Cloth Diapering Inserts Natural Fiber Natural Fiber Diapers Washing

Do You Really Need to Prep Hemp Cloth Diapers?

Do I really need to prep hemp #clothdiapers via @chgdiapers

We all know you need to prep natural fiber diapers & inserts to remove natural oils & make them more absorbent. Personal experience tells me this is true. But I wondered just how prepping affects the fabric.

Here’s a prefold brand new, never washed or dried, with 14 oz of water poured over it:

Do I really need to prep my hemp #clothdiapers via @chgdiapers 1 - before prep Do I really need to prep my hemp #clothdiapers via @chgdiapers 2 before prep 14 oz water

After 3 wash & dry cycles:

Do I really need to prep my hemp #clothdiapers via @chgdiapers 3 after 3 washes Do I really need to prep my hemp #clothdiapers via @chgdiapers 4 after 3 washes and 14 oz water

After 8 wash & dry cycles:

Do I really need to prep my hemp #clothdiapers via @chgdiapers 1 after 8 washes and 14 oz water Do I really need to prep my hemp #clothdiapers via @chgdiapers 2 after 8 washes and 14 oz water

There wasn’t a huge difference in absorbency overall, but what was most interesting is that the fully prepped prefold absorbed the water quickly with no help from me, and locked it in tight. The new prefold didn’t easily absorb the water. It beaded up & rolled off, and I had to turn it over, push it down etc. just to get it to absorb as much as it did. Not only that but it didn’t seem to hold on to the water as well as the prepped prefold.

I created a short video with my “unscientific experiment” to show you:

Do you prep your natural fibers before use, or do you sometimes “cheat?”


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Maria
Maria is an aspiring "fit mom" of 3 children, writing about cloth diapers, going green, and her life as a single mom. Maria works with many companies within the cloth diaper industry and beyond, providing social media management, product development, and other services.
1 Comment
  • November 5, 2014 at 10:55 am
    Reply

    […] or even wash once and cross your fingers. Change baby more often until the diaper is fully prepped & wash it with your other diapers. Typically, the natural oils from just one new diaper […]

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