Best Washing Machine For Cloth Diapers

Looking for the best washing machines for cloth diapers?

Then let us help guide you as we walk you through the best washers for cloth diapers along with their features, pros, and cons.

If you’ve made the conscious decision to use cloth diapers for your little ones, we commend you on your decision.

They may be a little more work than a disposable diaper they are no doubt better for the environment and for your budget.

And thankfully, there are some fantastic washing machines on the market to help make cleaning your cloth diapers a breeze.

But not all washing machines are up to the task!

When looking for the best washer and dryer for cloth diapers, you want to ensure that they are capable of ensuring your cloth diapers are cleaned properly on the first wash and they won’t damage the diaper material in any way.

That’s why we’ve put together this handy buying guide on the best washing machine cloth diapers so we can walk you through some of the key points to consider before you buy.

And if you love this guide to the best washing machine for cloth diapers, then make sure to check out these guides on best detergent for cloth diapers, best diaper cream for cloth diapers, and how many cloth diapers do I need.

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Our Top Pick
Helohome Portable Washing Machine

This washing machine that ticks all the boxes!

Not only does this washing machine come with all the settings you need to effectively clean your cloth diapers and baby clothes, but is it space saving and very easy to use.

It has all the safety lock features you want in a washer as well as a see through lid so you can keep an eye on your laundry.

And best of all, it's incredibly eco-friendly!


List of 5 Best Washing Machines For Cloth Diapers

Best Washers for Cloth Diapers

1. Helohome Portable Washing Machine

Now, here’s a washing machine that ticks all the boxes!

This space-saving design measures a mere 20.28 inches in width, 20.67 inches in depth, and 36.61 inches in height.

And it’s very easy to use, with only 6 programs to be concerned about. All you really have to do is select the water temperature you would like (we recommend at least 30 degrees centigrade for cloth diapers) and then set the water level.

We recommend a heavy cycle for cloth diapers because they are heavily soiled after use.

You can also choose when to wash the laundry and how long you want the laundry to wash for.

It’s also incredibly eco-friendly, and it will work just great with minimal energy compared to many of its counterparts. In fact, according to the US Department of Energy, the estimated year-round energy consumption only comes to a mere $8. Not bad hey?

But what makes it really great for homes with small children is the fact that it has a child lock on it. This will lock all the buttons on the control panel, so that the child doesn’t make any unwanted changes to the wash.

And the machine will also stop operating when the lid is open to prevent hazards from the child falling in.

We also like the fact that this machine has a see-through lid, so you can watch the mess coming out as if by magic!

It’s a prominent best seller with the leading online retailers where it’s been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews.

Pros:

  • Modest, space-saving compact design
  • Very simple, straightforward & easy to use
  • Great child lock & safety features
  • Incredibly energy efficient & eco-friendly
  • Features a see-through lid for watching

Cons:

  • It can be heavy to maneuver (but it’s on wheels)
Our Top Pick
Helohome Portable Washing Machine

This washing machine that ticks all the boxes!

Not only does this washing machine come with all the settings you need to effectively clean your cloth diapers and baby clothes, but is it space saving and very easy to use.

It has all the safety lock features you want in a washer as well as a see through lid so you can keep an eye on your laundry.

And best of all, it's incredibly eco-friendly!


2. Portable Laundry Washing Machine by BLACK+DECKER

Now, here’s a washing machine from a very good, well-established brand that we all know and trust. Which explains why it’s such a prominent bestseller with the leading online retailers, and why it’s been met with so many excellent customer ratings and reviews.

It’s basically a slightly smaller version of a classic washer, measuring 17.7 inches in width, 18.1 inches in depth, and 33.5 inches in height. Really compact, but with all the power of a regular washer.

It’s super easy to use too. There’s an LED touchscreen panel where you select which cycle you need, and you can choose from Normal, Cotton, Gentle, Speed Wash, Spin, Whites, Heavy Soil, and Tub Clean. You can also adjust the water level based on load size.

And we were also impressed with just how energy efficient it is – according to the accompanying US Government Energy Guide, the estimated yearly energy cost comes to a mere $4! So, not only is it great for the environment, but it’s great for your utility bills too.

It’s designed for use with high efficiency detergents, which we believe is fine, since so many parents use these for washing cloth diapers anyway.

It has a clear top window, so you can keep an eye on your laundry as it washes.

Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular washing machine – simply click on “Check price” to see how much they are charging now. When this article was written, you could save 10% off the listing price. 

Pros:

  • Comes from a top brand in the business
  • Very easy to use and to customize as required
  • Very energy efficient and utility bill friendly
  • Power of a regular washing in a compact size

Cons:

  • Customers have struggled to fit king size bedding inside

3. COMFEE’ 1.6 Cu.ft Portable Washing Machine

Now, this washer has earned the title of Amazon’s Choice in the category of portable washing machines. Such a title is only given to products that are both of excellent quality and are also available at a good, reasonable price point.

It has a space-saving design measuring just 20.7 by 20.3 by 36.6 inches, which makes it a breeze to fit into small spaces.

And it’s incredibly easy to use – for a standard load, all you have to do is press “start” and away you go. Otherwise, it’s just 3 steps, choosing your load size, choosing your temperature (which is great for washing cloth diapers) and choosing your preferred program (and this includes a program for heavily soiled items). And there’s a handy “extra rinse” button, too.

We also love just how energy efficient it is too – you can save as much as 84% on your energy consumption, making it incredibly environmentally friendly. And this is great for your wallet too, since according to the accompanying US Government Energy Guide, the estimated yearly energy cost comes to a mere $8. 

There’s a see-through lid, so you can watch just how well the washer performs. And there’s a child lock on the control panel, so you don’t have to worry about anyone hitting the buttons on the control panel once a program has been set. 

But our favorite feature has to be the reloading feature which lets you pause and add-in forgotten items.

It’s been selling in its thousands on Amazon, where it’s been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews.

Pros:

  • Earned the title of Amazon’s Choice
  • Very easy to use and to customize
  • Very energy efficient and cheap to run
  • Handy reloading feature for missed items

Cons:

  • The unit defaults to HEAVY load, which uses more water
03/17/2024 04:03 pm GMT

4. COMFEE’ 2.0 Cu. ft Portable Washing Machine 

Now, this is a particularly powerful washer, with a motor that runs at a whopping 780 RPM, which is perfect for giving those cloth diapers all the agitation they need to get the mess out.

What’s more, for a portable washer, it actually has quite a generous capacity, coming in at 2 cubic feet. Yet it’s still relatively compact measuring just 21.63 by 22.25 by 37 inches.

It’s super easy to use, too. You simply select your approximate load size, choose from three temperature settings, then choose your desired program and press start.

All 6 of the most commonly used programs are on there including Normal, Quick, Heavy, Bulky, Delicate, and Spin Only.

We were also impressed with how energy efficient it is. You can save as much as 83% energy compared to similar models, and the estimated yearly energy cost comes in at a negligible $9.

It has a see-through lid for keeping an eye on progress, and a built-in filter to remove lint and other debris.

It comes backed with a manufacturer warranty and has been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews.

Pros:

  • Has a powerful 780 RPM motor
  • Generous capacity for a portable washer
  • It’s very simple, straightforward & easy to use
  • Energy efficient with low running cost
  • It has a built-in filter to remove lint

Cons:

  • Some customers have found it heavy to maneuver

5. Farberware Professional FCW 10 BSC HHA Portable Clothes Washer

Now this is the most compact and portable washer in our shortlist, which is perfect because if you want to go on vacation in your RV, you still need to wash those cloth diapers! It measures just 18.4 by 19.8 by 31 inches.

But despite its small size, it can really pack a punch, with a powerful 800 RPM max spin speed. And it’s thanks to this that the washer also makes for an excellent dryer too.

It’s super simple to use, with very few buttons, and you can choose from the usual 6 washing programs including normal, heavy, gentle, speedy, soak, and spin.

It comes from a brand we all know and trust, and on Amazon about two thirds of customers gave it a full 5-star rating.

Pros:

  • Incredibly compact and portable
  • Powerful 800 RPM max spin speed
  • Great for both washing and drying
  • Simple to use, with very few buttons
  • Comes from a well-known brand

Cons:

  • Some assembly is required
  • No energy efficiency data provided

Buying Guide to Best Washing Machine for Cloth Diapers

As promised, here’s your buying guide. Let’s walk you through some of the key points to consider before you buy your washing machine for cloth diapers.

Why Do We Like Portable Washing Machines For Cloth Diapers?

Every cloth diaper manufacturer recommends that you wash soiled cloth diapers separately from everything else in your laundry.

But everyone in the household always has something that needs washing on a frequent basis, whether it’s nightwear, uniform, towels, bedding or regular clothing.

This is why it’s always good to have a smaller, affordable, portable washing machine for your cloth diapers, in addition to your regular washing machine, so that you can still carry out all your other laundry at the same time, without having to wait for hours before you can get round to washing soiled diapers.

And this is really important because both manufacturers and parents recommend that you wash these diapers as soon as possible once they have been soiled, so that any stains are easier to come out.

We strongly recommend that you don’t leave a soiled cloth diaper for more than 24 hours before washing it.

Such washing machines take up very little space and tend to be much easier to use than regular washing machines.

Temperature Settings

You must be careful to wash your cloth diapers at the right sort of temperature…

We don’t recommend washing cloth diapers in cold water, because they are classed as heavily soiled, and cold water will not provide a sufficiently effective wash. 

However, you should be careful to avoid washing them at temperatures above 30 degrees centigrade because this could cause damage to the fabric.

Other Settings

While some washing machines have a special setting for cloth diapers, most do not.

The best way to wash them is on the longest possible cycle with the strongest level of agitation, since this is the best method for ridding the diapers of any remaining vestiges of waste. So this is the sort of cycle you should look for on a washing machine for cloth diapers.

You may also be interested in a machine that offers a spin-dry cycle, that way you won’t have to squeeze any cloth diapers dry beforehand before you let them air-dry.

Intuitive And Easy To Use

Some washing machines offer all sorts of special wash and dry cycles, and it can be rather off-putting when you’re using it for the first time. That is why we recommend washing machines that are more simple and straightforward to use.

Space-Saving

We did mention this briefly already, but it bears repeating here. If you do decide to invest in a portable washing machine just for washing cloth diapers, separate from your regular washing machine, the smaller it is the better.

This way you  don’t get appliances taking up too much space in the family home.

Besides, if you only have one child in diapers, you should never have more than 3 to wash at any one time, so you simply won’t need a large-capacity washing machine for them.

Energy Efficiency

If the reason you’re investing in cloth diapers is to help with the environment, you’ll probably also be interested in a washing machine that doesn’t consume too much power and is very energy efficient.

Where these washing machines are energy efficient, we made a point of mentioning that in our reviews.

Value For Money

Although washing machines can vary quite considerably in price, you can usually expect to pay hundreds of dollars. However, you can potentially save yourself quite a lot of money by going for a portable one.

And you should also consider how much money you will be saving by opting for cloth diapers in the first place. The cost of a portable washing machine would be covered by the amount of money you might otherwise be spending on regular disposable diapers.

We are careful not to include prices in our reviews in case they are subject to change, but please feel free to check and compare prices as you go along.

Our Top Pick
Helohome Portable Washing Machine

This washing machine that ticks all the boxes!

Not only does this washing machine come with all the settings you need to effectively clean your cloth diapers and baby clothes, but is it space saving and very easy to use.

It has all the safety lock features you want in a washer as well as a see through lid so you can keep an eye on your laundry.

And best of all, it's incredibly eco-friendly!


FAQs on Best Washers for Cloth Diapers

Do Cloth Diapers Ruin Washing Machines?

No cloth diapers will not ruin washing machines, but you do need to ensure that soiled diapers are washed prior to adding them to the washing machines. It is also important to note that you shouldn’t mix them with any other clothing items as your clothing may ruin if washed together with cloth diapers.

What Temperature Should I Wash My Cloth Diapers?

The best temperature to wash cloth diapers is 30 degrees centigrade. We don’t recommend washing cloth diapers in cold water, because they are classed as heavily soiled, and cold water will not provide a sufficiently effective wash. However, you should be careful to avoid washing them at temperatures above 30 degrees centigrade because this could cause damage to the fabric.

Do You Need to Rinse Poop in Cloth Diapers?

Yes, you need to rinse soiled cloth diapers before placing them in the washing machine. It is recommended to rinse them as soon as they have been soiled. This will help reduce stains as well as ensure that your diapers are effectively cleaned in your washing machine.

Final Thoughts on Best Washing Machine Cloth Diapers

Whilst cloth diapers require additional effort to ensure they are effectively cleaned, your workload can be reduced by using a washing machine that is suitable for cloth diapers.

We hope this guide has been helpful in helping you decide which washing machine is best for you and your cloth diapers.

And if you’re looking for more great diapering guides, then check out these guides on best natural diaper rash creams, best wet bag for cloth diapers, how many cloth diaper covers and inserts do I need, and different types of cloth diapers.

Our Top Pick
Helohome Portable Washing Machine

This washing machine that ticks all the boxes!

Not only does this washing machine come with all the settings you need to effectively clean your cloth diapers and baby clothes, but is it space saving and very easy to use.

It has all the safety lock features you want in a washer as well as a see through lid so you can keep an eye on your laundry.

And best of all, it's incredibly eco-friendly!


best washer for cloth diapers