Caring for cloth nappies is really simple. None of the mundane tasks such as endless soaking, folding and pinning are required with today’s modern cloth!

Before you use your nappies it is necessary to do a prewash. We recommend washing the nappies at least once with detergent and once on a plain rinse cycle. This is to remove any manufacturing residue and help increase initial absorbency. It is important to know that most nappies won’t reach full absorbency until around 8 or 9 washes. It is not necessary to dry the nappies in between prewashes.

When a nappy is soiled, dispose of any solids in the toilet and then place the nappy in a dry, lidded nappy bucket or wetbag. If you are not a fan of mess, our disposable, biodegradable, 100% bamboo liners will make nappy changes easy and mess free. Liners can be flushed down the toilet. For stubborn stains, you may wish to rinse the nappy before placing it in the bucket. We advise leaving the nappies no longer than 3 days as this can be detrimental to the nappy.

We recommend washing your nappies in cold water and line drying, as this is naturally the best option for the environment and cheapest for you, however nappies may be washed in water up to 60 degrees. It is important that you only use ½ strength detergent when washing your nappies. Conventional washing powders can build up in nappies over time and eventually affect absorbency and cause nappies to smell. If you are using conventional washing powder and this occurs you can do a strip wash (outlined below). We recommend washing your nappies with Rockin Green (specifically formulated for cloth nappies and available in our store) or Eco friendly powders such Earth, which is available in the supermarket.

I like to put my nappies through a plain rinse cycle (no detergent) before washing them on the longest setting. I find this helps to get rid of all the nasties and gives a better clean. This is especially useful if you intend on washing your nappies with clothes but is really a personal preference. Make sure when washing your nappies that the machine is not overcrowded and there is sufficient room for agitation, this will give the best results. If your machine is over full you may need to halve the load and do it in 2 batches.

Do not use any bleach, fabric softener, vinegar or whiteners such as napisan on your nappies as these are all detrimental to the nappy. If you wish to use an antibacterial wash you can use Canesten or Dettol, which are both available in the supermarket.

Line drying is not only good for the environment, but is great for your nappies. UV rays are generally enough to kill any germs and the sun is excellent at bleaching stains on your nappies. If weather is not permitting, nappies can be dried in the dryer on a low setting only – drying them on a high temperature may damage the nappy. If you notice that your nappies feel a little crispy after being line dried (this is especially common with bamboo), placing them in the dryer for a few minutes will have them feeling beautiful and soft again in no time.

Make sure your nappies are completely dry before using them again, if they are still damp they will not be as absorbent and they may leak. Our Everyday Nappies have a very quick drying time, but our Exclusive Nappies will take longer to dry as they have 3 layers of bamboo sewn into the wetzone. You can turn the nappies inside out to help the bamboo to dry quicker.

How to do a Strip Wash

If you find that your nappies are suddenly leaking, or starting to smell – even after a wash – then it may be time to do a strip wash. Washing powder can leave residue in the nappy, especially as these days washing powders contain everything from whiteners to fabric softeners, which are generally not good for cloth nappies. While this residue may cause a temporary problem for you, it is easily fixed.

Simply put your nappies in the machine and wash them on a warm cycle. Place a few drops of cheap, regular dishwashing liquid in with the nappies, and wash repeatedly until there are no more suds.