Modern Cloth Nappy care instructions and tips
There are no set rules here. The following tips and guidelines are compiled based on our experience, feedback from our buyers and articles on the internet. You should use them as guidelines only. Not everyone will get the same result even if they follow the same instructions. And every baby is different. You will find the best way that suits you and your baby by trial and error.
There are many tips and care instruction on the
internet as well. Just do a Google search with keywords like "
modern cloth nappy washing" or "
modern cloth nappy care instructions", etc.
How many nappies do I need?
It will depend on your budget and the frequency you washing and drying them. You need to change the nappy and the
insert approximately every 2-3 hours. The estimated total number of nappies you need is 10 per day. And you need another 10 the next day while others are being washed or dried. Of course the more nappies you purchase the easier it will be for you.
Pre-wash
You need to wash your nappies and inserts before you use them for the first time, for two main reasons:
1. To remove any residues from production process
2. To help reach their full absorbency quicker.
You can expect reasonable absorbency from your nappies after 3 washes. It may take up to 6-10 times before they reach full absorbency. You only need a small amount of detergent. Drying after each wash will help reach full absorbency quicker. Some suggest that you just wash a few times then start using them. But change more frequently at the beginning until they reach their best absorbency eventually.
Can I mix all colours in the wash?
Yes, you can. They are colourfast.
Washing temperature and tumble drying
Washing temperature should be no higher than 35 degrees. Cold rinse. If you need to use tumble dry, make sure the temperature is set to "Low".
Drying
Line-drying is the ideal way of drying your
modern cloth nappies as the sun sanitises and bleach out any remaining stains. It is also the most economical and environmental-friendly method. You should place the inner side of the nappy facing the sun.
But the nappy shell is best air-dried in the shade as this helps prevent elastic going brittle. The
inserts are good to be line-dried in full sun or tumble-dried in low.
If the weather is not permissible, you may tumble dry them in LOW. But tumble drying is not recommended as it will shorten the lifespan of your nappy. To shorten drying time, try to add a dry towel to the dryer. The inserts will take longer to dry. The nappies should be much quicker. An alternatively way to shorten nappy shell drying time is to roll it up in a towel to remove excess moisture, then hang it up and air-dry it.
Detergent and softener
Normal washing detergent is good to use, providing it does not contain bleach or softener which will reduce the absorbency. Use 1/4 or 1/3 of normal amount is enough. No softener or bleach should be used.
Some use bi-carb insteand of detergent, and use vinegar on rinse cycle.
Soaking or dry-pail?
No soaking is required. Try to avoid Napisan or other soakers. The soakers break down the absorbent components of the nappy. You should leave the nappies in dry pail and wash it around every 2 days.
Changing the nappy
You should change it every 2-3 hours or when the insert is saturated. (Sometimes you may change the insert alone and leave the nappy for another round if the
nappy is still clean and dry.) You may use flushable liners on the top of the inner nappy if you wish. Remove any solid waste and flushable liner into the toilet. You may do a quick rinse under the tap before putting your nappy in a pail.
My nappy is leaking
A normal nappy in good condition should not leak. If it is leaking, try to find out the reason causing it so that you can fix the problem:
* Make sure you adjust the nappy properly so that it fits your bubba. The nappy itself does not hold moisture, the moisture gets sucked through to the insert placed in the pocket. Therefore, they need to be placed close to the body, not too loose;
* Make sure you change the
nappy every 2-3 hours or when the insert is saturated, otherwise it will leak through to the side;
* The nappy may not have reached its full absorbency yet. Do a few more wash/dry cycles so the nappy starts function properly;
* If you have been using the nappy for awhile now, maybe it's time to do a strip wash.
Strip wash
After a few months of usage, you might have a leaking or smelly nappy. That is due to a build up of residue (detergent, cream or other chemical) which reduces the absorbency, even if you have been following the instructions carefully. You might want to do a strip wash.
1. Make sure your
nappies are washed and dried
2. Run a hot wash (no hotter than 60 degrees) with 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of white vinegar or 1/4 cup dishwashing liquid (Now our manufacturer says no hotter than 35 degrees. It's your call. Maybe use 35 degrees or lower and see the result first)
3. Run a normal wash, cold or warm with no detergent
4. Check the water while they are being washed – If you see soapy bubbles, keep running them through a rinse cycle until they are gone
5. If you have done 4 rinse cycles and you are still seeing bubbles, do another hot wash, with no detergent and no hotter than 60 degrees
6. Keep rinsing until there are no bubbles.
7. Line dry your
nappies
Do I need more inserts?
You may need an extra insert if your baby is a heavy wetter or you may need it for nap time and night time.
For more
information about cloth nappies, an amazing range of beautiful
reusable nappies and accessories and information about UK local
nappy incentive schemes please visit
www.naturalnursery.co.uk
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