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Caring for your reusable nappies
Caring for your reusable nappies
All our nappy fabrics have been washed once before sewing.Before using your nappies: Nappies should be washed prior to use. Our nappies are made of natural fibres, such as Bamboo and Cotton, and should be washed 3-4 times before being used as this will improve absorbency. There is no need for drying between washes. Other materials, such as PUL (nappy covers) and micro-fibre can be washed prior to use but it is not absolutely necessary. Nappies of deep colours, such as red, should always be washed separately at first to ensure the colouring does not run. Using your nappies:We choose not to use liners in our nappies as we find that our bamboo velour works well against the skin and keeps moisture away from the baby's bottom. We also find that even after bowel movements the nappies do not stain if care is waken when washing. Most people do use liners inside their babies nappies. These will either be flushable liners, or washable fleece ones. Paper liners are handy for out-and-about use, and some people use them exclusively. Fleece liners are excellent as fleece does not absorb moisture and dries quickly, meaning that wetness passes through it into the nappy keeping babies bottom dry! So, when nappy is soiled, the liners can either be flushed (paper) or 'emptied' into the toilet- if you stretch the fleece liners over the bowl, poop should seperate from them. Failing that, holding it into the toilet bowl, keeping a hold of a corner of it, and flushing should do the job! Then they can be washed along with the nappies when ready. Storing your nappies:
Pre-rinsing:
Soiled nappies should have solids removed, by dumping into the toilet and/or rinsing off with water. With a full load of nappies, particularly in a very water-efficient machine, it may be useful to do a cold pre-rinse cycle of all the nappies before the full wash cycle. It is not necessary to soak your nappies between use and washing although it can help to expend the lifespan of the nappies. Dry-pailing is perfectly acceptable, and many people use a lidded nappy bucket, lined with a mesh bag- so when the bucket is full the bag is simply lifted out, and the whole lot put in the machine. That way you do not even have to touch the nappies, and if you leave the drawstring open the bag will separate from the nappies in the machine. If you're planning to drypail your nappies for more than a couple or three days, it is wise to briefly rinse the nappies before putting them in the bucket. Leaving strong urine (particularly overnight toddler urine) on the nappies for days on end may sometimes affect the nappy fabric. Most people do a nappy wash every 2-3 days, but it depends how many nappies you have and it is just about getting into a routine.
Washing your nappies:You will find a washing routine that works for you, and every cloth-nappying parent will have a different method to recommend! Some people do a cold rinse cycle, to remove urine and any 'bits' before doing a wash cycle. This is also a handy hint for keeping your nappies smelling fresh, as the cold water rinses away the urine rather than setting it as hot water can tend to do. We advise that you use a non-bio washing powder, and that you use only 1/2 or even 1/3 of your regular amount. Excessive laundry detergent will cause a build up on the nappies, affecting their absorbency and causing them to leak. Do not use fabric conditioner ever, for the same reasons. A splash of distilled white vinegar (available in supermarkets) in the conditoner draw every so often will keep nappies nice and soft, and help to prevent build up from hard water- and no your nappies should not smell of vinegar afterwards! Wash at a maximum of 40 degrees celcius (optimum temperature for bamboo fabrics). Bleaches (chlorine or oxygen based) sold as "nappy soaking" chemicals can cause skin irritation and are not necessary. Another possible cause of buildup on a nappy is the use of thick barrier creams. These are generally unnecessary if the nappy is changed often enough. If you do experience this problem, you may need to scrub the nappy inner with a nailbrush and a little washing-up liquid before continuing with the strip wash procedure above. If you find your nappies are not smelling fresh when you take them out of the machine, or have an ammonia smell, the detergent is not getting rinsed properly. Check the rinse cycle, and if you see suds add a second rinse to your routine ro remove them. You may also be using too much detergent- it is a difficult habit to break for some, but you really do not need to use a lot! If you are still having stink issues, run a hot wash cycle with no detergent, and you could even add a few drops of tea tree oil.
Drying your nappies:Our nappies can be dried in whatever way you usually dry the rest of your laundry. A tumble drier on a low heat will keep them at their softest, and a dry towel in with the load will speed drying time. However, tumble drying may shorten the life-span of your nappies. If you will be line-drying or drying on airers near radiators, a splash of vinegar in with the wash will help keep them soft (note, drying wraps directly on radiators may damage their waterproofing abilities, and can scorch bamboo fibre causing it to become 'flat', an airer next to a radiator is a better option). Sun drying (when the weather permits!) is excellent for bleaching out stains, and killing of any leftover bacteria, and will also keep your nappies functioning well for longer.
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