We know a lot of folks feel hesitant about using chlorine bleach with their cloth diapers – usually because of worries about fading or fabric damage. But when used properly (and sparingly!), chlorine bleach can help give your diapers a true “reset” – zapping odors and bacteria so everything smells fresh and performs its best.

In our experience – including years running a professional cloth-diaper laundry service – we’ve found that a small amount of chlorine bleach is the safest, easiest, and most effective tool for giving your diapers an occasional deep clean and sanitize.

A helpful reframe we like to use? Think of it as giving your diapers a dip in a public pool! 🏊‍♀️ You really don’t need much chlorine bleach to get the job done!

When your diapers need a refresh, we recommend adding 3 - 4 ounces of chlorine bleach to the bleach dispenser of your machine during the second heavy duty cycle. We recommend using a fresh/newer bottle (bleach loses its potency rather quickly after it’s been opened) of Original Clorox formula, as we’ve seen the original formula perform better than splashless or scented varieties. You can do this weekly, monthly, or not at all if you wish to avoid chlorine bleach altogether! It’s why we call it the “Optional Refresh.” Like this, (If you aren’t familiar with Cloth Diaper Laundry 101 yet, be sure to check out this blog post so you’re up to speed on general wash routine and what kind of detergent to use!)

Cycle 1 

(business as usual here!)

Cycle: Normal

Temp: Warm

Detergent: 1 scoop Washing Powder sprinkled right on top of your diapers // measure for a “normal” load

Cycle 2

Cycle: Heavy Duty

Temp: Hot

Detergent: 2 scoops Washing Powder sprinkled right on top of your diapers // measure for a “heavy duty” load

Optional Refresh: add 4 oz of regular chlorine bleach to the bleach dispenser of your machine as needed/desired

Bonus: All Esembly textiles are colorfast (Outers, Pail Pouch, Day Bags, and Ditty Bags, etc) – so rest assured, they will not be lightened by bleach if you choose to include them in the Optional Refresh.

You may have seen “diaper stripping” routines calling for a “bleach soak” – we would not recommend this, as this kind of soaking weakens the natural fibers and will most likely cause premature breaks and tears. We talk all about this, and other cloth diaper “stripping” misconceptions, in this blog post: What Is Cloth Diaper Stripping and Do I Need to Do It?

If you’re using the Optional Refresh to treat stubborn stains, it’s worth noting that a little “diaper art” can be perfectly normal! Some babies stain more than others for reasons we talk about in this blog post, but as long as you’re only using  cloth friendly creams, and are washing as  per the instructions, it’s generally not an indication of cleanliness. When in doubt, the nose knows – you should be able to take a good sniff of the diapers and have them smelling fresh and neutral!

If stains are bugging you cosmetically, go ahead and do a Refresh! That small dose of chlorine bleach will help brighten things up beautifully. Or, you can also explore natural sun bleach by laying your freshly washed diapers out to dry in the sunshine. The sun’s rays are remarkably effective at zapping stubborn stains!

If your washer doesn’t have a built-in bleach dispenser, no worries! You can still safely do an Optional Refresh. Simply wait until the washer drum has filled completely with water for Cycle 2, then add your 3- 4 ounces of chlorine bleach directly into the water.

This step is important because it allows the bleach to dilute properly before coming into contact with your diapers. Undiluted bleach is incredibly corrosive and will likely cause holes if it comes in contact with your diapers.

Letting the drum fill with water first ensures the bleach disperses evenly and gently, giving you all the disinfecting benefits without any of the fiber damage.

(And if you’re unsure whether your machine has a dispenser, take a quick peek inside! On some top-loading machines, the bleach compartment can be easy to miss, tucked into one of the corners.)

Generally speaking, chlorine-free bleach is OK, but note that oxygenated bleach boosters have a fairly strong alkali, so we would suggest avoiding using them regularly.

That said, for the purpose of a "refresh,” adding 4 ounces of chlorine bleach to the wash (per our Optional Refresh instructions) really is the best and easiest way to disinfect your diapers and zap any lingering odors or ammonia. (Non-chlorinated bleach might help kick back staining - though not as effectively as chlorinated bleach - but it won't disinfect.)

If you do choose to experiment with a non-chlorine bleach, 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.

Unfortunately, white vinegar isn’t a suitable alternative for the disinfecting power of chlorine bleach – but we do love it as a natural fabric softener!

You can add ½–⅔ cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser during Cycle 2 to help naturally soften fabrics and keep them feeling fresh.

Just be sure never to mix chlorine bleach and white vinegar in the same cycle, as combining the two can create harmful fumes. (so if you want to do the Optional Refresh anduse white vinegar, move the chlorine bleach to Cycle 1, and continue with the white vinegar in Cycle 2)

Bleach doesn’t have to be the villain of your laundry story. When used properly, it can be a powerful tool for keeping your cloth diapers hygienic, fresh, and long-lasting.

So next time your stash needs a little extra love, don’t be afraid to reach for the bleach. A few ounces go a long way toward happy bums and healthy diapers!