More washing tips

Extra How-to’s and more washing tips for reusable nappies

Washing and caring for your nappies is really easy – but there is always someone who likes HEAPS of info – so this is for you!

Prefold washing
Although we are talking specifically about ecobots with these washing tips, all cotton nappies can be washed this way.

New prefolds need several washes before they are able to absorb their maximum capacity, just like a new towel. In order to achieve this you can either wash and dry them up to three times, using a hot wash cycle with about 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent. The detergent removes any residual starch  from the manufacturing process (used to keep the fabric immobile while sewing).
Using the dryer fluffs the cotton up and makes your nappies softer, just 10 minutes in the dryer is usually enough.  If you don’t want to tumble dry your nappies, then you can line dry at the end of the process instead, they just might not be quite as soft.

Alternatively, you can soak your nappies overnight in cold water to achieve much the same effect.

Unbleached prefolds might benefit from an extra wash in order to remove the natural waxes that did not get stripped by the bleaching process.  Although this is not essential.

After this initial washing process, cotton prefolds do not require any special washing instructions.

Never use fabric softener

Liquid fabric softeners and dryer sheets both leave a waxy residue on nappies which causes cotton & fleece to repel liquid, decreasing the absorbency.  If you feel that your nappies are a little stiff, then a quick scrunch when you take them off the line will help.
Fabric softeners, soaps, fragrances, and some detergents can cause build up of residues that hamper the nappy’s ability to absorb liquid and the cover’s ability to repel it.

If you think your nappies or covers aren’t working the way they used to or the way they’re supposed to, it may be that they have too much build up of residue. You may need to strip your nappies.

You can line dry or tumble dry your prefolds. Tumble drying can make them softer and fluffier if they feel stiff coming off the line. Although from an environmental point of view, line drying is preferable.  Sunlight is a great antibacterial, and also gets rid of stains.

Using vinegar in your final rinse cycle also helps to keep nappies soft – hard water makes them stiff. If you take your nappies out of the tumble drier and they still have coloured marks on them – don’t fret – next time you hang them outside the marks will go away.

You can iron your prefolds. Hot ironing may also kill any bacteria remaining. It isn’t really necessary to do this though.  Have you got the time or energy? Really?

Washing tips for Covers

Nappy covers do not need to be washed after each use, unless soiled. Just air out and use another cover, or wipe them when you change your baby.

When you do decide to wash your nappy cover, SECURE VELCRO tabs. This helps the Velcro keep its stickiness longer, and helps prevent it from snagging other items in the wash. If you don’t secure the velcro, you may find that your washing comes out of the machine in one long chain.  Hang drying your wraps will also increase their longevity, although you may tumble dry on low.

DO NOT use chlorine bleach or other whitening agents on your covers.  Sunshine should remove any stubborn stains.  Stain removers and ‘boosted’ whiteners may make your covers leak with continued use.

And avoid all fabric softeners!

Soaking

Keep a lidded nappy bucket next to your changing table, or by the toilet if you dump and flush. You might use a smaller bucket to plop the dirty nappy into on the changing table while you get your baby sorted, and have your main bucket in the laundry (or safe in the bath or shower tub).

Soaking is not really necessary, particularly if you wash regularly (every day or 2) or if you rinse your nappies first.

If you do want to soak, then you can:

1. Rinse your nappies first, then soak in tap water
2. Soak in 1/4 cup baking soda in a bucket of water
3. Use a chemical whitener ( oxygen whitener)
4. Use 4-5 drops of tea tree oil as an antibacterial agent

Dry Pailing

Dry Pailing is pretty much ‘not-soaking’. Get rid of the solids first by flushing the liner, and rinsing off any extra bits. Chuck the nappy into a holding bucket/container of some description until you are ready to wash. You can use a couple of drops of either lavender or tea tree oil (on a wipe or similiar) to reduce the smell, or sprinkle with baking soda.

Folding and Storing Tips

Think about where you want to store your nappies and covers. Make it easy for you by not having to travel around at nappy changing time looking for things.  Suddenly finding yourself short of things mid nappy change is never good.

Good places include:

In the airing cupboard
Next to the changing table
In a drawer in the baby’s room

It is a good idea to fold them into the pad shape you use straight off the line, to minimise double handling.

Stinky Cloth Prefolds!

If you find that your prefolds, or inserts, are smelly despite being washed there are several factors to consider.

You may be using too much detergent. Cloth prefolds are made to absorb and they do a great job! They will also absorb the detergent from the washing process. If you are using too much detergent, it is possible that it is not all being rinsed out during the washing process.

Try having a look in your machine during the rinse cycle, can you still see soap suds?  If there are still bubbles present, then it’s very likely that you are using too much powder, half the usual amount should be enough.  Also make sure that you are using enough water to rinse everything clean.

On the flip side, if you are not using enough detergent this could result in extra stinky nappies since you may not be getting your nappies clean enough.
You may need to start using vinegar. Vinegar brings pH levels down, killing more germs and balancing the pH back to a more neutral level. Vinegar works best with hard water; if you have soft water the vinegar may react with minerals in the water and cause an acrid odour in your nappies especially noticeable every time your child urinates in them! Apple cider vinegar is not a good idea, as it can give your nappies a dirty brown colour. White vinegar is very cheap in the supermarket,and has lots of other uses around the home.

WHAT IS STRIPPING?
Stripping isn’t as important to know about with cotton prefolds as it is with fleece.
Fleece nappies tend to have more of a problem with being a bit fussy with laundry care.
The advice about stinky prefolds above is as much stripping as you would ever need to do with cotton.

First, to test if detergent build-up is the cause of your stinky nappies, wash as you normally would. Then run a short wash cycle with no detergent. Open the lid (or look through the glass if you have a front loading machine) and see if there are suds forming. If so, you do have a detergent build up that needs to be rinsed away. You will need to STRIP your nappies.
If no suds form, then you may need to use more detergent, pre-rinse your nappies before washing.

Adding vinegar, if you have hard water, is another way to get your cloth nappies cleaner.  Most areas of New Zealand have relatively soft water, so this step may not help.

If no suds form and you are using vinegar this could also be the cause. Vinegar works best with hard water; if you have soft water the vinegar may actually react with the minerals in them, causing them to smell, even more so when your child wees. Even hard water may have some trace minerals which could cause this problem.