Diaper pail methods:

I recommend a dry pail method.  I used to think that I had to soak my diapers in cold water and additives until wash day to minimize staining and odor.  However, I found that to be not only messier, more work, more time-consuming, and more costly...but, totally ineffective.  In fact, long-term exposure of fabric to water causes premature break-down of the cotton fibers.  So, don't soak you diapers in your pail.  I have two pails:  one in the nursery for "wet" diapers, and another one in the bathroom for "poopy" ones.  You don't necessarily need two pails, I just have two for convenience.  This is the method I use.  It is simple, and leaves me with nice, clean, sweet-smelling diapers wash after wash.

Washing Instructions for diapers, soakers/liners, and wipes:

"Wet" diapers, soakers, and wipes go directly into the pail in the nursery.
"Poopy" diapers, soakers, and wipes are taken to the bathroom and dunked in the toilet.  I have found that there are those like me who are not shy about getting their hands dirty and we scrub all the "messy" off that we can before putting them into the pail.  However, there are others who are a bit uncomfortable with that job, and  have the approach that, "If it doesn't just fall off into the toilet, the washer does the rest of the work."  That is fine, too.  Do whatever works for you.  I personally find that I get less staining with a more vigorous scrub.  But, it is a diaper after all...staining is expected.

On wash day, I use the "large load" amount of liquid Tide, pour it into the tub, and start the washer using hot water.  I then add the "poopy" diapers first (I don't know why...because there is more detergent on the bottom or something) and then the "wet" ones.  Don't overload your washer.  Those diapers need lots of room to move around in there.  I wash about 18-24 diapers at a time.  Your washer may be bigger or smaller, and your diapers may be bigger or smaller, so adjust accordingly.  After the diapers are in the washer, I add a fabric softener ball filled half-way with white vinegar.  This will dispense during the rinse cycle and neutralize the pH of the diapers, and aid in rinsing.

I have a short pre-wash cycle on my washer, so I hit that and once the tub is full, it agitates a couple of minutes and then just sits there for 20 minutes.  I like that a lot...gives the detergent time to get into that fabric and work before agitating.  Then the washer just goes through the rest of a normal cycle:  Hot wash...spin...cold rinse...spin.

I then do another cold rinse to eliminate any residual detergent or vinegar and that's it.

I used to add non-chlorine bleach, but forgot one time and couldn't tell a difference, so I don't do that anymore.
If I have a really bad stain I'm worried about, sometimes I might pretreat it with something before putting it into the pail if it will be a couple of days before wash day.  Otherwise, just relax about stains.

Drying:

Make sure you shake the diapers out good before putting them in your dryer.  A tightly, wadded-up diaper doesn't dry as efficiently.  I am told that medium heat prolongs the life of all clothing, including diapers, and you should try to use medium heat.  I tried that for a while, too, but it just took too long for me.  I dry my diapers on high heat for about an hour.  I prefer to line dry, but it's only possible here in North Dakota a few months out of the year.  But, when possible, I line dry.  The sun naturally brightens and sanitizes them, they are more absorbent, and they smell really, really fresh and clean....and, of course, it's free : )

Caring for your covers:

Diaper covers should never be put in the pail with dirty, wet diapers.  It's just not necessary.  They are only mildly dirty, so wet ones are just thrown in with the rest of the laundry, and the dirty ones are rinsed off and thrown in as well.   I recommend washing the covers in warm water. Like I said, I just wash them with a load of regular clothes on warm. They don't need the high heat needed for the diapers.  They should also be double rinsed.  The waterproof/breathable fabric works because the "pores" in the weave of the fabric are big enough to let air through, but small enough to keep moisture in.  Residual detergent can clog those "pores" making the cover not perform adequately, so double rinse them for optimal results. 

Drying covers:

I line dry all my covers.  Even before I started making my own, I would line dry them. If you want to dry them in the machine, please be kind to them and dry on medium heat.  They will dry very fast. Your cover is a little more costly and is the key to successful cloth diapering.  Since you will be rotating only a few covers for lots of diapers, they will gets lots of use.  These covers, while durable, deserve the extra care of a double rinse.  And, again...

NO chlorine bleach or fabric softener of any kind, liquid or dryer sheet.  It will ruin them, and I will not accept them in return.