Preventing and Dealing with Insects and Maggots on Cloth Diapers

First, Bugs happen. Take a deep breath and don't freak out. Now that you've had a second, let's get rid of maggots on cloth diapers.

Bugs are a natural part of our everyday life. They're the reason we have beautiful flowers, but they're also responsible for breaking down waste and turning it back into the soil that those beautiful flowers to grow and thrive in. We need them—outside of our homes.

Here's how to prevent bugs like flies, spiders and caterpillars from hanging out on and around your cloth diapers. 

Prevention:

Bugs love organic waste. And diapers are often full of organic waste. So how to do we keep the bugs away from our reusable cloth diapers? Here are some tips and tricks for maintaining a bug free cloth diapering routine.

• Spray or plop all solid waste diapers immediately after removing from baby. If you are not able to spray diapers immediately, consider utilizing disposable bamboo liners as they can be easily tossed in a trash can during diaper changes. 
• Do not store solid waste diapers in the open air without first removing the poop. Consider storing all dirty cloth diapers in zippered wet bags or a similar sealed container until you are able to remove the solid waste. 
• After removing the solid waste, allow all cloth diapers to air dry before storing dirty cloth diapers between wash days. 
• If you notice more flies in your home than usual, it's a good idea to wash your cloth diapers as a precautionary step. Washing more often than usual during hot summer days can help prevent flies from laying eggs in your diaper laundry. 
• Ensure that all windows and doors have bug screens to prevent critters from finding their way into your home—especially in the summer time. Additionally, you might consider adding fly or insect traps to your home to further mitigate insect inhabitants. 

Remediation:

Bugs are nothing if not relentless. Even the cleanest and most perfect cloth diaper routine can be affected by pests from time to time. Here's what to do if you find that your diapers are affected.

Maggots on cloth diapers

Flies love poop and so do their larvae. If you find maggots on cloth diapers, you do not need to throw them away. While maggots are gross, they can be easily washed away and they will not affect the quality, integrity or performance of your diapers.

• Begin by rinsing the maggots from the soiled cloth diapers with cold water. This can be done indoors, into the toilet with your diaper sprayer or outdoors with a garden hose. 
• After rinsing off the maggots, do an initial rinse of the soiled cloth diapers in your washing machine. You can add a small amount of bleach to the rinse cycled if it makes you feel more comfortable. It is important to follow the manufacturer instructions on the packaging for the bleach product that you purchase to ensure that you do not add too much. 
• Wash and dry the affected cloth diapers as you normally would utilizing both your normal pre-wash and main-wash cycles.

Insect Larvae and Cloth Diapers:

Lined dried cloth diapers and inserts will occasionally attract the larvae of insects like spiders and caterpillars. The fluffy texture of most cloth diaper inserts makes them quick absorbers but also tempting nests for insect eggs. Here are steps to follow should you find insect eggs on your freshly dried cloth diaper laundry outside.

• Use a knife or paint scraper to scrape all of the eggs off of the fabrics. 
• After scraping off the eggs, do an initial rinse of the soiled cloth diapers in your washing machine. You can add a small amount of bleach to the rinse cycled if it makes you feel more comfortable. It is important to follow the manufacturer instructions on the packaging for the bleach product that you purchase to ensure that you do not add too much. 
• Wash and dry the affected cloth diapers as you normally would utilizing both your normal pre-wash and main-wash cycles.