How do I get diaper rash cream out of my cloth diaper?

Traditional diaper rash creams have heavy oils and other ingredients in them (e.g. zinc oxide, cod liver oil and sesame oil) that stick to cloth diapers, causing them to leak and retain odors. Unfortunately you’ll need to use some elbow grease to make them useful again using the following steps.

1. Wet the diaper

2. Squirt blue Dawn liquid dish detergent (original formula) on all of the areas of the diaper that have the diaper cream.
3. Scrub all the areas thoroughly with an old toothbrush
4. Run the diapers through at least 2 to 3 hot wash cycles in your washing machine. Continue rinsing until all of the soap bubbles have disappeared
5. When complete, your diapers shouldn’t smell like the cream or feel sticky. If so, repeat steps 2 through 4 again

For cloth diaper friendly rash creams, see Recommended Diaper Rash creams.