Pockets are the most popular choice by far among cloth diapering families. But have you ever wondered what the lifespan is of those fluffy white microfiber inserts that work in tandem with the diapers? When is it time to replace your pocket diaper inserts?
I was curious so I did some research.
My friends Julie (the Cloth Diaper Geek) and Heather (at Knickernappies) had this to share about the industry’s recommendations: “The inserts themselves will hold up and absorb practically forever, but peak absorbency most likely is a couple of years.” They also mentioned that no one has done an official longevity study, but my anecdotal research with other cloth diapering mothers bears out their statement.
Many of the moms I talked to said their inserts were still absorbing after two or even three years. That’s really good news if you’re planning to re-sell the diapers, or pass them on to another child.
Basically, your inserts won’t look as pretty after a few years (because the polyester fibers “flatten out” and get kind of dingy), but they will still work. However, after their absorbency level peaks, it would be wise to consider replacing them. Simply put, your diapers will work better, and that’s especially important for naps and nighttime. Or to paraphrase what Julie told me “If you bought used diapers and have never tried a brand new microfiber insert, you may not know what you’ve been missing!”
Fortunately, if it’s time to replace inserts, microfiber is cheap and easy to find. Prices range from $1.50 to $3.00 each, depending on where you buy (there are 9 different brands/types of inserts available at Kelly’s Closet). There isn’t too much of a difference from one brand of insert to the next, so most will work with whatever pockets you are currently using.
If are wondering what to do with really old inserts that are past their peak absorbency, cut the serging off the edges and the insert will come apart into three separate layers. These small and thin microfiber cloths are perfect for cleaning computer screens and eye glasses. If you’re handy with a needle, you might even be able to turn them into washable mop pads.
One last note: if you are buying used pocket diapers, be sure to ask detailed questions about the condition. Many sellers use terms like “good” or “gently used” to describe their diapers, but that doesn’t give you the full picture. Ask how long they were used; a one year old insert is going to absorb differently than a three year old insert. On the flip side, when selling pockets it’s always a good idea to disclose this type of information in your listing. Or you can just say “please message me if you need more details about condition or usage.”
So how are your microfiber inserts holding up?
Mine are reasonably absorbent but smell terrible. I think I have hard water and I don’t have the energy to strip frequently so I’m ditching the microfiber completely. I did one RLR soak a few months back in my utility sink that yielded pretty dingy water, but didn’t do much in terms of appearance or smell. My local CD store won’t take microfiber inserts separately from pocket covers for the used diaper bin so most of them are going in the trash. I plan to keep a couple around for dusting or something.
Anyway, I have one hemp insert that is ok, several different bamboo ones and some WAHM flannel & zorb ones on the way. I have 1-2 years left of diapering my dude (who just turned 1) and I’m looking forward to doing it microfiber-free!
you should try boiling the inserts.
Hi Nicole! You have to be careful about boiling diapers because it’s usually only recommend for prepping new prefolds and flats (i.e. natural fibers). Anything with elastic, PUL or TPU or snaps should NEVER be boiled, and some brands of microfiber inserts have snaps on them (BumGenius and Glow Bugs come to mind). Exposing snaps to that high heat can cause damage. Thanks for stopping by and commenting! ~Anne
Rumsita, is it possible that with your super hard water, you aren’t using enough detergent? When water is very hard, it actually uses up some of the detergent you put in the machine just to soften the water, so that leaves less to get your diapers clean. (For this reason, you also might try a water softener like Calgon). Another possibility: not enough rinsing or not enough water used in the wash cycle. As a last resort, you can always use a splash of bleach to freshen up your microfiber (even Cotton Babies ok’s this). ~Anne
Rumsita, I have very hard water and I regularly use borax or oxyclean. I always do a cold water pre-wash with a little borax, then a hot water wash with my detergent/ borax and a splash of bleach every couple of loads (make sure to have plenty of water in the wash) and I always do an extra rinse. After about 14 months of use, I have never needed to strip any diapers/ inserts. I hope this helps some.
Thanks for sharing that advice, Maggie! I haven’t used borax yet. ~Anne
How much borax do you use, exactly?
Excellent post Anne! Shared!
Thanks, Kristy, you’re the best! ~Anne
My son is still using 3 year old microfiber inserts and they still their job, but not as well as they did in the beginning.
Thanks for the tip about cutting them open to use the inner cloth! I was planning on adding velcro to my old microfiber inserts to use with my “knock off” Swiffer Wet Mop, but I have so many! Looks like I will be cutting the rest open and use the cloths for homemade disinfectant wipes 😉
I was just inquiring about the longevity of microfibers! This makes a lot of sense, but I’m having issues with ammonia rash and build up. Another mom suggested switching to natural fibers and ditching microfiber to avoid this but that will take me another couple of weeks to feasibly do. For now, I need to come up with a solution for my microfibers and I have some BG that have snaps so I’m worried about boiling them :/ Im curious about the borax suggestion since I have some on hand.
I haven’t used Borax so can’t comment on that, but I do know that for ammonia build-up RLR is highly recommended. I just bought some (Kelly’s Closet usually has it) and will post the results soon because I’m also getting that ammonia smell plus rashes at times. RLR is just $2.25 a pack so it’s worth a shot! ~Anne
Okay so if microfiber inserts peak after a couple years, what about other fabrics? Cotton, hemp, bamboo, etc….do they peak after a certain amount of time and then not absorb as well??
We have hard water and while my mf inserts feel a bit rough, they are still working fine after almost four years. Before getting a new washer though we had stink. Borax does help for us too.