When it comes to washing modern cloth nappies basically the washing machine does all the work. It is literally as easy as putting the nappies in the machine, pressing a few buttons and coming back to hang them out when done. No soaking or harsh chemicals are required and in fact are not recommended.
What do I do with my wet/soiled nappies?
Dry pailing is recommended as the best way to store soiled nappies until you are ready to wash them. Simply dispose of any solid waste and put the nappy into a bucket with a lid until wash time. If for any reason you wish to soak your nappies, do so in plain water. Soaking solutions such as Napisan contain chemicals that can cause elastic to degrade and fabrics to disintegrate. From time to time you may wish to rinse your nappies prior to putting them into the bucket. This may be necessary when your baby is sick or teething, both of which can produce more concentrated urine with a higher ammonia content.
What do I do with newborn poo?
Newborn poo can be dealt with in two ways - either rinse it into the toilet prior to dry pailing, or pop the nappy into the bucket as is, and let the machine deal with it. Newborn poo is water-soluble so will come out in the wash and a pre-rinse in the machine will deal with most of it. If the nappy becomes stained hang it in the sun and the stains will magically disappear. If you are not convinced give it a go and see for yourself!
How do I wash my nappies?
It is recommended that you wash your nappies every second day to ensure that they are not left sitting in urine for too long. Squirt, scrape or tip any solids into the toilet and pop the nappy into your nappy bucket until you have enough for a load. It is best to do a pre-rinse with cold water first, followed by a normal wash in cold or warm water (you can wash up to 600C, however 400C is the best temperature for elastic longevity). You can also do a final rinse at the end to remove all detergent residues, as detergent build-up can affect the nappy's absorbency.
What detergent should I use
Use one quarter to half the amount of detergent that you would normally use for a similar size load of clothes. If too much detergent is used it can build-up in the nappy and reduce its absorbency. Environmentally friendly detergents are a good choice as they are gentler on the nappy's fabric and your baby's skin, as well as being better for the environment. Examples include Planet Ark/Aware, Earth's Choice, Green Care, Tri Nature, Purity Sensitive and Eco Store. It is best to avoid detergents that contain fabric softeners, enzymes, perfumes and optical brighteners as these can shorten the nappy's lifespan and may irritate your baby’s skin. These include Duo, Bio-zet, Cold Power, Drive, Omo, Dynamo, and Radiant. Fabric softener is to be avoided as it coats the nappy fabric and reduces absorbency, while bleach and whitening agents breakdown the fibres of the fabrics and can destroy nappies and covers.
I don’t have enough for a full-load, what can I do?
You can wash your nappies with other items such as towels, sheets, bibs, wraps or clothes to make up a full-load. Just follow your normal nappy wash routine and add in the additional items to be washed after the nappies have been pre-rinsed.
How do I dry my nappies?
The best way to dry your nappies is outside on a washing line or clothes-horse. Sunshine will remove stains and smells and sanitise your nappies. Most nappies can also be tumble dried on a cool or warm setting; however, it is best not to dry them this way all of the time. Excessive drying in a dryer will reduce the life of your nappies by thinning the fabric and causing elastic to deteriorate, particularly when hotter settings are used. Nonetheless, occasional use of a dryer is fine and has the added benefit of softening your nappies. For this reason many people like to tumble dry their nappies for 10-20 minutes, either prior to hanging them on the line or just before they are completely dry.
In order to maximise the lifespan of your nappies hang them on the line in a way that avoids stretching the elastic. The best way to do this is either to drape the nappy over the line (Figure 1) or hang the nappy on its side (Figures 2a, 2b). Do not hang from the wings, as the downward weight of the nappy will stretch the elastic. Another suggestion is to hang your nappies with the inner facing out. This both minimises fading of the outer of the nappy and ensures the sun can sanitise the inner of the nappy.
Figure 1: Draping the nappy over the line
Figure 2a: Hanging the nappy on the side
Figure 2b: Hanging the nappy on the side – pegging booster
My nappies have become smelly and/or are leaking, what can I do?
If your nappies are starting to smell when your baby does a wee or are only lasting a short time before leaking, it may be due to detergent build up. A strip wash will solve this problem.
Wash your nappies prior to undertaking a strip wash so that you are ‘stripping’ clean nappies. If your washing machine is a top-loader nappies can be 'stripped' by doing a hot wash with a squirt of dishwashing liquid. Keep rinsing until there are no more suds. However, please note that dishwashing liquid is not suitable for use in front-loaders.
An alternative way to do a strip wash is with bicarb soda and white vinegar. Use half a cup of bicarb soda instead of detergent and add a quarter of a cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle (put in the fabric softener dispenser) and wash with hot water. Once again, rinse until there are no more suds. Check with the nappy manufacture before using this method as some advise against using bicarb soda and/or vinegar. Vinegar should not be used as part of your everyday washing routine.
Please Note: Strip washes should not be undertaken on a regular basis but rather as needed, usually about once every couple or month. Undertaking this technique too often will be detrimental to your nappies/PUL.
After strip washing hang nappies on the line to dry.