Over the years, our cloth diaper storage has been housed in a variety of set-ups. It’s been through a lot over the years—and so have I.
Countless move-outs, living room rearrangements, and new jobs have demanded change. The same can be said for our cloth diaper storage setup, which has been through more than a few changes in the past few years.
For example… Where are you supposed to hold all your all-in-one cloth diapers when life strikes? Here are a few ways you can optimize your cloth diaper organization:
Cloth Diaper Storage Option 1 - A Dresser
The right dresser will hold your baby's clothes, cloth diaper storage, and also double as a changing table if a changing pad is placed on top.
A dresser is also one of the few things that will last your child from birth to college if you play your cards right. This makes it one of the most cost-effective cloth diaper storage solutions possible.
This was my very first (and possibly favorite) cloth diaper storage solution, but I went cheap and we have since been through many other cheap dressers—FAIL. Investing in a high-quality dresser is worth it if you intend to use cloth diapers long-term.
Cloth Diaper Storage Idea 2 - Cube Storage
This is where I store my clean diapers currently (but also keep reading, because they live in one other place too). We love the Ikea Kallax, and have had the same one for nearly 5 years.
It has survived a move, many toddlers, a few different storage uses, and well, just the kids in general. This cloth diaper storage solution can double as a changing table, but if you’re tight on space like we are right now, it can be nestled into a closet.
We’ve transformed our already-crowded closet into a changing station with a changing pad. And now that we have another baby on the way, our need for space has grown all the more dire.
We’ve found an ingenious way to store our cloth diapers with a bookshelf-like design, or our diaper stack. Either way, this is a great and inexpensive way to store your cloth diapers.
Wall Shelves Make Perfect Cloth Diaper Shelves
When you don't have enough room to expand out, try moving up!
Wall shelves are the perfect way to store your cloth diapers without taking up any floor space. They are also surprisingly easy to make for a cost that won’t hurt your bank account.
All you need to do is find the plans and gather materials, which can be found easily on the internet. These also make it super convenient to just grab and change.
Especially with how often you need to change a cloth diaper. Cloth diaper shelves are a great way to stay organized and show off your collection!
Storing Your Cloth Diapers in the Changing Table
Honestly, I have NEVER had a proper changing table to store my cloth diapers. I know—five kids (and counting) and we just haven’t had one.
My mother-in-law has an awesome table in her daycare. Seriously, I’m jelly. This thing has STAIRS so the toddlers can climb up themselves and save your back.
Looking back, I wish I’d invested in one of these bad boys when we were starting our family, because it might have saved me a lot of stress.
Compact Cloth Diaper Storage - Over the Door Organizer
A hanging shoe organizer is an affordable and simple way to store your cloth diapers. It is also a vertical option that can be tucked away if desired. If you want it out of reach, you can simply hang it on the wall, the inside of a wardrobe, or the back of a bedroom door.
If you need twice the room, place one on either side of the closet door. This is currently how we organize our massive swaddle blanket collection. It’s also so nice to close the door and forget about all the laundry you have to do!
Movable Cloth Diaper Storage - Carts
You know what I’m talking about. That metal cart on wheels from Ikea that we can’t pronounce makes a great diaper storage option.
RÅSKOG? Yeah, that!
I haven’t personally gone that route, but for those who have, these carts are helpful for storing cloth diapers. They don’t take up a lot of space and they’re easy to move around. You can also use them long after you’re done diapering your kids.
Laundry Baskets Make Great Cloth Diaper Storage
It’s not like we don’t already have baskets full of other laundry, right?
If you're short on time, running out of space, or just not feeling up to it—all you need for your cloth diaper storage are laundry baskets! You can stack them on top of each other or place them below the changing table for easy access when it’s changing time.
If you were wondering—this is where the other half of my clean diaper storage lives.
A Bonus Cloth Diaper Storage Idea - Plastic Carts
When we first moved out of state, we had minimal space and most of our furniture was damaged. After much tearshed, we bought a few plastic carts and made do.
These are very budget-friendly and accessible to just about anyone. I know, I know, you’re not supposed to store cloth diapers in plastic or other non-breathable materials, but hear me out.
You’re going to open these drawers all day every day. We’re not talking about long-term cloth diaper storage today. We’re looking for day-to-day storage. It’ll be fine.
These plastic storage carts can also double as drying racks. If you want to learn more about how to dry cloth diapers, check out our blog!
The Dirty Cloth Diaper Storage
THE OPEN DRY PAIL.
Say that with me.
Open.
Dry.
Pail.
It is NEVER recommended to store our diapers in a wet diaper pail. It’s a drowning hazard and can seriously decrease the lifespan of your cloth diapers.
Use an open plastic waste basket lined with a pail liner. Keep this pail in a well-ventilated area or room that has adequate airflow.
It may sound counterintuitive, but an open pail will actually smell LESS than a covered one.
This is because the air will essentially dry up any smells throughout the day. You'll want at least two diaper pail liners, but I HIGHLY recommend you have three or four in order to ensure that there are always clean ones handy when they're needed most.
One to wash, one to use, and a spare (or two) will have you covered! If you can’t spray your poopy diapers at every diaper change, I recommend keeping an extra wet bag or small plastic bucket to store the diapers until you have a chance to spray them.
The Hanging Cloth Diaper Pail
If you need to find space-saving options, try hanging pails! These hanging wet bags come with a looped handle for easy carrying and can be hung anywhere with a hook.
These are perfect for small spaces. They're made from durable plastic and come in various sizes, so it's easy to find one that fits perfectly in whatever space you need it for.
If you are tempted to store your dirty cloth diapers in the bathroom, let me warn you right now: Bathrooms are typically too small and too humid.
Even if you wash your cloth diapers every other day, you may experience some unpleasant smells. The lack of airflow with the added humidity doesn’t bode well.
Long-Term Cloth Diaper Storage
If you are fresh out of cloth diapers and aren’t quite sure what you’re going to do with them yet, or know that you just want to store them for your next child while your current cloth diaper baby is wearing training pants—you’ll want to make sure that you’re storing them in something that’s breathable.
By storing your cloth diapers in a breathable storage solution, you’re ensuring the life of your elastics and preventing mold.
Yes, you read that right—if you store your diapers long-term in an airtight container or anything that doesn’t allow some airflow, you could open up that storage container and notice that your elastics have completely rotted out.
I highly recommend the use of one of two things:
The Oh Lily Carry All Your Stuff Sack or a Planet Wise Packing Cube.
I like the ease of throwing everything into the Carry All Your Stuff Sack, but if you like things to be a little more organized or your stash isn’t too large, the Planet Wise Packing Cubes are an organizer’s dream.
Another great way to store your retired diapers is using your old diaper bags! This way, you don’t even have to buy separate storage for your long-term cloth diapers when you make the switch over to baby leggings.
Get In The Headspace To Enhance Your Storage Space
Remember, however you organize and store your cloth diaper stash, clean or dirty, it should work FOR you, not against you.
Keep these tips in mind when you’re designing your cloth diaper storage. Make it convenient. You will be changing thousands of diapers!
Don’t neglect storage for accessories such as wipes, wet bags, diaper rash creams, and other necessities as well. As I mentioned before, we’re running very tight on space.
Our cloth diaper storage consists of an Ikea Kallax Shelf, but we also make use of the rod in our closet. How? We keep our wipes, wipe solution, and all of our cloth diaper rash creams in a wet-dry bag hanging up right next to the stash.
It’s easy, compact, and gives me an excuse to buy more wet bags. Win, win, and win!
Now you have some cloth diaper storage ideas and you are ready to optimize your cloth diaper organization. Do what works best for you and your babies.
