Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions, but please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if you would just like more information.

WASH AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Do I need to pre-wash my Fuzzi Bunz?
How do I wash my Fuzzi Bunz?
Should I use hot water to wash Fuzzi Bunz and how hot?
What kind of detergent is recommended to use with Fuzzi Bunz?
Why can't I use ALL Free and Clear?
I have a front loader or High Efficiency washer. What detergent should I use?
Can I use diaper rash ointments and creams on my baby if s/he is wearing a Fuzzi Bunz?
Will my colors run if I wash them on hot?

TROUBLESHOOTING

How do I get out stains from my Fuzzi Bunz?
My Fuzzi Bunz are leaking even though the insert is hardly wet. What do I do?
My diapers are drooping or the elastic is wearing out and my diapers are past warranty. What can I do?
The inside of my diaper is sticky, how do I fix this?
My diapers smell of ammonia when baby wets, why?
What does stripping the diapers mean and should I be doing it?

DIAPER RASHES AND YEAST

My baby has diaper rash. What do you recommend since I can’t use a diaper rash ointment with my Fuzzi Bunz?
My baby had a yeast infection, how can I treat the diapers for yeast?

DAY-TO-DAY USAGE

What size diaper do I need?
How should I store my diapers between washings?
Do I have to use a plastic cover over my Fuzzi Bunz?
My baby's diaper leaks upon waking at nap or nighttime.
How often do I need to change my baby?
How many diapers to I need to order?
How much laundry will I do?
Is it true the diapers become more absorbent the more they are washed?

ACCESSORIES

What accessories do you recommend I get to go along with my Fuzzi Bunz purchase?

WASH AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Q. Do I need to pre-wash my Fuzzi Bunz?
A. When you first get your Fuzzi Bunz, try them on your baby for fit BEFORE washing. If they fit, yes, you should wash the diapers before wearing.

Q: How do I wash my Fuzzi Bunz?
A. Here are some simple instructions to caring and washing your diapers:
Fuzzi Bunz are single use diapers. Wash both the Fuzzi Bunz and insert after each use. When wet, separate insert and Fuzzi Bunz and store in a dry diaper pail. If soiled, simply knock solids into toilet. Small solids stuck to the fleece will dissolve in the wash. Use a mini-shower toilet attachment to rinse off soiled diapers over the toilet (optional).

- First, run a cold rinse or soak cycle with no detergent.
- Second, run a hot cycle with detergent (see Recommended Brands). Do not use bleach.
- Third, if your hot wash is not automatically followed by a cold rinse, run a cold rinse cycle. This step only necessary with a particularly dirty load.
- Tumble dry the diapers in dryer on low or hang to dry. Do not use fabric softener or pure soap*. Never dry on high heat.

Q. Should I use hot water to wash Fuzzi Bunz and how hot?
A. Yes, it is okay to use hot water to wash your Fuzzi Bunz, even on the hottest setting. However, keep in mind that you should dry your diapers on a low setting in your dryer.

Q. What kind of detergent is recommended to use with Fuzzi Bunz?
A. The makers of Fuzzi Bunz strongly recommend the use of Allen's Naturally Liquid Laundry Detergent, a biodegradable, zero-residue detergent which excels at cleaning and removing odours. Allen's Naturally is not available on store shelves in Canada, but may be found here at Cozy Bums. Other recommended detergents are: Tide Regular or Free, Cheer Regular or Free, Arm and Hammer Regular or Free, Nature Clean, E-Cover or Purex. Please note that most detergents sold in health food stores are NOT suitable for Fuzzi Bunz because they use citrus oils as a surfactant. Citrus oils will cause repelling because oil and water do not mix. The makers of Fuzzi Bunz have tested many “natural” detergents for use with cloth diapers, and Allen's Naturally is one of the best non-residue detergents they discovered. Never use fabric softeners (liquid or dryer sheets) with any cloth diapers.

Q. Why can't I use ALL Free and Clear?
A. We have found that “ALL Free and Clear” is not the same as other Free and Clear detergents. It leaves a waxy build up on the diapers and may cause repelling.

Q. I have a front loader or High Efficiency washer. What detergent should I use?
A. Any washing detergent recommended by Fuzzi Bunz should be adequate; however using 1/6 of the recommended amount is required for a front loader. If there are too many suds, reduce your amount of detergent, if the diapers are not getting clean enough, increase your detergent.

Q: Can I use diaper rash ointments and creams on my baby if s/he is wearing a Fuzzi Bunz?
A. Diaper rash ointments cause diapers to repel and not function properly. If you mistakenly get diaper rash ointment on your diaper, wash your diapers normally and then apply some dishwashing liquid, like Dawn, to the affected are. Scrub the affected area with a toothbrush or other bristle brush. While this is a suggested method, it may not always work. Diapers affected by diaper rash ointments are not covered by our warranty. At Cozy Bums, we recommend avoiding the use of all barrier-type creams and ointments when using cloth diapers. If using a diaper rash cream is indicated, however, then it's important to protect your cloth diaper by laying down a liner of some sort on top of the diaper, or simply switching to disposable diapers during the time the cream is being used.

Q. Will my colors run if I wash them on hot?
A. It is always a good idea to wash your Fuzzi Bunz on cold first if you are concerned about the colors running, but we have never experienced any problems in the past with colors running.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Q. How do I get out stains from my Fuzzi Bunz?
A. Stains can be caused by different foods, illnesses and medications. The good news is that stains do not affect the utility of your Fuzzi Bunz. To remove stains (if desired), we suggest laying them out in the sun for several hours at a time (several times for tough stains). Stains are not covered by our warranty.

Q. My Fuzzi Bunz are leaking even though the insert is hardly wet. What do I do?
A. Leaking is often a result of repelling diapers. Repelling occurs when there is residue build up from soaps, detergents, ointments, or hard water that can build up on the fleece. This is (but not always) caused by improper care of the diapers. We recommend you do the following to resolve any repelling issues:

- First, run a cold rinse or soak cycle with no detergent.
- Second, run a hot cycle with 1/2 detergent. Do not use bleach.
- Third, run another cold rinse cycle.
- Tumble dry the diapers in dryer on low or hang to dry. Do not use fabric softener or pure soap. Never dry on high heat.

If you are still having problems, use a capful of a water softener, such as Calgon. Continue washing on hot and rinsing on cold until all the suds run clear. Hang dry.

Unfortunately, we cannot replace or repair leaking diapers. If the repelling persists even after following our directions, we encourage you to visit one of the diapering discussion boards on the DiaperPin.com or Mothering.com. You may find other moms discussing these issues who can offer alternative solutions. Our method has typically been successful for many pocket-diaper using parents.

Q. My diapers are drooping or the elastic is wearing out and my diapers are past warranty. What can I do?
A. Fuzzi Bunz are built to last for a long time, but like with any product that gets abused and washed a lot, they may not last forever. There are a few things you can do to fix the elastic:

With a seam ripper, gently unstitch the seam that encases the elastic in the legs. Turn the Fuzzi Bunz inside out. Where the original elastic started, re-sew new elastic in with a sewing machine by pulling gently on the elastic while sewing with a zig zag stitch.

Repeat on the other side. You can now turn the Fuzzi Bunz right side out and re-stitch the leg casings down if you wish, or you can leave them un-encased. For the back elastic un-stitch the hemmed part, sew in new elastic following the instructions above and re-stitch down the fold.

If you do not know how to sew, a seamstress or alterations person may be able to help you for minimal charge.

Q. The inside of my diaper is sticky, how do I fix this?
A. This is perfectly normal, it is laminated with a polyurethane lining to prevent leaks. Some people see this as being "sticky."

Q. My diapers smell of ammonia when baby wets, why?
A. Ammonia smell is caused by detergent residue and the combination of urine. Run your diapers through the wash again and be sure to use the manufacturer’s recommended detergents. Using an unscented detergent can also deter this problem.

Q: What does “stripping” the diapers mean and should I be doing it?
A. We have (as have others) had many theories on what is called "stripping” diapers. We simply call it plain old upkeep and something that should be done every now and then as a preventative measure in taking care of your diapers and prolonging their life. Although our diapers typically don’t have these problems, on occasion we do receive questions involving persistent stink. repelling fleece (or residue buildup on the fleece), fleece that stays wet or leaking diapers.

- Get a good detergent like Allen's Naturally.
- Run all of your diapers through a plain water hot wash.
- Run all of your diapers through a hot wash with the full recommended amount of detergent.
- If the problem is bad, repeat step three.
- Run a cold rinse. If you have hard water you may want to add a water softener such as Baking Soda or Calgon Water Softener to soften your water and help release any left over detergent.
- If you still see bubbles in your rinse run another cold rinse.
- You can either sun your diapers or tumble on low.

A good way to tell if your repelling problem is fixed is to take a nasal aspirator and put an insert into the pocket. Fill the nasal aspirator with water and put it close to the fleece and "pee" on the diaper with the aspirator. If the water goes through, your repelling problem should be fixed.

DIAPER RASHES AND YEAST

Q. My baby has diaper rash. What do you recommend since I can’t use a diaper rash ointment with my Fuzzi Bunz?
A. While babies using Fuzzi Bunz get far less diaper rashes, they can occur on occasion. Do not use any diaper rash ointment while using Fuzzi Bunz. We recommend changing the diaper often and allowing the baby to air dry as much as possible. You can also use a combination of a zinc oxide / cornstarch powder on baby's bottom to aid in healing.

Q. My baby had a yeast infection, how can I treat the diapers for yeast?
A. If your child has had a yeast infection washing your diapers in hot water and using a few drops of tea tree oil should treat the diapers.

DAY-TO-DAY USAGE

Q. What size diaper do I need?
A. Please visit our Fuzzi Bunz size chart.

Q: How should I store my diapers between washings?
A. Store used diapers in an open air pail or hanging diaper pail to let air circulate. A closed pail may cause mold if you let the diapers sit too long between washings.

Q. Do I have to use a plastic cover over my Fuzzi Bunz?
A. No plastic cover is needed with Fuzzi Bunz.

Q. My baby’s diaper leaks upon waking at nap or nighttime.
A. Some babies wet more than others. If you are experiencing persistent leaking, we recommend adding more inserts to the pocket during nap and night time.

Q. How often do I need to change my baby?
A. Every mom knows her baby best. If you have a heavy wetter, we suggest changing more often – every 2-3 hours. If you have a light wetter – you can change your baby every 3-4 hours.

Q. How many diapers to I need to order?
A. We suggest that you order 12 diapers to start. You’ll probably do a load of laundry every night or every other night, depending on how many diapers changes you average per day. Many moms add to and even double their collection as they go along.

Q. How much laundry will I do?
A. Depending on how many Fuzzi Bunz you have, it’s likely you’ll be doing laundry every 2-3 days.

Q. Is it true the diapers become more absorbent the more they are washed?
A. Yes and no. We have found that the inserts can hold more moisture after they have been washed several times. However, multiple washings after that may not additionally affect the diapers.

ACCESSORIES

Q: What accessories do you recommend I get to go along with my Fuzzi Bunz purchase?
A. We recommend a few accessories to make your cloth diapering experience more pleasant.
- You may want a washable diaper pail liner.
- We recommend you purchase a wet tote, which is a small reusable and washable bag that you can store dirty cloth diapers in while on the road.
- We also recommend reusable wipes for gently wiping your baby's bottom during bathing & diaper changes.

All of these accessories can be purchased through our online store.