You may notice that the cloth diapers that you received are oversized. This is because the diapers, when made, are cut larger than the dimensions that they will be after they have been washed and dried. It is recommend that the cloth diapers be washed and dried prior to use. This is especially necessary for the contour diapers, as they have been cut and assembled to a larger size, with shrinkage in mind. Once the diapers have shrunk to the correct size, this should only take one or two washing(s) and drying(s), the diapers should be ready for use. Follow the washing and drying tips given below to shrink your new diapers to their usable size.

How To Care For Your Loving Comfort Diapers;
The diapers that Loving Comfort makes are made from the highest quality 100% cotton fabric. The trim of  the diaper is of the highest quality polyester, color fast thread. These diapers do not  require special care to maintain them in good condition. However, there are a few things one should know when using these or any other cloth diaper.

Pre-Diaper Pail Rinsing;
All cloth diapers should be thoroughly rinsed in cold water as soon as possible after use. This is true for diapers that have been soiled as well as those that are only wet. The main reason for this is to keep harmful bacteria growth to a minimum. Since cotton is an organic fiber, the bacteria will feed on this fiber, there by shortening the life of the diaper. To further aid in the control of bacteria growth, a disinfectant should be used in the diaper pail. Not only will rinsing and the use of a disinfectant help control bacteria growth, it will also help to control diaper pail odors. One disinfectant that we recommend is a product called “Totally Toddler”. A couple of  squirts of this onto the bottom of the diaper pail is all that is needed.

If You Have Diapers With Velcro Fasteners;
Diapers with Velcro fasteners will have a keeper strip located close to the Velcro hook fastener strip. Always fold over the hook fastener strip and press it against the keeper strip. This will prevent the hook strip from becoming inundated with lint during washing and drying.

Pre-Wash Rinsing;
If diapers have been sitting in the diaper pail for a long period of time, it is recommended that the diapers be pre-washed in the washer, in cold water, for about ten minutes. No soap or bleach should be used for this pre-wash rinse as this is only for removing any solids that remain on the diapers as well as to dilute any accumulated residue.

Bleach Wash;
If the diapers are heavily soiled, it may be necessary to bleach the diapers in order to whiten them. This should be done as a separate process. No laundry soap should be added. The hottest water available should be used for this washing. The hotter the water, the greater the effectiveness of the bleach. A time of 15 to 45 minutes may be required in order to completely whiten the diapers.
CAUTION;  Do not put plastic/water proof pants into this wash, as the bleach will degrade the plastic.
It is recommend that a cup of bleach should be used for large loads, and less for smaller loads.
If the diapers are only slightly soiled, then, a small amount of bleach may be added to the normal washing and the bleach wash can be skipped. If however the bleach wash is done, it is not necessary to add bleach to the normal wash cycle.
If you ordered your cloth diapers or cloth diaper accessories with a color trim, there is no need to worry about the trim being faded by the bleach. Loving Comfort uses only high quality, color fast thread for the trim.

Normal Wash Cycle;
Just about any of the laundry soaps that are available today will work just fine on our diapers. One must take care in choosing a laundry soap that will not irritate the skin. This can be of a particular problem when the skin is in contact with a wet diaper. Making certain that the diapers have been thoroughly rinsed after a normal wash will help in removing any remaining laundry soap residue.

Drying Your Loving Comfort Diapers;
If you are using a dryer: Depending on the thickness and the number of diapers in the dryer, you may need to use more than one drying cycle to completely dry the diapers. It is recommended that the hottest drying temperature be used.
Of course, line drying is also acceptable. Here, the thickness of the diaper as well as the weather will determine how long it takes the diapers to dry.
CAUTION;  Do not put plastic/water proof pants into the dryer, as the heat will melt the plastic.

A Note About Fabric Softeners;
We do not recommend the use of fabric softeners in the washer or in the dryer. While fabric softeners will make the diapers softer, it will also shorten the life of the diaper. This is because the softener causes the fibers of the fabric to loosen, there by making the fibers more easily torn.

Caring for Plastic Pants;
First of all, when washing your plastic pants, never use chlorine bleach or fabric softener. These products will attack the plastic. If your plastic pants are stained and you want to remove the stain, try boiling the pants in a pot of water on the stove top with a little detergent. Most all plastic pants will tolerate being cleaned in this manner. Otherwise, just wash them in the normal wash, again, without bleach or fabric softener. For drying your plastic pants, it is best to line dry them indoors as the UV rays from the sun will also shorten the life of the plastic. Never put plastic pants in the drier with your cloth diapers, as the heat is to high and will melt the plastic. If you want, you can use the drier set on fluff (no heat).
Secondly, and probably the biggest reason why plastic pants go bad quickly, is because of the pant coming in contact with petroleum products or petroleum based products. Most all products such as Vaseline, diaper rash ointments such as Desitin and hemorrhoid ointments, contain petroleum. Check the ingredient list of the product to see if it contains petroleum. The petroleum in these products attacks and degrades the plastic, causing the plastic to become hard and brittle to the point where the plastic will crack. Don't be fooled into thinking that, because the area that has been treated with these products is covered by the diaper that the petroleum can not get to the plastic pants. It can.
What happens is that, as the wearer wets the diaper, the urine carries the petroleum through the diaper, allowing it to come in contact with the plastic pants. Over time, the plastic is degraded to a point where the plastic pant is no longer usable. This effect is most always seen to occur first in the crotch area of the plastic pant. The reason for this is do to the fact that this area is normally where the highest concentration of the product containing the petroleum is used and is where the diaper is always the wettest.
Here are some possible solutions that will help prevent your plastic pants from being ruined when using products that contain petroleum.
1. Change the diaper frequently during the time that products which contain petroleum are used. Not only will this help save your plastic pants, but it will also aid in clearing up diaper rash, if this is the reason for using these products.
2. Apply a generous amount of powder to the treated area after applying a product that contains petroleum. The powder will help absorb the petroleum from the product and will help in preventing it from migrating into the diaper and onto the plastic pants. Dusting the inside of the plastic pants with powder will also help protect the plastic pants.
3. During the times that these products are used, a disposable diaper could be used in place of the plastic pants, there by saving your plastic pants.
4. Set aside one or two pairs of plastic pants that will be used only during the times that a product that contains petroleum is being used. This will prevent exposing the rest of your plastic pants to the product that contains the petroleum.
5. Wash the plastic pants often during the time that a product containing petroleum is used. The shorter the time of exposure to the petroleum, the longer the plastic pants will last.