Most machines have 3 settings. Cold, warm or hot….and as cloth
diapering guru’s you should be pretty familiar with the basic cloth
diaper wash routine.
Do a rinse on cold, a wash on hot, and then
another rinse on cold, but there are some variables even in that. First
off, what is your water heater set at? This can have a direct effect on
how clean your diapers are. Most bacteria die when the water reaches a
temp of 130-140 degrees (and many detergent ingredients react faster in
this temp range), so an adjustment in your water heater can make a big
difference. Most diaper manufacturers warn against temps of 150 and over
when PUL is involved, so keep your water heater set at around 130 for
day to day washings. Note: It will usually come out of the tap about 10 degrees cooler.
Disclaimer:
Always check with your diaper manufacturer regarding recommended wash
procedure and temperature thresholds, especially when PUL/TPU is
involved.
Temperature can also play a part when it comes to
stains. Did you know that the best way to treat a stain is by rinsing
it out at the same temperature that the stain was created? So leave the
cold rinsing for ice cream stains, and move the dial to warm for poop
stains. They were created at 98.6 after all!