One of the perks of cloth diapers is that you can use them over and over again, saving lots of money and lessening the amount of waste you generate in the process.

Another perk is that ideally, you can use your cloth diapers for multiple children, compounding the savings!

However, it is important to emphasize that cloth diapers are NOT indestructible. They are just as prone to wear and tear as any piece of clothing.

In fact, they’re probably prone to MORE wear and tear.

Think about this: Most people have enough cloth diapers for 2-3 day washing. That means you are using and washing cloth diapers anywhere from 2-3 times a week…the same cloth diapers are getting used and washed very frequently.

Think about your favorite shirt and how long you have had it. How often do you wear it and how often do you wash it?
hanging-shirts

Most of us probably wear our favorite clothes once a week or once every 2 weeks. We hope most clothes will last a couple of years.

If we want clothes to last longer, we invest in high-quality brands that we know are made well to withstand the wear and tear over time.

But are we surprised if a shirt we love starts to develop signs of wear after two years? Not really. Especially if we opted for a cheap brand.

However, some people expect a cloth diaper (which is washed and used anywhere from 3-6 times more often than your favorite shirt) to somehow be indestructible and have a 10+ year lifespan because that is the impression that was made on them when they initially invested in cloth diapers.

Don’t get me wrong–you can definitely use your cloth diapers on more than one child. I have! I have been using the same cloth diapers for almost 5 years now (though I have added new ones to my stash over time).

My oldest didn’t potty train until after age 3 and my kids are just about 3 years apart, so many of my diapers have had constant use and washing 2-3 times a week for 5 years.

However, my diapers definitely started showing wear and tear at the 3-year mark, and after 5 years, I am finding I have some diaper shells that are ready to be retired (or at least will require some repair, like replacing elastics, if I wish to continue using them).

I would say my cloth diaper use was average, and maybe we were slightly hard on them. I think there are things I could have done to prolong their lives more, but overall I’m pleased with how long they have lasted.

Have Realistic Expectations

Before I explain how to best care for cloth diapers for longevity, I just want to reiterate that having realistic expectations is important.

No, your diaper was not poor quality if some elastics started to relax after a couple of years. No, it’s not a junky brand if you had to repair it after a reasonable amount of time.

Remember, diapers are essentially clothes. You need to treat them with care to make them last, just like any other article of clothing you own. But even with really gentle care, clothes that get washed so frequently are prone to some wear and tear.

But even if the elastics start to wear out or whatever other problem arises after a couple of years, more than likely they are still usable!

They may just be better for older babies/toddlers or other specific situations, but it’s very unlikely they need to be thrown in the garbage or recycled. You may also be able to do some simple repairs and they will be as good as new.

All that aside, here are some ways to make your cloth diapers last as long as possible.

1. Carefully Consider Your Diaper Materials

cotton-prefolds

Natural materials have the benefit of not losing any absorbency over the years with frequent use. Microfiber, on the other hand, loses some absorbency over time. Natural fibers will likely retain their same levels of absorbency if cared for well.

However, natural fibers also have the possibility of getting holes and rips with extended use. My pocket diapers made from synthetic materials (microsuede or fleece barrier with microfiber inserts) have not gotten a single hole over the last 5+ years.

Almost all diapers come with an outer layer of PUL or TPU on the outside as the waterproof layer. PUL is definitely prone to wear and tear if not adequately cared for. PUL can delaminate and allow liquid to penetrate through it if washed or dried in high temps.

One way to make diapers last is to choose a system like pockets, all-in-twos or prefolds & covers.

Why? Because having a multi-piece diaper system means that when something starts to wear out, you can just replace that one part rather than a whole diaper.

With all-in-twos and prefolds/covers, you can use the covers multiple times before tossing them in the washing bin, which means you go through less covers and they get washed less often, which helps their lifespan.

If an all-in-one wears out, you’re down an entire diaper. But if you use all-in-twos and a cotton insert starts developing holes, you can just use a different insert in that cover.

You are down an insert, but you may or may not need to replace it depending on your stash. And if you do decide to replace it, it is much cheaper.

Separate pieces will help you likely be able to retain the quality of your natural fiber inserts/prefolds for many, many years. You can take advantage of the synthetic materials for where it makes sense to do so, and still choose natural materials for absorbency if that is your desire.

2. Choose A Quality Detergent & Reasonable Wash Routine

powder-laundry-detergentChoose a high-quality laundry detergent that gets your diapers clean with the least amount of wash cycles possible.

Tide Original is a popular choice because it can clean diapers very well the first time. Other detergent choices may have you running more cycles per load, or choosing heavier-duty cycle options. Both of those things have the potential to wear your diapers out faster.

While we don’t want to wash diapers on the “delicate” option (not enough agitation), there is a reason why it exists! Some articles of clothing can wear out much faster with too much agitation. Agitation is essential for getting cloth diapers clean, but that doesn’t mean they are immune to the impact that may have over time.

All that said, having a good quality detergent will enable you to have a reasonable wash routine without too many extra cycles. That will help protect your diapers over time (and save water!)

It will also prevent the need for extras like vinegar and bleach. Vinegar and bleach can be used on diapers at times to fix issues, but they can be hard on the diapers, too. Using a good detergent will minimize the need for any extra substances to be used on your diapers.

3. Do Not Soak Your Diapers

Soaking cloth diapers after use until the next wash is a practice that used to be pretty common. It is not really recommended anymore with modern cloth diapers.

First of all, it’s generally unsanitary.

Second, it’s an unnecessary mess to worry about and clean up. The last thing you need is to create extra work for yourself.

Third, it is very hard on modern cloth diaper materials. It can be hard on the PUL/TPU and the elastics. For the long-term health of your diapers, store them in a dry pail in between washes.

4. Avoid the Dryer

While it is safe to use the dryer on LOW heat for most cloth diapers, that does have the potential to wear out the PUL and elastics over the course of a couple years. Hang drying your diapers may help prolong their lifespan.

However, you do need to make sure you hang dry diaper materials properly. Many people recommend hanging “hot dog style” because it does not put pressure on the elastics.

If you purchase a system like all-in-twos or prefolds & covers, you can put the inserts in the dryer (the dryer should not negatively impact the natural materials) and hang dry the covers.

5. Purchase a Larger Diaper Stash

cloth-diaper-stash

If you have more diapers to cycle through, you can do laundry less often, which will also help your diapers hold up better over time. It also saves water and electricity to wash less often. Depending on what style of diaper you are using, you could get 5+ days in one load.

Now, that will not work for ALL diapers. Some diapers are much bulkier and will take up more space in your washing machine. But it could definitely work out for an all-in-two system!

6. Brand Matters

Just as buying high-quality clothes makes them last longer, buying a better brand of cloth diapers will help with longevity, as well. It doesn’t mean these higher quality diapers are immune (because it’s still lots of heavy use!), but they will be able to withstand a little more.

broken-alvaI have seen people in cloth diaper support groups saying they regret purchases of higher-end brands because they feel like Alvas (or other Cheapies) work just as well. It’s hard to argue against people’s personal experiences.

However, I have noticed that many people that say this have not necessarily been cloth diapering for that long (one year or less).

Alva diapers do work, and they are a fabulous option for people on a budget. Same with other cheapies.

I’m not saying don’t buy Alvas if that’s what your budget requires, but I am saying you should be prepared to do some repairs on them, and maybe even purchase more of them down the line.

There is nothing wrong with that as long as that is your expectation. But if you want your Alvas to last 5 or 6 years without any sort of repair needed, you will be disappointed. Here you can see my experience with Alvas–again, I think they’re a great budget option!

But you’re not going to get several years of use with no repairs out of them. (I will commend Alva for their elastics, though. I feel like their elastics really are great and withstand heavy use better than many other brands).

My bumGenius diapers have not needed any repairs in almost 5 years, though the elastic is looser now. My Alvas didn’t even make it a year until they needed to be repaired, and now I need to have a sewing day and repair many of them again. Which brings me to #6…

7. Be Willing To Do Repairs

If you want something to last a long time, you need to be willing to keep up with maintenance, including mending them when necessary. If you notice a seam starting to give out, reinforce it or stitch it back up before the problem gets worse.

Elastics can be replaced on diapers relatively easily, too. You can buy replacement elastic online. Here is a quick tutorial I found on YouTube for putting new elastics in:

It says 5 minutes, so I’m sure that would be 60 minutes for me. 🙂 I have relied on my mom to help me repair diapers in the past, but I have a major goal of becoming more handy with a needle and thread/sewing machine.

Can Cloth Diapers Last Through Multiple Kids?

In short, definitely! But:

If you follow my advice, you should have no problem making your diaper stash last for several years.

What brand of cloth diaper has held up well for you over the years? Let me know in the comments!