Reusable Nappy Care
How to wash your reusable nappies
We know that for many it is the washing and care routine that seems a little daunting and the reason why people opt for disposables instead. But we promise you they take minimal effort and it really is super easy!
Keep reading to find out just how easy it really is to wash your reusable nappies.
What about the poo?
This is a common question and one that puts a lot of parents off. Whilst poo is inevitable, no matter what type of nappy you use, the good news is it’s really not as daunting as it first seems. In fact when using reusable nappies, the poo (well, about 95% of it) goes in the toilet. This is where it belongs instead of ending up in landfill and possibly spreading disease as it could with disposable ones. It is the liners job to catch most of the poo, just lift the liner out of the nappy, pop the poo in the loo and the liner in the bin or compost if you prefer, then put the nappy in a nappy bucket. Job done!
Where do I put soiled nappies?
We suggest having a specific storage place for the dirty nappies to keep them separate from the rest of the laundry, such as a nappy bucket. This keeps them separate, all in one place, and smells locked in. Make life easier for yourself by lining the bucket with an elasticised nappy mesh. The dirty nappies go into the mesh in the bucket and then when full, the mesh goes straight into the machine - allowing minimal handling of the nasty stuff. If you are on the move we recommend getting a sealable waterproof wet bag to store any dirty nappies until you can get home to put them in the bucket.
Washing day
Once your bucket is looking full, or you are running low on clean nappies, it's time to pop them in the wash. Grab the net from the bin and drop the bag in the washing machine. We suggest running a cold-rinse cycle first to get rid of any left over poop, then add detergent or washing powder to wash at the temperature recommended in the care instructions (normally between 40° to 60°).
Tips
You can use any non-bio powder (not liquid) and avoid using fabric softener as this can affect the performance of the nappies. Some parents like to use detergent specially designed for cloth nappies such as the TotsBots washing powders. But the choice is really yours! It is a good idea to wash your soiled nappies separately from the rest of your laundry items to make sure nothing gets stained.
Time to dry
Once the wash is done, you simply hang the nappies up to line dry. Alternatively, you can put them in a tumble dryer, although this will increase costs and could damage the nappy especially if they have Velcro tabs. And voila! You have freshly washed nappies ready to be used again. See, we told you easy peasy.