One of the things we love most about cloth diapers is how they just keep giving – you can buy them once, and they can be used again and again—oftentimes on multiple babies!

But after countless washes and diaper changes, you might start to wonder: Are signs of wear normal? Will the same cloth diapers that worked for baby #1 work for baby #2 and 3? And how do you know when it’s time to retire your diapers? (and what do you do with cloth diapers when you’re done with them anyway??)

In this post, we’ll answer all your questions about cloth diaper longevity, from how to care for them to keep them in tip-top shape, to knowing when it’s time to repurpose or retire them. With the right knowledge, you can feel good about every use and every phase of your cloth diaper journey!

While no cloth diaper lasts forever* Here's what we know from our community: when cared for per our instructions, the vast majority of Esembly families use their diapers for 2-3 babies. (Fun fact: several mamas on our team have also diapered their babies with the same Esembly diapers! You can also check out this post on our Instagram where several Esembly parents chimed in with their experiences, or explore hundreds of testimonials here on our website).

We come from an industrial laundry background , so when designing our cloth diapers we put our chosen materials through the wringer before approving them. All of our textiles can withstand multiple hot water, heavy duty cycles and tumbles in a hot dryer! They’re made to be low-maintenance and fit right into your busy life.

*The fact that cloth diapers don’t last forever is one of the many reasons they are more kind to our planet! Unlike disposable diapers that will sit unchanged and untouched for hundreds of years in a landfill, our organic cotton fitted diapers will, eventually, break down due the biodegradable nature of a natural fiber like organic cotton. But not to worry, with proper care you’ll get plenty of use out of them long before they’re ready to return to mother earth!

Our super soft Inners (aka fitted diapers) are made from 100% organic cotton. We love organic cotton because it’s better for your baby’s skin, but also because it benefits the land where the cotton is grown and the people who farm it. And beyond this, organic cotton washes up beautifully to be reused over and over again, getting softer and more absorbent with every wash.

However, organic cotton (and other natural fibers like linen, bamboo, hemp, silk) are at the mercy of both the water quality (pH, hardness, temperature) and the machine functionality.

In perfect conditions—soft, pH-neutral water and gentle-yet-effective agitation—your diapers might stay in "like new" condition well into your third child’s use. But if you have less ideal conditions, you may start to see signs of wear sooner.

We share a detailed review of our best tips for helping your diapers live their longest (and healthiest) lives in this blog post, but here’s a simplified list of some important care factors to consider:

1. Choose the right detergent
   Pick a clean-rinsing, fragrance-free detergent (like our Washing Powder ) and be sure to stick to our recommended wash routine . Skip detergents like Dreft – those sneaky softeners coat fibers and lead to early wear.

2. Skincare matters!
   Our Everyday Balm and Rash Relief Cream are cloth-diaper safe, but petroleum or high-zinc creams? Not so much. These ingredients will coat the fibers, which weakens them overtime, and worse – they’ll cause your diapers to lose their absorbent properties! (Check out this blog post for more on what skincare ingredients to avoid)

3. Keep water temps in check
   You’ll need to avoid ultra-hot cycles (>140°F) – they’re too intense for the cotton, elastics, and waterproof fabrics. So steer clear of settings like "Sanitize", "Allergen", or Extra Hot.

4. Bleach with care
   Only use bleach per our Optional Refresh instructions, and always pour it in the dispenser (never directly on diapers—it’s corrosive when not diluted properly and will burn holes in your diapers 😬) If you do choose to experiment with a non-chlorine bleach (like oxygenated bleach, peroxide bleach, oxy-boost), be sure to follow the directions closely. These products are very alkaline (high pH) and can lead to premature degradation of the cotton (holes, tears) and diaper rash if not used and rinsed properly. So we don’t recommend using them regularly.

5. Check on your water chemistry
   Hard water minerals (like iron, magnesium, and calcium) can stress and wear down fibers over time. If you suspect your water is hard, we recommend checking out this blog post, and possibly exploring adding a water softener like Borax or Calgon to your washing routine.

6. Skip soaking & spraying
   We aren't big fans of spraying. (Mostly because it's messy!) But also because wetting the diapers and then letting them sit in the bag or pail until laundry day is really akin to soaking (which is something we NEVER recommend doing) In our experience, we've seen it lead to various issues like odor build-up, mold, or premature degradation of the fabric. (causing holes and tearing sooner) Happily, it isn’t necessary! Check out this blog post to learn what to do instead.

The bottom line? A solid care routine = longer-lasting diapers. Master diaper washing with our Complete Guide to Washing your Cloth Diapers at Home: The Esembly Way

In terms of function, it’s absolutely okay to continue using diapers that have natural fiber wear holes or tearing. Our best advice is that as long as you can comfortably fasten them on your babe, they’re okay to continue using. Most fabric holes and signs of wear should not impact performance whatsoever.

Now if you’ve been using them for years and years and they’re starting to look a little straggly or you’re having trouble fastening them on your baby.. this might be a good time to retire them. Which brings us right to our next section…

If your diapers are no longer in resellable or reusable condition, it’s time to give them a sustainable send-off through recycling! Here’s how:

• Local Recycling: Search “textile recycling near me” for the closest drop-off location.

• Mail-In Option: Send them to our friends at Green Tree Textiles (address below), who will happily accept all Esembly textiles (Inners, Outers, etc) for recycling – no matter how well-worn!

Green Tree Textiles

1375 Lafayette Ave.

Bronx, NY 10475

Together, we can keep textiles out of landfills and close the loop responsibly. ♻️