Caring for cloth

Washing guidelines

Many people worry that cloth nappies will be difficult to care for and have visions of their parents boiling and sanitizing nappies on a stove! Nowadays it couldn't be further from the truth and is as simple as putting on an extra load of laundry.

We have to include specific instructions from each manufacturer when sending you the nappies, but the general instructions below will work with just about every type.

Firstly load up the machine - it is preferrable to put on a full load for energy saving - and run the nappies (and washable wipes if using them) on a cold rinse without detergent. This will remove the worst of the wee and help lift stains.

Secondly add a quarter of the manfacturers recommended amount of non-biological washing detergent. You can usually find this in english supermarkets or online at Indybel (www.indybel.com). Wash at 40-60ºC which will sanitize the nappies. Do not use higher than 60ºC as it can deteriorate the elastic used in the legs and waist and effect the waterproof coating of the wrap. 40ºC is fine for normal washloads but if your baby has diarrhea or a fungal infection then wash at 60ºC to ensure all bacteria is killed.

Thirdly run the nappies on a cold rinse without detergent. This will help to remove any left over suds from the detergent. If you still see suds then rinse again until clear. It may be that you are in a softer water area and need to use less powder next time.

Remove the nappies and hang out to dry. They should smell clean and fresh straight out of the machine. If there are still odours then you may not have used enough detergent especially if you are in a hard water area or may have overloaded your machine and will need to wash them again. Occasionally it can take a couple of goes of tweaking to get the right amout of detergent but the above method is usually accurate.

It is recommended to line dry your nappies where possible to save energy and also to take advantage of the natural bleaching power of sunlight. It really is natures best stain remover! If you need to tumble dry then be sure to do it on a low setting.

When you receive your nappies it is best to run them through a couple of wash cycles before first use, as like towels they become more absorbent the more they are washed. There is no need to wait for them to dry between wash cycles.

Storage guidelines

There are two main ways to store used nappies; wet bag or pail. If you are using Pockets be sure to remove the inserts from the shell before storing and washing.

A wet bag is a waterproof bag which you can store the nappies in until wash day. They either have velcro or zip fastenings to seal in odours and you can hang them on the bathroom door out of the way. On nappy wash day just empty the contents of the bag into the machine turning it inside out as you go (so no need for gloves), pop the bag in the machine and wash along with the nappies. You will need a second bag to start filling while the other is in the wash. Smaller versions of these are great for when you are out and about to store used nappies.

A pail is simply a bucket with a lid. Make sure the lid secures firmly. Most manufactures recommend dry-pailing where nappies are removed and placed directly in the pail without soaking. On wash day put on rubber or disposable gloves and empty the contents of the pail into the machine. Wash out the pail before next use. For tips on keeping a fresh smelling pail, see our FAQ's section.

Wet pailing, where the nappies sit in soak in the pail, is more of an out-dated method and not really advised nowadays due to the heaviness of the pail when transporting on washing day and the collection of stagnant water which can be a health hazard or drowning hazard around young babies or children. Modern day cloth nappies don't really require soaking to remove stains particularly if you follow the recommended washing guidelines.

Handling solid waste

If there is solid waste in the nappy upon removal, you can shake it off down the toilet if it's of the harder variety and put the nappy straight in the pail or wet bag. With breastfed babies or some formula fed younger babies the poo may be a bit runnier and not easy to shake off. If you're worried about staining then you can always rinse the nappy before putting it in the pail by either flushing in the toilet bowl or rinsing in a bidet. Some manufacturers sell miniature shower heads which can attach to your toilet for rinsing soiled nappies but it is personal choice.

It is important to always follow the manufacturers recommended guidelines for washing the nappies. You will receive a copy of these along with your purchase. Using methods or products which are not recommended by them could invalidate your right to return.