It’s cloth diaper advice time. On Monday, I publish a reader submitted question, and ask my readers to weigh in!
Questions don’t have to be cloth diaper related, just email maria at change-diapers.com with “Mailbox Mondays” in the subject, or fill out my contact form for readers, which you will always be able to find on my Contact Page.
Ashley says:
I use microfiber in most of my LO’s diapers, and they are starting to look a bit dingy and gross. I hang them outside 95% of the time and the other time they hang in the house. How can I get them to look better? Is bleach the only way?
Thanks,
Ashley
Hi Ashley! I find that microfiber just won’t keep that bright white, fluffy appearance it has when it’s new. The sun would be my first recommendation, but it sounds like that’s not working for you. Do make sure they are wet when you hang them out.
If you don’t want to use bleach, you could try a bit of Oxi Clean instead, and give the inserts a few extra rinses. I know a lot of people don’t like to use bleach, but I find that just a dab occasionally makes a big difference in how my microfiber inserts smell.
If the inserts aren’t stinky & are absorbing well, I wouldn’t worry too much. Most of mine are the original microfiber inserts, have been used for more than 2 years and are a little dingy & flattened, but still work fine. However, I’ve heard some talk that once they lose their “fluff,” you should replace them. I know they aren’t super expensive, but I sure don’t like to spend money if I don’t have to!
Have your microfiber inserts gotten dingy? Did anything work to freshen them up?
Maria wants to live in a world where cloth diapers are the norm and moms can make parenting choices without judgement. When she’s not chasing her 18, 14 and 11-year old kids around, you might find her checking out the latest gadgets, organizing something (again) or exercising in the fresh air. 
Has anyone tried roughing up the nap a little bit with a brush? Some of mine are getting a bit flattened, and I’m getting ready to pass some of the sized smalls on to my SIL and want to make sure they’re in the best shape they can be.
I have never gotten any stains out with sunning microfiber. Sun works great for my cotton items, but makes zero different for the microfiber regardless of time, intensity (summer vs winter), etc.
Mine are pretty flat, but work great!
I’ve had no luck brightening up my inserts – bleach, oxyclean, sunning… I figure it mostly has to do with minerals in the water, and less with them being “dirty.” They seem to work okay still and newborn pee doesn’t make them stink like toddler pee does! A little bleach every once in a while has proven to be the best stink remedy for me, thus far, and that’s still not always a sure thing.
I agree with you. I don’t doubt microfiber grabs & hangs on to things from the water!