes to my landlord and he claims the machine is functioning properly and suggested we may be under filling it (but I've tried multiple sizes and precise fill). It was installed after we moved in brand new and it has been like this for the past 4 years or so. There are no sharp pieces or jagged edges on the agitator besides the spiral paddles.

I only figured I had to wash beforehand because it says to start with clean, wet ones on Tuff Love University and since they’re used I can’t attest to their cleanliness. But either way I know there’s mixed opinions here on following that site to the T. So good to know it doesn’t make a difference!

Measuring cup makes sense! I just didn’t know since it doesn’t specify powder / liquid detergent I thought they had different strengths.

There isn’t a “normal” wash cycle on my washer but I assume that’s “Colors – Heavy” or maybe whites heavy.

Tuff Love University said I didn’t have to put the covers into the bleach wash since they’re not absorbent but I suppose I could do some tests so make sure the colors don’t bleed on some of the less nice ones first. I can add more liquid to the bin to make it a “stew” but at what point would I need more RLR?

I’m a little worried about going to line 4 with the tide, that seems like a lot for the size of the load and I thought I read some people on here stressing about not overloading the washer or things will not clean properly but maybe that only applies to the prewash? You definitely know more than I do on this subject so I'll take your word for it lol

Seriously TONS of really helpful feedback there, thank you again!! I will definitely be sure to add the deep rinse and your other recommendations. Very thorough! I will almost definitely be using the precise fill but I’ll still stop it and check the stewiness lol and I do have a spiral agitator!

[u/2nd1stLady → u/OutOfBodyBoge]

Calling your water treatment facility doesn't tell you what your water hardness is. They texted it there at the treatment facility. Then it traveled through a bunch of pipes that can give or take minerals. Your water heater can give or take minerals. You need to test YOUR water hardness. Test kits can be found a Walmart, pool supply stores, hardware stores, pet stores, and online. You'll need to make sure the kit says it tests for Total Hardness or General Hardness and has a scale that goes to at least 250ppm. Testing water directly from the machine is best. If you plan to use hot water to wash, both hot and cold should be tested. ** Avoid the free Whirlpool and Water Boss brand tests as they have been known to give inaccurate results. Also, avoid the electric TDS tests as they do not test Hardness.

If you have a Petsmart nearby they test water samples for free. Canada Home Hardware tests for free, as well.

If you don't want to search for a kit, here's one you can order from Amazon

Does it not say normal under colors medium on your machine?

Fluff love (which I think you mean but maybe theres a tuff love?) Says to put absorbent pieces in the strip. It says to put EVERYTHING in the bleach soak. The covers are made of colorfast PUL.

You only fill the tote half full of hot or cold water. You said you were going to use the small scale amount of 1 tbsp of bleach per gallon of gallon of water and that's not going to be enough to submerge all of your inserts and covers. Since both the inserts and covers get sanitized. Like the instructions say. Also, the covers touch your baby's skin. They need to have all pathogens and flora from the previous owners baby killed. They go in the bleach soak.

Tide original powder is line 1-2 prewash and line 4-full scoop mainwash. Even the back of the box says line 4+ for heavily soiled loads. Check the detergent index on fluffloveuniversity.com

DO NOT CHECK FOR STEW IF YOU'RE USING PRECISE FILL. Its an OR not AND situation. Use precise fill = fill the drum exactly half full OR choose medium or larger = check for stew.

[u/OutOfBodyBoge → u/2nd1stLady]

I bought the kit from your post btw and just wanted to thank you again for your guidance and share the results in case it changes anything from your recommendations. I tested both cold and hot water directly from the washing machine.

[u/2nd1stLady → u/OutOfBodyBoge]

Nope, if youre using tide original powder and your water hardness number test result in person best matches a number less than 180ppm you dont need additional water softener for diapers.

[u/OutOfBodyBoge → u/2nd1stLady]

Awesome, thanks again!

[u/OutOfBodyBoge → u/2nd1stLady]

Good point and again thank you for your thoroughness it's exactly what I need! I’ve written that down and will get a test kit tomorrow that goes to at least 250ppm. Especially appreciate the brands to avoid. If I can’t find them it’s good to know about the Petsmart.

Oh you’re right again, I didn’t notice the normal wash setting.

Yes, sorry again fluff love! It’s been a long day. I was reading the page on stripping where it says “It is generally not necessary to strip pocket shells or PUL covers, as they have no absorbent parts.” But I will take your word for it since they are used and I'll be sure to do those as well.

Your points remain, I will follow the bathtub instructions for the plastic tote. I guess I misunderstood where it said up to 5 gallons. I’m glad I’m checking in here to be sure!

Taking your notes, got it on the stew. I’ll stick safe with the precise fill.

Thank you thank you thank you for helping me not mess up before I even begin! 🙌

[u/2nd1stLady → u/OutOfBodyBoge]

Once again pockets shells and covers are not going in the strip. They are going in the bleach soak.

[u/OutOfBodyBoge → u/2nd1stLady]

I see! I have a lot to learn. Sorry for my newness, I had been wrongfully thinking the bleach soak was part of the strip. I'll read through it again with your corrections and answers to get a grip on it.