If you've already made the decision to go cloth, then you're probably already reasonably sure that reusable nappies either aren't all that much extra work, or are, in fact, rather easy. Luckily for we modern cloth users, this is largely the case, although different nappy styles can be more or less easy to use and wash. That said, there are a few pointers that will help you get the most out of your nappies and keep them working and looking good. Do expect a bit of trial and error at the beginning as you work out what works best for you, your baby and the kind of nappies you use. Once you've got your system up and running, however, you'll probably find that using cloth really isn't such a chore.
First use |
Bag or pail |
To pre-wash or not? |
What temp to wash at |
Detergent | Skip the fabric softener |
Drying |
Hard nappies
First use
Most cloth nappies increase their absorbency with the first few washes so you'll usually be best off pre-washing the nappies a few times before using them. Some nappies, particularly bamboo ones, won't reach their full absorbency until they've been washed up to ten times. Of course, to be more environmentally friendly, you can also pre-wash the nappies just the once and then use them for quite short periods of time so that you at least get some use out of them between washes. One idea is to use new nappies when you know that the next nappy change, say at the next feed or bath-time, isn't long off. If nappies don't require pre-washing to reach full absorbency then the sales blurb will usually say so.
Into the bag or pail
Whether you soak or not is a matter of personal preference, and of what kind of nappies you use. If you use all-in-one or pocket nappies with a PUL cover then soaking is usually not recommended. You may also find soaking too much of a faff, or dislike the idea of leaving water standing in a bucket, however secure. If you do soak your nappies then there are several different sanitising agents available, several are 'green' options, and usually more gentle on your baby's skin. You'll need to change the water daily, but with most nappy sanitisers you won't need to then wash the nappies - you can simply put them through the rinse cycle of your machine.
If you choose to dry pail your nappies then you might want to add a few drops of lavendar essential oil to the nappy pail which will keep it smelling better and is naturally anti-bacterial. If you're keeping your nappies dry then you also might want to consider a waterproof nappy bag that you can turn inside out in the washing machine and wash along with the nappies, so you don't have to handle the soiled nappies again.
Whichever you choose, you 'll be able to simply drop wee-only nappies into the bucket - but do be sure to shut or tab-back Aplix fastenings so they don't catch on the rest of the wash. Pooey nappies, however, usually a little more thought. Breastfed poops are so liquid that they can be put on a rinse cycle before washing and will disappear down the sewer as they should. More solid poops will need to be tipped off into the toilet first. If you use liners then you can dispose of the poop quite easily: disposable liners you simply throw away while the solid poop usually plops off fleece liners quite easily. If you don't use liners, or find that the poop sticks to the fleece then you might need to sluice the nappies in the toilet bowl before pailing. Hold on tight to the corner of the nappy while you rinse it round in the flush, you don't want it disappearing round the u-bend!
To pre-wash or not?
You don't have to pre-wash your nappies. If you're wanting to get rid of runny pooh then a rinse cycle will be enough before washing. If you have quite heavily soiled or stained nappies, then you might want to run a pre-wash, or you might want to run one every few washes.
What temperature to wash at?
When your mum used cloth nappies, if she did, then she probably used plain terry squares and washed at 90 degrees. If you buy many of today's modern nappies however, you'll probably find that they recommend washing at 60 or even 40 degrees, particularly for waterproof covers. This may be because of the fabric (with waterproof covers), the dye (with coloured nappies) and also just because today's washing machines are so much better than they used to be and wash well at lower temperatures. Using a lower temperature wash also uses a lot less energy than a 90 wash, so it's environmentally better.
If you really feel you must wash at 90 then you're best off going for the plain, un-dyed, pre-folds or shaped nappies. Avoid dyed nappies, Aplix fastenings and, of course, any materials that need to be washed at lower temps. If you are washing at 90 then you'll need to be sure to wash any PUL covers separately, which requires a little laundry separating.
You can also use a nappy sanitiser to soak your nappies in before rinsing or washing in the machine if you're concerned about germs making it through a lower temperature cycle. In our experience a 40 wash works fine on most nappies, but every few washes we use a 60 cycle and wash the covers separately so that the nappies are regularly sterilised. A 60 wash is also a good idea for newborn babies and for babies with sensitive skin. Whatever temperature you wash at, you will probably have some staining if you have a breastfed baby. If this bothers you then you can either use a de-stainer as you need it, or use sun-power to de-stain if you're lucky enough to see any.
What about detergent?
Your washing detergent is a very personal choice. Automatic, biological or natural detergent is a personal choice,and you'll have to see which works best for you and your baby, particularly if she has sensitive skin. Do be aware that some natural washing soap products, such as soap flakes, can affect the performance of man-made fibres such as fleece.
There are several environmentally-friendly detergents, we find Ecover and Ecos, readily available in many supermarkets or your local health food shop, and don't make the mistake of thinking that green means ineffective: Many washing detergents are laden with strong perfumes that make your clothes smell clean, so you may think that they perform better than unperfumed detergents, when in fact they don't at all.
If you use eco-balls or washing nuts then you may want to run your wash at 60, rather than 40 degrees.
The amount of detergent you use is perhaps even more important than the type of detergent. One of the most common causes of cloth nappies and fleece liners not performing well, or of your baby's skin going red, is a build-up of detergent in the nappies. Generally speaking you only need to use a third to a half of the dose recommended by the manufacturers, just enough for a gentle foam. If you can smell the detergent on the nappies after the wash then you're probably using too much, and if you can see foan in the final rinse then you definitely need to cut back.
To keep on top of any detergent build-up it's a good idea to run your nappies through a detergent-free wash before washing them as normal every now and then. If you do see bubbles in the final rinse then try a rinse cycle alone, or a detergent-free wash before drying and putting them on your baby, particularly if he has sensitive skin.
If you see any redness even after you've cut back on the amount of detergent you use, then it could be that your baby is sensitive to something in the detergent and you need to try another detergent.
Skip the fabric softener
It might seem like a good idea to keep the cloth next to baby's botty all soft and fluffy, but fabric softener will reduce the absorbency of the fabric so it's the last thing you want to use on your nappies.
Drying
Of course, the most environmentally sound means of drying your nappies is to line-dry. On sunny days this has the added benefit of removing stains remarkably effectively. This isn't always possible and you may sometimes want to dry inside on a radiator, in an airing cupboard or tumble-dry. Most nappies and covers are fine when dried on low in the drier, but do check the label just in case and bear in mind that you will probably shorten the life of your nappies, and particularly your covers, by tumble-drying. Don't dry PUL covers or pocket nappies radiators.
Dealing with hard nappies
As you wash your nappies several times you may find that those made of natural fibres go a little hard or 'crunchy' depending on what kind of water you have. Line-drying outside usually leaves your nappies softer than drying on a radiator or inside on a clothes maiden. If you do find your nappies go hard then there are several things you can do to soften them:
- Use a tablespoon of vinegar in with the rinse cycle
- Rub the nappies together briefly to soften
- Throw the nappies in the tumble drier briefly - just a few minutes is enough
- Try a different detergent and regularly 'strip' your nappies with a detergent-free wash
- Most cotton nappies will soften up if you run the iron over them
