Most of the time I never have to worry about stains. When Paisley’s diapers do have them a little Oxyclean does the job. But for those really bad poopies that leave major stains what do you do?
I am not completely opposed to using bleach but obviously it is a last resort.
Here are some stain vanishing tips:
1) Oxyclean soak. Fill your washing basin with a small load of water, add 1 scoop of Oxyclean and put in the stained diapers. If your machine has a soak setting use that. If not set it to wash and when it fills stop the machine.
2) Detergent Paste. My favorite detergent Crunchy Clean recommends making a paste of water and detergent and putting it on the stain.
3) Peroxide. Pour 1/4 cup of peroxide in the wash. Peroxide is my favorite. (for more peroxide uses read this blog: Peroxide not Bleach)
4) Sunshine. The most natural stain remover. I have seen dark, almost black stains bleached out with the sun. As soon as your diapers are finished washing take them outside and lay them (or hang) in the sun. I leave them all day because I usually forget about them. Drying your diapers outside leaves them feeling crunchy but tossing them in the dryer for 10 minutes will help. You can also rewash them with a little fabric softener in the rinse cycle to return them to being soft.
5) Bleach. When all else fails, add 1/4 cup bleach to the load after it has started agitating. I would always do a second rinse when using bleach.
If you still have stains after doing all of these steps then you’re probably stuck with the eyesore. Yes, it decreases resell value but function is in no way compromised 
December 15, 2012 at 6:44 pm
I use Charlie Banana AIOs and have different colors. I’m afraid to us bleach since it will discolor the diapers. Can I still use Oxyclean? And will the sun fade the colors?
December 17, 2012 at 12:24 am
bleach won’t discolor the diapers. just don’t pour it on top of the diapers
June 7, 2010 at 9:36 am
I have recently started using the bum genius organic AIOs on my 2 month old. He is exclusively breast fed. We have hard water, and already I am having stains that are not going away. I have tried all of the above suggestions, and I sitll have stains. Is it the hard water that is causing my problem? I would like to come up with a solution that involves something I could do with every wash, since this will probably be a continuing problem. Is there something special I should be using or doing because I have hard water?
June 7, 2010 at 10:28 am
For hard water you will want to use a detergent that will break up the minerals that will cause build up in your diapers. Clean B and Rockin Green are two wahm detergents good at this. I have hard water here. My bum genius org. aios have stains as well but they’ve never been a concern to me. On the occasion that I use bleach I notice that they go away.
April 26, 2010 at 7:00 pm
I just discovered your blog and love it! Thank you for all the helpful, well-written advice. I have what is probably a ridiculous question about the Oxyclean….do you think it matters if it is regular Oxyclean or “free” Oxyclean? Also, I have a front-loading washing maching…if I were to do a soak with the Oxyclean, as you suggest, do you just put the Oxyclean straight into the washing machine with the diapers? Or should I put it into the detergent dispenser? Thanks for your help!
April 26, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Bethany, I don’t yet have a (it’s being delivered on the 3rd) so my experience is limited to an old-school TL. Having said that, you may just soak them in a big pail/small trash can then lay them to dry in the sun.
October 26, 2009 at 8:59 am
Hey Autumn! What type of Oxyclean do you use? I have seen sprays and powders and a baby version (I think, but I don’t remember where!). I bought some used Fuzzi Bunz and they are pretty stained. I have washed like usual and sunned for THREE days, and no real difference. Any advice would be really appreciated! By the way, I love your blog, and enjoy all the advice and tips you offer, and have passed your site on to some other mamas trying to get into cloth diapering. Thanks!
October 26, 2009 at 11:25 am
Abby, I’ve used the Oxy Clean brand and the one from the Dollar General. I have heard the baby oxiclean is better to use. We have it at our Walmart.
I would wash the FB with bleach and rinse a lot.
June 1, 2008 at 3:28 am
I’m glad you posted this. I hate scrubbing everytime one of the boys poops. I started using oxyclean in my cycle and it seems to be working well. Sometimes it leaves a little staining, but I think a soak would help. Thanks for your tried and true methods…it will save me a lot of time.
September 9, 2012 at 9:16 am
Do you use a diaper liner between the diaper and the baby? If not I would highly suggest getting some! I see this was in 2008 but for others reading this you can get a 2 pack of 100 sheets each for $12 on amazon. They are the nappies brand and I swear by them! If I run out I use disposables until they come in because I did not want to scrub poop off the diapers! These sheets are biodegradable so when your baby poops you just turn it over in the toilet and flush! Sometimes there is a small amount left on the diaper but a quick rinse with a sprayer is all you need (do it right away though once you are done with the change, otherwise it will be harder to get off) They do have a small and a large size so for little little ones you can get a smaller size but it doesn’t make that much of a difference, especially not in price.
May 31, 2008 at 2:38 pm
My stain routine: Oxy soak, regular wash, line dry in the sun. If there are still stains, repeat. It works the majority of the time, and is also great for food stains on baby clothes!
May 31, 2008 at 2:33 am
Another trick that I’ve heard lately, and I’m about to try it the next time I make soap, is a “lard” bar….soap made out of 100% lard.