the BABI PUR blog

If your new to cloth nappies you might not be wholly aware that the way you look after your nappies can have an impact on how well they perform.

This article will hopefully enlighten you to some of the do's and don't, however if you feel I've missed something feel free to comment and I will modify this article accordingly.

NEW NAPPIES
Pre-washing
There are two main reasons for Pre-washing the first is to remove any manufacturing residue from the nappy before it touches your baby's bottom. The other is to build up the nappies absorbency. Man-made fabrics like microfibre don't require extensive pre-washing however natural fibres like cotton and bamboo require several washes before full absorbency is reached cotton is typically 3-5 washes and bamboo/hemp is typically 8-10 washes.
The nappies don't normally require drying between pre-washes though some manufacturers do recommend it.

HINT: I normally run 3 pre-wash cycles (with my normal nappy load) before using the nappy, then use as a daytime nappy for a few weeks to allow additional washes before trying it at night (especially if its bamboo) this way your not pointlessly using up water on repeatedly washing clean nappies.

Storing Dirty Nappies
Traditionally dirty nappies were stored in a bucket containing a solution like napisan for soaking. Modern nappies; especially those with elastic and waterproof lining such as PUL can deteriorate when soaked for long periods of time. So dry pailing is the general recommendation by most manufacturers. If you use a mixture of nappy types then dry pailing is ideal.

Handling Poos
Newborn poos are generally wet enough to go straight into the washing machine. You might prefer to run a rinse cycle with them first before adding detergent for a full wash cycle.

Weaning poos have greater form and therefore should be emptied into the toilet before storing/washing, as these have the potential to cause clogging in the washing machine.

HINT: I use my shower head over the toilet basin to rinse excess off into the toilet.

Once poos have more substance then you can also choose to use paper liners in the nappy, do check that they are flushable before flushing them as some do require putting in the bin.

WASHING NAPPIES
General Washing
The general consensus is wash cloth nappies in 1/4 of the usual amount of detergent. Most nappies will wash well at low temperatures, with the occasional high temp wash to provide a deeper clean.

My personal wash routine consists of a 30 degree rinse cycle as a pre-wash cycle to clear away any poos (a high temp wash onto excess poo can encourage staining) followed by a higher temp (40 or 60 degree) wash with either normal detergent or a specific nappy based one. I do this twice a week. As poo become more solid the rinse cycle will be removed.

HINT: Always read the label when washing nappies, they set a maximum temperature for a reason. Nappies with a PUL layer can lead to leaks if repeatedly washed at a higher than recommended temperature.

Also avoid using fabric softener on nappies as the oil base of the softener builds up in the fabric and affect on absorbency. Clay based softeners are ok to use but these are quiet rare in the UK.

Stripping Nappies
If your nappies don't feel or smell clean when they've been washed or they may have started to leak then there is a build up of detergent in the fabric and they will need a strip wash.
To do a strip wash you should use a full dose of detergent, a hot wash (highest that the nappies will allow i.e 60 degrees) and do repeated rinses to make sure there are no bubbles left in the washer then dry as normal.

Some fabrics are more prone to build up than others.

Dealing with Stains
Stains especially new born poo which can be explosive can unfortunately stain nappy fabric. The best most natural stain remover is 'sunshine' no i'm not nuts the suns rays have a natural bleaching effect. However it can be a challenge to capture the slightest glimpse of sunshine in the UK so here are a few alternatives.

Napisan - this can be used in the wash with your normal detergent or instead of as a high temp sterilising wash as it's good to sanitising as well as stain removal.

Oxyclean - again this can be used in the washer with your normal detergent, take care not to use too much and make sure your nappies are very well rinsed.

Bleach - you can soak some nappies in bleach. Avoid soaking nappies with PUL layers unless it is advised by the manufacturer, as soaking can cause deterioration in some materials.

If you choose to use any of the above suggested products then please make sure you read the labels and do so at your own risk. Babipur will not accept any responsibility if any damage is caused.

Softening Nappies
If you don't have access to a tumble dryer you may find over time some of your nappies becoming a little 'crispy' it's not uncommon for cotton terry or bamboo nappies to dry out.

Adding white vinegar in the softener drawer of your washing machine will act as a natural softener especially if you live in excessively hard/soft water areas. Again I advise caution in regular use in nappies that have a PUL lining.

HINT: You can also add a few drops of essential oils to the vinegar to make your nappies smell nicer as well.

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Tags: Cloth nappies, new nappies, pre-washing, washing nappies

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