Why Cloth Diapers Have Become Our Favorite All-Purpose Cleaning Cloth
We Were Skeptical About Cloth Diapers—Until We Cleaned With Them
Credit: Andrea Barnes, Wirecutter, The New York Times
By Vicky Reis
When we first heard that cloth diapers—yes, the kind designed for babies—might be the ultimate cleaning cloth, we were skeptical. Could something meant for diaper duty really outperform microfiber or dedicated cleaning cloths? It sounded like one of those quirky cleaning tricks better left to internet folklore.
Then we read Andrea Barnes’s fantastic piece in Wirecutter, “I’m Wirecutter’s Laundry Expert, and My Favorite Cleaning Cloth Is a Diaper.” Andrea makes a surprisingly strong case for using Gerber Birdseye 3-Ply Prefold Cloth Diapers as rags. Still, we had to try them ourselves to believe it.
And now? Consider us fully convinced.
At first glance, these cloth diapers look basic—soft, square cotton pads with a pillowy feel and a simple stitched border. But here’s what we didn’t expect: they clean better than microfiber, wash up like new, and outperform most dedicated rags we’ve ever used. As it turns out, there’s a reason people have been using them for decades. Andrea’s father, who’s been relying on them for 45 years, says it best: “They’re absorbent, they don’t leave lint—they really cannot be beat!”
Why They Work So Well
Each Gerber Birdseye diaper is made of three layers of 100% cotton in a distinctive birdseye weave, which provides both softness and durability. The weave itself helps trap dust and absorb liquids quickly, without leaving behind lint or streaks. They’re roughly 20 by 14 inches—larger than a standard microfiber cloth, and that extra surface area comes in handy when you’re dealing with big spills or larger surfaces like windows, appliances, or countertops.
Cotton also wins points in sustainability: unlike microfiber, which is made from synthetic petroleum-based fibers (like polyester and nylon), cotton is natural, biodegradable, and compostable. So, if you’re looking to cut back on plastic use in your home, this is a surprisingly easy and practical swap.
Tested and Proven
We put these diapers through the wringer: dusting furniture, polishing silver, wiping mirrors, soaking up coffee and red wine spills, and blotting berry stains from clothing. In every case, they performed beautifully. The diapers absorbed liquid quickly, wiped away grime effortlessly, and left no streaks or fuzz behind—unlike microfiber cloths, which can sometimes smear or leave lint trails behind, especially after a few washes.
For cleaning mirrors and glass, in particular, the difference was dramatic. Cotton diapers delivered a crystal-clear, streak-free finish without the need for sprays or paper towels. They also held up well in the laundry, emerging from cold or warm washes unstained and ready to go again. (Andrea recommends using oxygen bleach to tackle lingering odors or pigments like wine or coffee, and we found that tip extremely helpful.)
A Few Practical Tips
These cloth diapers do require thoughtful care. Cotton dries more slowly than synthetic microfiber, so it’s important to hang them up to air-dry fully between uses to avoid mildew or bacteria. And while they’re fantastic for most household messes, we recommend saving them for general cleaning and dry spills—not for heavily soiled tasks involving food waste or bodily fluids, unless you plan to launder them immediately.
Still, even with that caveat, they’re versatile and reliable. As Andrea writes, they’re great for spot-cleaning upholstery, drying delicate laundry, and even buffing silver or brass without scratching the surface. Gerber even markets them for post-diaper uses like cleaning cars, dusting blinds, and general home cleaning.
A Humble Cloth That Does It All
We started out skeptical. Now we stash these diapers in our kitchen drawers, laundry room, and even the glove box. There’s a simple satisfaction in finding a single, affordable, sustainable product that works—really works—across so many tasks.
So yes, we’ve joined Andrea Barnes (and her dad) in singing the praises of the humble cloth diaper. It may not be glamorous, but it might just be the best cleaning cloth you’ve never considered.
Based on “I’m Wirecutter’s Laundry Expert, and My Favorite Cleaning Cloth Is a Diaper” by Andrea Barnes, published in Wirecutter, The New York Times.
