ALL YOU NEED IS AN EASY TO FOLLOW WASH ROUTINE

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CLEANING CLOTH NAPPIES IS LIKE ANY OTHER TASK, FAIL TO PLAN - PLAN TO FAIL! FOLLOW THESE STEPS FOR QUICK & EASY CLOTH NAPPY CLEANS

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TOOSHIE TO CLOTHESLINE IN 4 STEPS!

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STEP

1

REMOVE SOLIDS

Take the nappy to the toilet, roll off any solids and flush.  
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STEP

2

ADD TO DRY PAIL

Quickly rinse the soiled nappy in the laundry sink and add it to your dry pail (a.k.a the fancy name for a bucket with holes!) Read on for top tips about choosing a dry pail and using a silicone brush to easily remove excess solids.
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STEP

3

RINSE & WASH

At the end of each day (or start of each morning), simply throw the day's nappies in the machine and run a quick pre-rinse cycle - returning the rinsed nappies back to the dry pail. When you have enough nappies for a load, complete your main wash. Read on for full washing guidelines.
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STEP

4

DRY

Line dry Inserts for best results (or tumble dry according to the manufacturers instructions). Always line dry covers (or use an airing rack inside), as tumble dryers can affect the PUL water resistant layer and elastic integrity of the nappy cover.

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LET'S TALK ABOUT SMELLS!

PICKING A DRY PAIL

A dry pail is simply a bucket or basket-type holder used to store cloth nappies before a main wash. Why? Quite simply to make the process easier, reduce the number of main washes required and to rid your laundry of pre-main wash smells. You can use any bucket or basket you like, but MAKE SURE it has holes to optimise aeration and minimise smells. As for size, you choose according to your needs. Pop it in your laundry and enjoy the ease of rinse-and-throw!

WASHING GUIDELINES

When you are ready to do your main wash (can be every 2-3 days or according to the number of nappies you have on hand), add your inserts to your machines longest (warm <60*C) wash cycle with the full amount of detergent needed for a heavily soiled load and water level. Covers should be washed separately as they should not exceed 40*C as the integrity of the PUL and elastic could be compromised. The wash can always be bulked up with your normal washing. See our Cleaning FAQ's below for more detailed washing information.

REMOVING EXCESS SOLIDS

After you have tipped the solids out of the nappy and into the toilet, you may find in some situations that you have a little excess left on the insert. It may be helpful to purchase a silicone brush to help remove these excess solids during your quick sink rinse. This ensures that all solids (and smells!) are history prior to putting your rinsed nappies into your dry pail.

CLOTH NAPPY CLEANING FAQ'S

Can I use vinegar?

Vinegar has, in the past, been used to “soften” nappies and to also sanitise them. However, modern cloth nappies do not need softening and the truth is vinegar can cause a stinky problem if it remains within the fabric. Here’s the science behind it: Vinegar (especially store brought) is often an acid in its diluted form. Add this to our washing machine and we are further diluting it. This makes the water too basic and has no positive effect on sanitising or disinfecting your nappies.

Can I use nappy rash cream or ointments?

The truth is, if you’re washing your nappies properly you won’t be getting contact reactions like you would while using disposables. Ointments can create a film on the inserts causing nappies to repel and not function properly which can lead to ‘pooling’ and therefore leaks. If you find this is happening, try scrubbing the affected area with an old toothbrush and a little detergent. Nappies affected by nappy rash creams are not covered by any warranty. If you require a nappy rash cream, use a natural based product, one without cortisone or zinc-based products such as the Waleda Organic Calendula nappy change cream. If you need to use these ointments, make sure you put a liner (either flushable or wool) between your baby’s bottom and the inner layer of the nappy to maintain its warranty.

What detergent should I use?

Finding the right detergent to use with your nappies is important, as it will impact on the absorbency and overall performance of your nappies. Don’t choose any detergent that contains fragrances, perfumes, fabric softeners or chlorine bleaches. Soaps are not detergents, and soaps are not suitable for washing nappies. Detergents to avoid – Detergents or Natural soaps containing various oils (e.g., soap nuts). These should NOT be used because they will leave a residue on fleece, causing it to repel liquids. Never use fabric softener of any kind on reusable nappies. Liquid fabric softeners leave a waxy residue which causes urine to repel, decreasing their absorbency. Using the wrong detergent will affect the performance of your nappies.  

Can I wash in cold water?

Heavily soiled nappies are best washed in hot water. Laundry detergents can be added to assist in cleaning nappies. However, a hot wash will outperform every time. This is because heat helps to break down the chemical bond in dirt and stains. Ideally, cloth nappies should be washed at 60*C to avoid ammonia build up, stains and smells. Keeping in mind that to maintain the integrity of the shell’s elastics and PUL they should not exceed 40*C. If you do not have access to hot water, we suggest sanitising your cloth nappies once a fortnight. 

How do I wash only a few nappies?

During toilet training, you will notice the number of nappies sitting in your dry pain decreasing. You can hand wash your nappies with a small amount of detergent, spin out excess water and dry pail before adding to your standard laundry wash. 

How do I wash night nappies?

Due to their added absorbtion and capacity to hold on to more liquid we suggest doing a rinse soon after the nappy is removed from your child. For this reason, we suggest doing your daily rinse in the morning as part of your daily routine. You can also do a quick hand rinse using a bucket and small amount of detergent if you find you are getting some ammonia build up. A tip for those who live in areas with restricted water access can use shower water collected from their shower.  

How do I tackle washing with water restrictions?

Use bath/shower water with a small amount of detergent added for your daily pre-wash. Collect shower water by bringing a bucket into the shower with you. Add nappies to your normal laundry wash. Save the final rinse water and use for the first rinse of your daily cycle. Front loaders are known to use less water than top loaders. Choose main cycles that use less water.

Colour has run in my wash! What do I do?

So you’ve added your nappies to your main laundry cycle and found an item has run and eft colouring on your nappies! Before you start crying, return all the affected nappies back to wash with a Colour Run product (I like to keep one on hand) and add as directed to the nappies before they dry. 

Why are my nappies smelly?

If you are following an adequate wash routine, you should not be getting smells. Here are a few things to check and problem solve:

• Are you doing a daily pre-wash?
• Is your dry pail sufficient (general rule is more air holes than not)
• Is the machine loaded properly to obtain optimal aggitation?
• Are soiled nappies rinsed within 24hours?
• Are you using the correct detergent?
• Is the water temperature correct?  

Can I use the sun to remove stains?

You shouldn’t be getting stains with an adequate wash routine. Be careful using the sun as a method of stain removal as this is not an effective method for sanitising your nappies as the UV light will not penetrate the multi layers of the inserts causing bacteria to become trapped.

Where do I get more help?

We are committed to supporting you on your cloth nappy journey. If you have purchased cloth nappies and aren't feeling confident about cleaning them, or cleaning them is just not feeling EASY (the way it should be!) - then please book a free support session via our Cloth Concierge.