The place to start with any reusable swim diaper is the maker's care label, and then you adjust for what the diaper has been through: chlorine, salt, sand or soiling. This guide covers the steps that apply to many washable swim diapers, how to dry them without wearing out the elastics, and how to store them between seasons. Where the maker's instructions differ from anything here, follow the maker.
Follow the care label first
The label or the maker's product page is the first place to look for washing temperature, whether bleach is allowed, whether the diaper can go in the dryer, and whether fabric softener should be avoided. Different makers give different instructions, so a rule that suits one brand may not suit another.
Take a photo of the label when the diaper is new, because printed labels can fade with washing. If you cannot find the instructions, the maker's website or the seller can help.
Rinse soon after swimming
Rinsing after swimming is a common instruction on swimwear care labels, and it suits a swim diaper too. Rinse it in fresh water as soon as you can, in the pool shower if the facility has one or at the sink when you get home, so chlorine, salt or lake water does not sit in the fabric as it dries.
Do not leave a wet swim diaper sealed in a bag for a day or two, because damp items stored in a closed space can get musty. Empty the wet bag as soon as you get home.
Dealing with a soiled swim diaper
If there are solids, deal with them before the diaper goes in the washing machine:
- Away from home, tip any solids into a toilet if you can, then seal the diaper in a wet bag.
- At home, shake or scrape anything that is left into the toilet.
- Rinse the diaper under running water. Some cloth-diapering families use a handheld sprayer for this, and the cloth diaper accessories collection is the place to look for sprayer-related items such as a splatter shield.
- Wash your hands well afterwards.
Once the solids are gone, wash the diaper as the care label says.
Machine or hand washing
Check whether the label allows machine washing and at what temperature and cycle. If the diaper has hook-and-loop tabs, fasten them before it goes in, so they do not catch on other laundry. A mesh laundry bag also helps keep small swim diapers from getting lost in a large load.
Choose a detergent suited to baby laundry and avoid additives the label tells you to avoid. A fragrance-free option such as Nellie's Baby Laundry Soda, Fragrance-Free Powder Detergent, 80 Loads is one choice. Water hardness varies across Canada and can change how well a detergent works, so if your swim diapers do not seem fully clean, check the detergent's pack for advice. If you notice redness or a rash where the swim diaper sits, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
To hand wash, rinse thoroughly, wash gently in cool or lukewarm water, as the label allows, with a small amount of detergent, and rinse until the water runs clear. Press water out without wringing.
Shop this guide
- ALVABABY Swim Diapers, 12 to 18 Months, Girls, 3-Pack (ships via Amazon)
- JIELUO Handheld Bidet and Cloth Diaper Sprayer Head, Stainless Steel (ships via Amazon)
- Splash About Happy Nappy Reusable Swim Diaper, Blue Cobalt, 3-4 Years (ships via Amazon)
- Yuntop Plastic Head Diaper Pins with Locking Closures, Assorted Colours, 50 Pack (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Swim Diapers
- See all: Cloth Diaper Accessories
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Drying without damaging elastics
Heat is hard on elastic, so many care labels recommend line or rack drying, or the lowest heat. Check yours first. If you air dry, a few habits are kind to the leg and waist elastics:
- Lay the diaper flat or drape it over a bar of the rack, so the wet weight is not hanging from the leg or waist elastic.
- Dry it in the shade where you can, since some makers advise against strong direct sun.
- In winter, use an indoor rack with some air movement, and keep it away from a hot radiator or heating vent.
Make sure the diaper is fully dry before you pack it away or use it again.
Chlorine, salt and sand
Each one asks for its own habit:
- Chlorine: pool water left in swimwear is hard on fabric and elastic over time, so rinse in fresh water after every swim, even when the diaper looks clean.
- Salt water: salt dries stiff in the fabric, so rinse until the diaper feels soft again.
- Sand: shake the diaper out outdoors, check the seams and leg elastics where grains can lodge, and rinse it before it goes in the machine, so sand does not collect in the drum.
- Lakes and rivers: rinse well, then wash as the label directs before the next wear.
Storing between seasons
Before you put your swim diapers away for the winter, check that each one is completely dry. Store them in a breathable cotton bag or a drawer, not sealed in plastic, and keep them away from heat, such as a hot attic or a car trunk.
When the season comes around again, check the elastics and the fabric. If the elastic is loose or the fabric looks thin, a new diaper may fit better. Babies change size over a winter, so check the size too. Reusable swim diapers are sold by size, the Charlie Banana Reusable Swim Diaper with Drawstring, The Whale on White, Medium being one example, so compare the size range on the product page with your child's weight now. Our diaper sizing guide helps if you are not sure where to begin, and the swim diapers collection lists other sizes and styles.
Common questions
Can I use bleach?
Only if the care label says so. Some makers advise against it, and it can damage elastics.
Can I put swim diapers in the dryer?
Only if the label allows it, and then only on the heat setting it names. If the label does not mention it, air drying is the more cautious choice.
How often should I wash them?
Rinse after every swim, and wash before the next wear the way the label describes, as you would with any diaper or underwear. A diaper that has been soiled should always be washed before it is worn again.
Why does my swim diaper smell?
A musty smell can come from being left damp in a bag or put away before it was fully dry. Wash it again as the label says, rinse well and dry it completely. If the smell does not go away, contact the maker for advice.
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