Dingy cloth diapers build up fast, and a regular wash cycle does not always tackle that stale, set-in mess on its own. This simple diaper pre-soak gives you a quick way to loosen the worst of it before laundering. It takes minutes to mix, and it handles the unglamorous job without a lot of fuss (because laundry already demands enough of your personality).
Making your own costs less than buying a specialty cloth-diaper soak. Using current Walmart pricing, 1/2 cup baking soda from a 1-pound box at $0.88 runs about $0.22, and 1/4 cup household ammonia adds only a small amount more, so one gallon of soak comes in far below most commercial laundry boosters or diaper soaks. You also control the strength and skip extra fragrance or added brighteners that may not belong in every laundry routine.
You only need 3 materials for this batch: baking soda, warm water, and ammonia. The formula makes 1 gallon of pre-soak, and the only basic equipment you need is a bucket plus standard measuring cups.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools/Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make Diaper Pre-Soak
- 🛠️ How to Use It
- 🎨 Customization Ideas
- 🛡️ Safety Information
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Cost Breakdown
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Diaper Pre-Soak
- 📌 Love this Diaper Pre-Soak? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Diaper Pre-Soak
Materials You’ll Need
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1 gallon warm water
- 1/4 cup ammonia
Tools/Equipment
- Bucket
- Measuring cup
How to Make Diaper Pre-Soak
- 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.
How to Use It
- Place the soiled diapers or nappies in the prepared pre-soak.
- Soak them in the bucket.
- Launder as usual after soaking.
Customization Ideas
- Mix a single gallon batch when you need it instead of making extra ahead.
- Use the same formula whether you call them diapers or nappies. The method stays the same either way.
- Pair this pre-soak with one of Budget101’s homemade laundry soap options if you want to keep your full wash routine low-cost, such as Make Your Own Laundry Detergents, Stain Removers, Pre-Wash Sprays and More! or Strong Laundry Detergent (Heavily Soiled Clothing) Powdered.
Safety Information
Use this mixture only with good ventilation, avoid splashing it in your eyes, and keep it out of reach of children and pets. Never mix ammonia with bleach or bleach-based laundry products. The CDC notes that household ammonia can release dangerous gas if it is mixed with certain other cleaning products, including chlorine bleach, so keep this soak completely separate from any bleach step or bleach-containing cleaner: CDC ammonia safety guidance.
Storage
Mix this pre-soak in the bucket when you plan to use it. The directions are written as a use-now laundry soak, not a long-term stored concentrate, so make one batch, soak the diapers, and then launder as usual.
Cost Breakdown
This is an estimate, and prices vary by store and region. Based on current Walmart pricing, 1/2 cup baking soda from a 1-pound box priced at $0.88 costs about $0.22. Household ammonia adds a modest amount per batch, so this 1-gallon pre-soak remains an inexpensive option compared with specialty diaper soaks.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- Baking soda at Walmart
- Household ammonia on Amazon
- Cleaning bucket at Walmart
- Make Your Own Laundry Detergents, Stain Removers, Pre-Wash Sprays and More!
Frequently Asked Questions about Diaper Pre-Soak
This formula is written specifically for diapers or nappies. If you want a soak for other laundry, use a formula intended for that fabric and soil level instead of assuming one soak fits everything.
One batch makes 1 gallon of diaper pre-soak. That is the full amount listed in the formula.
Yes. This is a pre-soak, not a complete wash routine. Soak the diapers, then launder as usual.
Not if you want to make this exact formula. The measured ingredients are part of the original mixture, so changing them means you are making a different soak.
No. Never combine this soak with bleach or bleach-based products. Keep those products completely separate.
Use a bucket, since the directions say to combine the ingredients in a bucket and soak the diapers there.
You can scale it up only if you keep the same ratio of ingredients. If you do that, make sure your bucket is large enough and still allows room to soak the diapers without sloshing everywhere.
This works best as a mix-and-use batch. The directions are written for immediate use, so it makes more sense to prepare what you need, soak the diapers, and move on with laundry.
Use warm water, because that is what the formula specifies. There is no reason to rewrite a simple three-ingredient soak into a science fair project.
📌 Love this Diaper Pre-Soak? Pin it!
Did you try this diaper pre-soak? Tell us how you worked it into your cloth diaper routine or what homemade laundry staple you paired it with.
🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Diaper Pre-Soak
Diaper Pre-Soak
Equipment
Materials
- ½ cup baking soda
- 1 gallon warm water
- ¼ cup ammonia
Instructions
- Add 1 gallon warm water to a bucket.
- Add 1/2 cup baking soda.
- Add 1/4 cup ammonia.
- Combine the mixture in the bucket.
- Soak diapers or nappies.
- Launder as usual.
- Use with good ventilation.
- Avoid eye contact and splashing.
- Never mix ammonia with bleach or bleach-based products.
