Diapers can hang onto odors and stains long before they ever hit the wash. This simple diaper presoak gives you a quick way to loosen the mess first, instead of asking your washer to do all the heavy lifting by itself (it has enough going on already).
Making your own costs less than buying a specialty presoak or diaper-laundry booster. Based on current big-box pricing, 1/2 cup baking soda from a $0.88 one-pound box and 1/4 cup household ammonia from a low-cost bottle comes out to well under a dollar per batch, and you control exactly what goes into the soak instead of paying extra for added fragrance or specialty packaging.
You only need 3 materials for this batch: baking soda, warm water, and ammonia. Mix them in a bucket, then soak the diapers or nappies before laundering as usual, so the only equipment you genuinely need here is a bucket and a measuring cup.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools & Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make Diaper Presoak
- 🛠️ How to Use Diaper Presoak
- 🛡️ Safety Information
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Cost Breakdown
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Diaper Presoak
- 📌 Love this Diaper Presoak? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Diaper Presoak
Materials You’ll Need
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1 gallon warm water
- 1/4 cup ammonia
Tools & Equipment
- Bucket
- Measuring cups
How to Make Diaper Presoak
- Pour 1 gallon of warm water into a bucket.
- Add 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup ammonia.
- Combine the mixture in the bucket until blended.
- Soak diapers or nappies in the presoak.
- Launder as usual after soaking.
How to Use Diaper Presoak
Use this mixture as a presoak only, not as a finished detergent replacement. Once the diapers or nappies have soaked, wash them as you normally would.
If you’re weighing cloth versus disposable diaper costs overall, you might also like Cloth vs disposable diapers… Is it worth it? and Whitening Soak.
Safety Information
Use plain household ammonia for this soak, and keep it away from bleach and other cleaners. The CDC specifically warns that ammonia should not be mixed with chlorine bleach because it can create dangerous fumes, so keep your soaking bucket, measuring tools, and laundry routine separate from any bleach products you use later. See their guidance here: Ammonia Chemical Fact Sheet.
Work in a well-ventilated area, avoid splashing, and keep the bucket where children and pets can’t reach it.
Storage
Mix this presoak when you need it rather than storing an open bucket of solution. If you do need to hold it briefly during laundry day, keep it in the bucket you mixed it in, out of reach, and away from other cleaning products.
Cost Breakdown
This batch is inexpensive to make. Using a current $0.88 price for a 1-pound box of baking soda, 1/2 cup costs about $0.22. Household ammonia pricing varies by store and bottle size, but 1/4 cup generally adds only a small amount, putting the estimated batch cost at about $0.35 to $0.60 total.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
Frequently Asked Questions about Diaper Presoak
Yes. This soak is written for diapers or nappies that you plan to launder afterward. If your diapers have special care instructions from the manufacturer, follow those first.
This formula specifically uses 1 gallon of warm water, so stick with that if you want to follow it as written. Warm water helps dissolve the baking soda more easily in the bucket.
No. Do not mix this presoak with bleach. Keep bleach completely separate from the presoak bucket, the measuring tools, and the soaking step.
Use it as a presoak, then launder as usual. Since the formula itself doesn’t give a soaking time, don’t assume a specific number of hours. A short same-day soak is the most practical approach unless your diaper care routine says otherwise.
It’s better to mix only what you need for the current load. An open bucket of cleaning solution is more of a hassle than a help, especially in a house with kids or pets.
No. This is a presoak, not a full wash product. After soaking, wash the diapers as usual with your regular laundry routine.
Yes, as long as you keep the same ratio of 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 gallon warm water, and 1/4 cup ammonia. Use a larger bucket so the diapers can soak without overflowing the container.
Use plain household ammonia intended for cleaning. Skip anything mixed with other cleaning agents or specialty additives unless the label clearly fits that basic purpose.
This post is specifically for diapers or nappies. If you want to experiment on other laundry, test cautiously and follow the care label for that fabric first.
📌 Love this Diaper Presoak? Pin it!
Did you try this diaper presoak? Tell us whether you used it for cloth diapers or nappies and what changed in your wash routine.
🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Diaper Presoak
Diaper Presoak
Equipment
Materials
- ½ cup baking soda
- 1 gallon warm water
- ¼ cup ammonia
Instructions
- Pour 1 gallon of warm water into a bucket.
- Add 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup ammonia.
- Combine in a bucket.
- Soak diapers/nappies.
- Launder as usual.
- https://www.budget101.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/homemade-diaper-presoak-1.jpg
- Use plain household ammonia intended for cleaning.
- Do not mix ammonia with bleach or other cleaners.
- Work in a well-ventilated area.
- Estimated cost reflects consumable materials only and will vary by store and region.
