Cloth Nappies - Why Use Them?

A Proper Way To Wash A Cloth Nappy

These type of nappies are earth friendly and very easy to take care of. If you are washing them in a proper way, your cloth nappies can last for many years and save you money. These are made from layers of fabric such as bamboo, cotton, hemp or microfiber and can be washed or reused a number of times.

Traditionally, all of these are composed of a folded square fastened with safety pins. However, modern cloth nappies come in different colours and shapes, and there is what we called preformed cloth nappies. There are also available all in one nappies with waterproof fabric materials in the market.

Do not use fabric softener or bleach on your nappies. Fabric softeners make the nappy less absorbent and bleach prematurely affects the fabric in a negative way.

The Regular Process Of Washing Cloth Nappies

1. Get the poop away from the nappy by flushing or rinsing it down to the toilet.
   
2. Fill a basin half full of cold water and you can also add a half cup of vinegar. If you are using a washing machine, you can put all of them directly into the machine. Have an extra cycle or two to get them clean.
   
3. Soak the nappies in the cold water with vinegar. Wait until you are satisfied that the time is enough for the dirt to loosen.
   
4. Remove nappies from the solution and you can start washing them. You can also put them in a washing machine and run a spin cycle to remove excess water.
   
5. Add a cold water plus a half cup of baking soda to neutralize the ammonia and it also helps in bleaching the nappies.
   
6. You can leave the nappies with that solution overnight.
   
7. After that, remove the water and let the nappies run another spin cycle.
   
8. Wash the nappies using warm water and use a gentle detergent on a regular cycle. If you are washing the nappies by hand, you need to do it on a separate basin and wash away the dirt.
   
9. You can rinse the nappies in cold water. Do not use bleach and fabric softeners. Fabric softeners decrease the absorbency of the nappy and bleach weakens the fabric of the nappy.
   
10. Check the nappies for stains. If there are no stains, you can hang them in lines under the sun. The sun is the best antimicrobial agent that is perfect for your cloth nappies.

If you want to make sure that your nappies are cleanse thoroughly, wash them a few at a time. It is also advisable to separate your nappy covers from the nappies. The number of nappies you'll need to start out will depend on how often you want to laundry. If you have time to wash them every day, you can wash up to 2 dozens of nappies a day. It is always safe to check the product's label and follow the manufacturer's washing instructions. Nappy services are also a great idea for many parents; see what's available in your area.