Cloth diaper myths? We're here to bust them. And there's one myth in particular about cloth diaper covers that we see folks go along with – whether they're just starting out or even some that have been cloth diapering for a while! So what's the myth?

That you have to hang-dry your cloth diaper covers to keep them in good shape. Would you be surprised to learn this is not true for your Esembly Outers (aka cloth diaper covers)? 👀

Today, we're sharing everything you need to know about our cloth diaper covers – how to wash them, dry them, and care for them so they live their longest (and "healthiest") lives. And, of course, we can't pass up an opportunity to chat about what makes our Esembly Outers such amazing, standout performers compared to the competition.

In this post we are going to discuss how to dry your diaper covers as well as PFAS (a hot button topic in the news lately).

We know many cloth diaper brands recommend air-drying their covers to “protect” the fabric and elastics. But here’s the thing: Esembly Outers aren’t like other diaper covers. Our fabrics were specifically chosen and tested to withstand multiple hot heavy-duty washes and machine drying – over and over again.

We come from a diaper laundry service background (we were laundering over 15,000 diapers a week for about a decade prior to launching Esembly!). So our entire system was developed with industrial laundering in mind. While some cloth diapers or cloth diaper covers are designed to be "gentle hand-washed," we created diapers to survive — and thrive — through:

• Multiple weekly washes (so you can use them again and again)

• Hot water cycles (for superior cleaning)

• Machine drying (for convenience and better performance)

This means no babying your diaper covers — just simple, effective care that fits into your busy life.

Step 1 : Once you’ve washed your diapers per our instructions , transfer them to the dryer.

Step 2 : To expedite dry time, be sure to shake open your Inners and Outers so they aren't all balled up. If you're washing and drying Day Bags , Ditty Bags, or Pail Pouches, check that no washer water is puddled up inside the bag (and if it is, dump it out prior to placing the bag in the dryer).

Step 3 : If your dryer is gas, the best setting to use is Timed Dry (on med-high heat) for 55-65 minutes. If you're using an electric dryer (which tends to not get as hot as gas) you'll want to use Timed Dry (on high heat) for 65-75 minutes.

Our Outers are made from a GRS-certified upcycled polyknit (derived from recycled plastic bottles! We’re literally turning trash into treasure ✨) with a thin, durable TPU laminate. This fabric is:

• Hydrophobic (naturally repels water)

• Breathable (thanks to microscopic holes that allow heat and vapor to escape — making our  Inner  +  Outer  combo even more “breathable” than a traditional disposable, which is made of plastic film!) 

• OEKO-TEX certified (free from harmful chemicals like BPA, PVC, and phthalates)
  

Are Esembly Outer Diaper Covers PFAS-Free?

They sure are! In addition to being made of recycled plastic bottles, something that really sets our Outers apart is the DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment that gives our cloth diaper covers their moisture resistance. You see, most DWRs on the market rely on PFAS — a category of “forever chemicals” that don’t break down in the environment and have been linked to serious health and environmental concerns. If you’ve read anything about PFAS, you know they’re bad news — especially for babies.

We’re thrilled to report that our cloth diaper covers are 100% PFAS-free — a milestone we’re incredibly proud of. We spent years developing and testing this proprietary formula, knowing it needed to stand up to the frequent, high-heat washes that come with cloth diapering. It wasn’t easy, but the extra effort was worth it to ensure our covers stay waterproof wash after wash — without relying on harmful chemicals.

Unlike some diaper covers that may break down in a hot dryer, Esembly Outers actually thrive with heat. Our PFAS-free DWR treatment is heat-activated — meaning a quick spin in the dryer helps revive and strengthen its water-repellent performance. This reactivation process helps your covers stay leak-resistant longer, even after countless wash + dry cycles.

So, while air-drying won’t hurt your Outers, machine drying is the best way to keep them performing their best.

While our Inners do need to be laundered each time they’re soiled, the Outers can be reused* multiple times before laundering (unless there’s a poop!) So you’ll notice you need less Outers on hand than Inners.

For your Size 1 stash (birth to ~17 lbs) we'd recommend:

• 6 Size 1 Outers

• And 24 Size 1 Inners (8 3-Packs of Size 1 Inners)

Then when your baby is approaching the end of the weight range, we'd recommend grabbing your Size 2s (about 18 lbs - potty training)!

For your Size 2 stash (~18 lbs & up) we'd recommend:

• 5 Size 2 Outers

• 21 Size 2 Inners (7 3-Packs of Size 2 Inners)

*While it's perfectly fine to reuse the Outers , we do suggest alternating them. So when you change your baby's diaper, remove the Outer and set it aside to dry (no need to rinse it!), putting on a fresh Outer over a clean Inner . Then, with the next diaper change, switch back to the first Outer (or a different one if the first isn't dry enough yet), and so on and so forth. However, if any poop gets on the Outer, it will need to go straight in the pail/bag till laundry day. And you want to make sure that you're washing every 2-3 days max

Be sure to check our handy quiz for more support on how many diapers you’ll need in your stash, as well as this blog post !