A Guide to Maintaining Reusable Nappies
Modern, reusable nappies are not difficult to maintain. All that is really needed is a washing machine, a gentle detergent and a pail.
There are two methods to storing soiled nappies, one being much more preferred. One is the wet pail method, in which a pail filled with water and baking soda is used to store the soiled nappies. When the pail is full, the water is emptied out and the nappies go into the washing machine. This method is said to prevent stains, but is truly unnecessary, causing odours and messiness, not to mention being a potential drowning hazard.
The dry pail method is definitely the preferred one. The nappies are placed in a pail, preferably with a lid, and are emptied into the washing machine when full. Baking soda can be sprinkled on the nappies to prevent odours if that is a problem.
It’s nice to use gentle detergents because of your baby’s sensitive skin. Detergents that are free of fragrances, dye and other chemicals are better and will make a nappy change much more pleasant. Don’t use chlorine bleach or fabric softeners when cleaning your nappies; these things will shorten their life and decrease absorbency.
When washing the nappies, it’s wise not to fill the washer too full. Too much friction is not good for them, and if your cloth nappies have Velcro tabs, it’s best to close them to avoid wear and tear. It’s also a good idea to use a smaller amount of detergent than normal on your nappies, as you don’t want the detergent to build up in the nappies. Make sure that any soap is thoroughly rinsed off.
Line drying the nappies in the sun is a great way to take care of stains, and this will also extend the life of your nappies. When using a dryer, don’t dry them for longer than 90 minutes on hot.
After a while, you may have to remove build up from your nappies by stripping them. Stripping your nappies is simple; just take the clean nappies and wash them on your hottest cycle twice with no detergent.
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