Ecological and Washable Cloth Diapers

Why use cloth diapers?

The production and transportation of cloth diapers consume fewer natural resources than short-lifespan disposable diapers. Cloth diapers have a long life and can be used with several children and resold. By using cloth diapers, you reduce the amount of household waste. According to the parents who use cloth diapers, doing laundry is easier than carrying diaper packets from the store to home and then to the trash. Cloth diapers reduce the chemical load on the child's skin and are more suitable for many babies than disposable diapers.

What kind of absorbent inserts are there?

The materials of the absorbent inserts used in diapers affect the characteristics of absorbancy, and they can be divided into slow and fast absorbency. The fast one absorbs the pee quickly and also passes it on to the fibers of the insert. The slow type absorbs the moisture slower, so the moisture also spreads around more on the insert surface. Fast-absorbing materials include e.g. cotton and microfiber. Slow-absorbing materials include e.g. hemp, linen, and wool. Bamboo is somewhere between fast and slow in terms of the speed of absorption. Inserts can also have different fiber blends, such as bamboo and hemp (bamboo hemp prefold) or hemp and cotton (hemp booster), in which case the same insert has the ability to absorb pee quickly, but also retain moisture throughout the material.

How many diapers do I need to buy?

You can try cloth diapering with just one diaper at the start. But for full-time cloth diapering you might need approximately 25 diapers. A slightly smaller amount is enough for an older child, about 18 diapers. Download our legendary cloth diaper user guide for free, where you will find answers to many questions.

Why does the diaper leak?

If the cloth diaper leaks, the first thing you should check is that the moisture barrier, i.e. the lamination of the cover fabric (pul), is intact and that the rubber bands hold well, meaning that the diaper fits snugly around the legs and waist. Next, you should check that the diaper is the right size and that the insert is not too thick or wide so that the insert does not create a bulk underneath the thigh rubber bands lifting the protective layer off its place.

If the insert is soaking wet when the diaper leaks, you will need to add more inserts or change the diaper more often. If the insert is only partially wet when the diaper leaks, you can try switching up the order of the inserts to see if that helps. If the insert is dry when the diaper leaks, the layer between the insert and the diaper itself (the inner surface of the cloth diaper) may be blocked. For example, oils, soap, and zeolite (used in washing detergents) can block surface materials made of dry liners or Coolmax. Hand washing using dishwashing soap will help unclog the fibers.

How are cloth diapers stored, washed, and dried?

Muksut® cloth diapers can be washed with other laundry and do not need to be washed daily. Store soiled diapers in an airy laundry basket or laundry bag before washing. Close the velcro flaps carefully before washing the diaper by pressing them to the corresponding pieces on the wings of the diaper. This way the velcro hooks don’t interfere with other textiles or collect lint.

In general, cloth diapers are washed at 60 degrees Celsius, but our materials can also withstand occasional hotter temperatures such as 95 degrees Celsius wash. Cloth diapers should not be washed in full loads but with some space inside, so that the diapers get properly washed. You can add a few drops of household vinegar or a few drops of tea tree oil to the rinse water, disinfect the diaper laundry and soften it, and bring a fresh, clean aroma to the laundry.

It is not recommended to use fabric softeners with cloth diapers, as it clogs the fibers of the fabric and thus weaken the absorbent capacity of the diaper. We also recommend washing Muksut® diapers with detergents containing less than 5% soap. Too much soap weakens the diaper's absorbency and is not suitable for dry liners especially.

What types of diapers are there?

There are different types of cloth diapers, and by experimenting you will find the best option for you and your child. Myllymuksut cloth diaper sizes: Nb / 2-5 kg, S-M / 5-10 kg, L-XL / 10-15 kg

All-In-One diaper (AIO)

A-I-O is an easy-to-use diaper with everything you need in one package: the cover, absorbent layers, and the material, that wicks away moisture from the skin. For washing and fast drying, just pull out the sewn-in insert. The all-in-one diaper does not need to be filled separately, it is ready to use as is. If there is a need for additional inserts, for example during night use, extra inserts can be added if necessary. We recommend a nice thin and highly absorbent hemp booster for addition if one is needed.

Pocket diaper

A pocket diaper has a waterproof cover and a moisture-transferring surface that comes against the skin. Separate absorbent inserts of your choice are placed within the empty space, or the ”pocket” between the cover and the inner fabric. The pocket diaper is filled from the back opening, placing the insert all the way to the front of the diaper pocket. Pre-folded inserts such as bamboo hemp prefold, striped bamboo prefold, and hemp prefold, are suitable inserts for pocket diapers. The pre-folds are removed from the pocket during washing and drying to ensure proper washing results and fast drying time.

Fitted diaper

The fitted, inner diaper is a diaper-shaped absorbent layer that stays in shape on the baby under a pul-cover or wool cover diaper or woolen diaper pants. Our fitted diaper has a pocket at the back, where you can place additional inserts, such as hemp inserts, if necessary. A fitted diaper is basically a diaper without a waterproof diaper cover, which you add separately.

Diaper cover

A diaper cover can be made of a pul (polyurethane laminated) fabric developed for diaper use, a wool cover diaper, or wool diaper pants. The diaper cover is washed only when necessary. Pul covers dry very quickly. Wool diapers or wool pants rarely need washing, as fresh air cleans them enough for next use unless there are solid stains on them. When necessary, wool covers or wool pants can be hand washed or machine washed in 30 degrees wool wash, and treated with lanolin (wool grease works as a moisture blocker). To conclude, a diaper cover is a separate waterproof layer of the diaper without the inner absorbent material of your choice and is usually worn with a fitted diaper.

Diaper pants

A pant diaper is a narrower diaper for a walking child. It has a pocket and less insert than the AIO. During naps, for example, you can easily add an extra insert through the back pocket opening. We recommend Muksut® hemp insert for booster, which stays in place even with very active children.

Potty training pants

For a child in the process of learning how to use the potty, the training pants are a great option. The potty training pants are somewhere between a diaper and underwear. The cotton layer inside feels wet against the skin, so the child learns to recognize the effect of peeing. The outer shell is a waterproof pul layer, but the minimal absorbent material inside does not hold as much pee as a regular diaper does. It is suitable for little leaks and accidents, but most likely shouldn’t be worn during naps or nights to ensure a dry bed.

Inserts and dry liners

The foldable insert part is usually a rectangular or square insert, made of absorbent materials. It is usually folded into three parts in the cloth diaper. Additional booster inserts are usually thinner and sewn into a shape, which is used as additional boosters for the prefold inserts and gauzes. Check out our selection here. A dry liner does not have absorbent quality, it is just a thin liner that can be placed between the diaper and the child’s skin in order to keep the skin feeling as dry as possible for example if the skin is irritated.

Kodin kestot ry

Kodin kestot ry is a nationwide organization in Finland that promotes cloth diaper awareness and other washable/reusable zero-waste home products. The association, which operates on a volunteer basis, organizes various events and the association's staff is ready to help and support you in any of your needs.

Finnish maternity package

Muksut AIO, pocket diaper, and bamboo hemp folds are also familiar from the different maternity packages of the past years. The high-quality Muksut diapers loved by parents have been passed down in families from one child to another.

Can we help you?

The cloth diaper jungle can seem difficult to a beginner. We are here for you and you can always ask us for help with everything related to diapers. We have accumulated twenty years of experience in cloth diapers and the best materials for manufacturing them. We are one of the pioneers in the field and have been able to develop the best and safest materials that have been tested and are safe to use against the skin.

Myllymuksut - An expert in disposable diapers since 2004!