How Do You Clean Poop off Reusable Diapers?

One of the first things you’ll ask yourself when you start off on your reusable diaper journey is how you’ll deal with poop. It might seem as if pee is easier to deal with as it just soaks into the fabric and your washing machine simply washes and rinses it out.

The most commonly-asked reusable diaper and poop questions answered

How do I remove poop from reusable diapers?

The best way to remove poop from reusable diapers is to lift off the diaper liner and shake the poo into the toilet. If you’re using reusable liners, you can pop them in your Stay at Home wet bag along with the soiled diaper until it’s wash time.

If you’re using disposable diaper liners, you should do the same, but then dispose of the liner safely in the trash.

What if I can’t just shake off the poop from the liner or diaper?

Not all poops are created equal and some are a bit more tenacious than others, clinging to the reusable liner (and, often, the diaper itself…). These scenarios call for tougher measures, such as holding the liner or diaper in the toilet bowl and flushing water over it, which should wash off most or all of the poop. 

You can also use toilet paper to lift off the worst of the poop before you put it in your washing machine.

Can you put poopy diapers in the washing machine?

Yes, you can put poopy diapers and washable liners into your washing machine. It’s a good idea to remove as much waste as possible beforehand, though, to help your washing machine along - many parents use a quick rinse cycle before the main wash to be extra sure.

Is it safe to clean soiled diapers in a washing machine?

Absolutely. Modern washing machines are designed to clean fabrics much more efficiently and effectively than previous generations of machines, so there shouldn’t be a trace of poop left behind.

In fact, you can wash your nappies at 104F cycle to save even more energy, especially if you add our laundry cleanser and, if you like, include an extra rinse cycle at the end.

My breastfed baby’s poop soaks into the diapers, can I still wash them in the washing machine?

Yes, you can wash the diapers of breastfed babies in the washing machine. Breastfed baby poop is very liquid and tends to soak through the liner into the diaper itself, but it’ll still wash out as it's very water soluble. Using a cold rinse cycle before the main wash will help here too, making sure that most of the waste material is washed away before the main cycle.

Should I soak poopy diapers before I wash them?

No, there’s no need to soak dirty diapers before they go into the washing machine. Soaking soiled diapers just creates more work and a bucket full of rather unpleasant water and most reusables parents dry pail their cloth diapers!

Just make sure that you’re storing soiled diapers out of the reach of children and that they’re not waiting too long (two days maximum) for a wash. Leaving soiled diapers for too long can damage them as ammonia can build up, affecting the fabric and any solid waste might dry and “set”, making more work for your washing machine.