The big advantage of cloth diapers compared to disposable diapers is that you use them several times. That you can wash them, dry them and just put them back on your child’s bottom. But a cloth diaper does not last forever. How long your reusable diapers last depends on several factors.
It is often said that cloth diapers last several children. In many cases this is true, but it is not a guarantee. "Being usable" is also not the same as "staying beautiful". With cloth diapers that have been intensively washed several times a week for some time, you can expect that the fabric will become paler, that elastics will lose some stretch, that the hook and loop will not be as sturdy anymore and that holes can eventually appear in the outer layer. The absorbent parts often last for years, because they don't have to do much other than absorb. Even with a totally worn exterior and shot elastics, they still absorb moisture. With a well-fitting cover over it, it is still a functional diaper. But they might have lost their beauty along the way.
The life of a reusable diaper depends on several factors:
-The materials used
-The wearable parts
-The maintenance
Prefold; 3 years old. Holes in the fabric.
Used Materials
A reusable diaper always consists of an absorbent part with a water resistant exterior. Both parts are subject to wear. In practice, the water resistant parts often need to be replaced sooner than the absorbent parts. They only consist of one thin layer (in some cases two) and if something happens to it, the covers are often no longer usable. In most cases, the water resistant part of a diaper is made of PUL or TPU. Both are polyurethane layers, with PUL being made using a chemical process and TPU being made using heat. A third option to create a water resistant layer is wool. Wool is also subject to wear, but let's disregard this for now. No PUL or TPU layer is 100% waterproof. The water resistant PUL or TPU layer is printed on the fabric in a very small dotted pattern. You can even see this when you take a closer look at a pair of cloth diaper covers! The space between these dots is hydrophilic, which means that it is moisture absorbent. The more moisture that can get between this membrane, the faster PUL/TPU will break down. The space between the dots mainly depends on the quality of the PUL/TPU. Most types of PUL and TPU can be washed 100 to 200 times, which equates to a lifespan of approximately 1.5 years. Apart from washing that causes wear, urine also affects the PUL/TPU layer. In addition, there are even fungi and bacteria that can break down PUL and TPU. The bacterium Comamonas acidovorans is particularly common. It is found in soil, mud and water in various European countries, including the Netherlands. When washed at 60 degrees Celsius, the bacterium loses 85% of activity. An important reason to never wash colder than 60 degrees.
Buttons One Size cover; 2.5 years old. Damaged PUL layer.
The life of the absorbent portion of the diaper primarily depends on the material used. For example, a diaper made of 100% organic cotton will not last as long as a diaper with a cotton/polyester blend. The higher the polyester content, the more resistant the fabric often is. Hemp diapers are also often very robust and last a long time. Like cotton, bamboo is relatively fragile and is often used in combination with cotton and/or polyester. Research shows that polyester lasts more than 3 years, up to 500 washes. A natural fiber lasts on average 9-12 months, about 100 washes.
The most vulnerable part of fitted diapers is the print. The cheerful print of a diaper is often made of a cotton jersey layer, sewn onto the absorbent part of the diaper. These fabrics are often relatively more prone to wear and often only remain nice-looking for a short time. With diapers that are often washed at 60 degrees, you will first see the fabric fade and eventually even see holes in the tricot outside.
Anavy One Size diaper; 1.5 years old. Worn tricot layer.
Although all textiles wear out with use and washing, wear is more noticeable on diapers with a thin layer of tricot on the outside. It doesn't affect function, but aesthetically it's a shame. If you really dislike a more worn out look, white diapers without a separate exterior are a safer choice. A good example is the Hu-Da bamboo diaper, the Little Lamb bamboo diaper or the TotsBots Bamboozle Ecru.
“There are advantages and disadvantages to natural fiber diapers. Natural fibers and organics are wonderful for absorbency and purity. Cotton, hemp, and bamboo are among the most popular. They have a lower environmental impact in their milling process and biodegrade rather well. Natural fibers are milled with fewer or no chemicals, and feel great against baby's tender skin. They do however wear differently and are not as tolerant of extreme washing conditions as polyester diapers can be.” - GroVia
Wearable Parts
In general, a 'more complex' diaper is more prone to wear than a simpler diaper. After all, the more different parts a diaper has, the more parts can break.
A simple hemp pre-fold has no elastics, no snaps and/or hook and loop, so only the fabric itself can wear out. With fitted diapers with elastics and a closure and often also a size adjusting option at the front, all those parts can break. Elastics will lose some of their elasticity as the diaper ages. The elasticity of elastic decreases quickly as the temperature increases. From about 60 degrees Celsius, the influence of temperature on the decrease in elasticity starts to increase strongly. A dryer gets about 75 degrees Celsius, one of the reasons that using the dryer is not recommended if you want to enjoy your diapers as long as possible.
In addition to the elastics, hook and loop is also subject to wear. The quality of the hook and loop is strongly brand dependent. Hu-Da’s hook and loop diapers are the most reliable hook and loop diapers we know. With many other brands you see the hook and loop deteriorating after a year, whereby the hook and loop eventually no longer works or hardly works anymore.
In that regard, snaps are often a more sustainable choice. They do not wear out, it only happens once at most that a snap detaches from the fabric. However, this is usually covered by the warranty (depending on the brand 3-12 months) and is also very easy and cheap to solve.
Anavy Maxi/Night; 3 years old. Weak elastics and wear of the fabric.
Maintenance
In addition to the above variables, the maintenance of the diapers also plays a major role in the lifespan of cloth diapers. In extreme cases, if used incorrectly or with the wrong washing routine, diapers can start to show wear and tear within a few months, whereas in other cases they might have remained really nice for 1-2 years. So don't underestimate the role of a good, or rather perfect, washing routine. The lifespan of your diapers stands or falls on this.
Here's how your diapers last the longest:
- Store dirty diapers dry, for example in a diaper pail with a mesh laundry bag or wet bag. Wash every 3 days at the latest. In warm weather, take into account an increased chance of scalding and wash a little earlier if necessary. The chance of scalding is less if you do not close the bucket airtight. Ammonia in urine is one of the main causes of accelerated wear and leakage of covers. The longer dirty in the bucket, the greater the chance of this type of problem.
- Always follow our laundry advice. Wash at 60 degrees, first run a cold prewash and make sure you dose the detergent properly. Choose a strong detergent. With Eco detergents, take into account a somewhat weaker washing power and therefore pay extra attention to the dosage. If you have problems, switch to a regular detergent.
- The lower the speed of your washing machine, the friendlier it is for the elastics, among other things. Certain brands indicate a maximum speed of 1000 revolutions per minute for washing covers. Always look at the care label for brand-specific instructions and also view the washing advice on the relevant brand page. However, always maintain 60 degrees for the main wash, even if the manufacturer states otherwise. You do not lose your warranty with this.
- Preferably dry diapers and covers on two lines. Do not use clothespins, this will put too much pressure on the elastics. Drying over two lines is most gentle on the elastics and shortens the drying time. Never place diapers and covers on a direct heat source and watch out for PUL/TPU and wool with bright sun.
- Drying in the dryer is allowed in some cases if you use a cold program. However, this shortens the life of your diapers and is not favorable for the elastics, among other things. If you want your diapers to last as long as possible, it's best not to put them in the dryer.
Also part of good maintenance is having enough diapers. It may be obvious, but a bigger stash will make your diapers last longer. They are more often unused in the closet, are less often dirty in a diaper pail and are washed less often. And so they wear less. If you have 15 diapers in circulation, there is a good chance that you will have to replace a few things within a year. If you have 30 of these in circulation, there is a much greater chance that they will last until potty training of your first child in usable condition. To put it simply, doubling the amount of diapers means doubling the lifespan.
Alvababy charcoal-bamboo inserts; 3 years old. Wear and tear along the edges and thinning fabric.
Sustainable Choices
The fragility of the water resistant layer makes All-In-One (AIO) diapers one of the least durable diapers when it comes to longevity. In an AIO diaper, the absorbent fabric is largely sewn to the water-resistant layer. If that outer layer is no longer working well, it means that the entire diaper is no longer usable.
With pocket diapers, Snap-In-One (SIO) diapers and fitted diapers, you can easily replace the water resistant parts (the covers or empty pocket diapers). You can then continue to use the absorbent parts with new covers/pocket diapers.
Many diaper parts are fairly easy and inexpensive to replace. You can replace shot elastics with new elastics and the hook and loop closure can also be replaced. If a snap comes off your diaper once, you can put a new snap on it with special pliers. If you don't like repairing them or if you don't think the diapers are beautiful or good enough for a second child, consider selling them second hand or giving them away for a small price to a father or mother who can use them very well.
Reusable diapers are already cheaper for one child than disposable diapers. You will have earned back the investment before your child is potty trained. So even if you buy new diapers for your second child, it will still be cheaper than with disposable ones. If you really want to save as much as possible, accept that the diapers for your second (third and sometimes even fourth!) child are less nice looking. Replace the elastics and hook and loop if necessary and they will last for a few more years!
Even without repair, worn diapers are often still usable. A fitted diaper without elastics can still be used, as long as the cover is well placed and closed securely. Stool will then still remain inside the cover. If the edges of the fitted diaper fold inward a bit at the legs, most of it will still remain inside the diaper. If the hook and loop stops working and you don't want to replace it, you can close the diaper by simply putting a snug fitting cover over it, or by using a diaper fastener.
Diapers with a snap closure are the most durable option when it comes to wear and tear. If you go for a hook and loop diaper, then the hook and loop diapers by Hu-Da are a good choice. If longevity is one of the most important criteria for your perfect diaper, consider buying a diaper that contains polyester.
TotsBots Bamboozle; 8 months old. The hook and loop closure is deteriorating.
Adjust Your Expectations
On average, diapers are washed every 2.5 days. That is 146 washes per year. Dutch children are on average potty trained at 3.3 years. By that time, your diapers have already been washed 482 times. If your child is potty trained before (not unusual when you use cloth diapers), say at the age of 2.5, then you have washed the diapers 365 times. Imagine if we were talking about your favorite shirt. You probably wash it less than once a week. We would be talking about a period of 7 years, at least. Your shirt will probably no longer be at its best by then. Faded, some of its shape will be lost and most likely some holes are showing up here and there, if it isn't already in the kitchen cupboard as a cleaning cloth. For the sake of convenience, we do not take into account the effect of urine on your favorite shirt, because for a really good comparison you would have to soak it in the urine for a few days before every 60 degrees wash. And then a t-shirt does not even have elastics and also no hook and loop closure. So don't expect the unachievable. Cloth diapers are reusable, but not indestructible.
“How you treat your nappies is entirely up to you but the most important thing is to have realistic expectations, as I said earlier modern cloth nappies are reusable not indestructible so a little TLC does go a long way.” - Vicky, Bubblebubs
Petit Lulu One Size; 6 years old. Tricot layer is gone, closure still works.
Written by Ilka, owner Nappy's.nl
