Baby Cloth Nappy Care
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Most people you talk to who aren't using cloth nappies, have comments that generally come first as are you mad, then it is followed with you have to soak, scrub, wash, hang on the line, what a waste of water & then its followed by I don't have time to do all that washing - too hard!!!! It seems that the biggest issue for most people is the washing & folding involved. When you look at it, the washing side of it all isn't really that hard. Ultimately it will come down to your choice, but hopefully once you have a read of all the information below your perception of cloth nappies will change. Remember cloth nappies have come along way & the days of soaking, folding & pinning are definitely gone. Please read below & I am sure you will be surprised at how easy cloth nappies can be to wash.
Things to remember :
- Ensure you don't wash higher than 60 degrees & only use half the detergent you would normally use when washing.
- DO NOT USE vinegar, baking soda or bleaches like Napisan etc
- DO NOT USE fabric softeners
- DO NOT USE barrier creams
- DO NOT use washing detergents that contain ENZYMES, FABRIC BRIGHTENERS & FABRIC SOFTENERS. Try to also use a detergent that has low allergy & low phosphate.The detergent preferred is Planet Ark Washing Powder or Aware Washing Powder.
- Sunshine is the best method for drying your nappies. You may tumble try on low heat if preferred, but please always read the care instructions on your nappy before doing so.
- Odors - odors occur when you have not rinsed the nappy enough or have detergent build up (used too much detergent and or fabric softeners etc). To alleviate this problem do a cold wash with no detergent until the water runs clear. Then hang out to dry on the line. To prevent happening in the future, do a prewash first with no detergent, then add half the detergent you would normally use when washing your clothes, wash as normal, hand on the line to dry.
To get the most out of your cloth nappies & to ensure your warranty (if applicable) is valid, follow the easy steps I have listed listed.
Step One - Clean Soiled Nappies
Baby poo's (especially breastfed babies) are runny until they begin solids. Poo should be put into the toilet regardless of what type of nappy you use. There are three options you can choose from.
A - Rinse by hand or B - use a device called a little squirt gun (this attaches to your toilet) allowing you to spray the waste into the toilet or C- use biodegradable nappy liners which can been flushed down the toilet. Once your baby is on solids the poo will lose its runny consistency & simply roll off the nappy into the toilet.
Step Two - Storage Of Dirty Nappies
It is no longer necessary to soak soiled/wet nappies in a bucket until you are ready to wash them. Today's method is know as DRY PAILING - you simply put the soiled/wet nappy into a nappy bucket & seal with an airtight lid. It is not necessary to rinse wet nappies or soak them in water/chemicals prior to washing as this will intensify the smell. I only rinse the nappies that have soiled areas from poo (make sure to wring the water out), then put into my dry bucket. All of the wet nappies are popped straight in & then sealed with the lid. As long as you have an airtight lid there will be no odor/smell present. Please be warned that when you do open the lid after a day or two it can be a little strong, but disappears when you close the lid or transfer nappies to the washing machine. Please note DO NOT SOAK YOUR NAPPIES AS THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS (Drowning Hazard), CHEMICALS CAN CAUSE IRRITATION TO YOU BABIES SKIN.