Care & Washing Guides

Cloth diaper & wool care guides

Everything you need to care for your EcoAble cloth diapers and merino wool garments — from prepping new diapers through fixing leaks, smells, and buildup. Each guide is written to work for all audiences, whether you're diapering a baby, a big kid, or yourself.

If you're new to cloth diapers, start with getting started. If you're having a specific problem, jump to troubleshooting. Wool care has its own section below. All guides apply whether your diapers are for babies, kids, or adults.



Getting started

Three guides that cover the basics: prepping new diapers, running a proper wash routine, and picking a detergent that actually cleans. Work through them in order if you're setting up for the first time.

Step 1
How to prep new cloth diapers
New natural-fiber diapers need 3–5 wash-and-dry cycles to reach full absorbency. Skip prepping and you'll get leaks from day one. Covers fabric-specific prep counts and what to avoid.
Read the guide →
Step 2
How to wash cloth diapers
The 4-step wash routine for HE and standard machines. Cycle settings, water temperature, drum loading, and what to skip.
Read the guide →
Step 3
Cloth diaper safe detergents
A tested list of 28 detergents that clean thoroughly without buildup. Synthetic and plant-based options, plus what to avoid and why.
View the list →

Troubleshooting common problems

When diapers leak, smell, or stop performing the way they used to, one of these guides has the fix. Most problems trace to the wash routine or buildup — work through the leak and stink guides first to diagnose, then use the strip, sanitize, or bleach guides as needed.

Diagnose
Why cloth diapers leak
The 9 most common causes of cloth diaper leaks — fit, absorbency, repelling, PUL damage — with fixes for each. Works for babies, kids, and adults.
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Diagnose
Why cloth diapers stink
Ammonia vs barnyard smell — how to tell them apart, what causes each, and the 4-step fix that clears both.
Read the guide →
Fix
How to strip cloth diapers
Remove mineral and detergent buildup with RLR or a DIY soak. The fix for repelling diapers and persistent smells.
Read the guide →
Fix
Sanitize without bleach
Three bleach-free sanitizing methods — hydrogen peroxide & borax, Lysol concentrate, or your machine's sanitize cycle.
Read the guide →
Fix
How to bleach cloth diapers
When bleach is the right tool — yeast, MRSA, secondhand diapers — and the correct dilutions to do it safely.
Read the guide →

Wool care

Wool has its own rules. Both guides cover lukewarm-only washing, flat drying, and how to avoid felting. The diaper cover guide adds the lanolizing step that keeps wool water-resistant; the clothes and socks guide covers everyday wool garment care.

Diaper covers
Wash & lanolize wool diaper covers
Hand washing process plus lanolin application for baby, kid, and adult wool diaper covers — how often, what to use, and how to dry without damage.
Read the guide →
Clothes & socks
How to wash wool clothes and socks
Hand and machine washing for merino sweaters, base layers, and socks. Plus troubleshooting for shrinking, stretching, and pilling.
Read the guide →

Shopping guides

Not sure which cloth diapers are right for your situation? Our shopping guides walk through the options by age group — product types, absorbency planning, stash sizing, and which products match different needs from newborn through adult.

For babies
Baby cloth diaper guide
Newborn to 5 years — daytime and nighttime systems, covers, inserts, stash sizing, and how to pick the right products for each stage.
Read the guide →
For big kids
Big kid cloth diapers guide
Ages 6–16 — incontinence, bedwetting, and special needs. Pull-on briefs, overnight sets, fit, and how to transition from disposables.
Read the guide →
For adults
Adult cloth diapers guide
A comprehensive guide for adults considering cloth diapers — diaper types, absorbency by output level, fit considerations, and which products work for which situations.
Read the guide →

Get help

If you've worked through the relevant guide and your problem isn't solved, contact us — we're happy to troubleshoot. Include details about your water type, detergent, machine type, and how the problem presents, and we can usually pinpoint what's going wrong.

For questions about product warranty, see our warranty policy. For questions about orders, shipping, or returns, see ordering & shipping.