Washable Nappy Care
| Published: 2nd August 2007 11:41 |
To ensure your washable nappies can be used for their full life expectancy and to make life as easy as possible for yourself, you may find the following hints and suggestions of some use:
Home Washing
Newly purchased nappies need to be washed a couple of times before they are first used to help increase their absorbency.
If you choose to wash your nappies at home a 60 degree wash is sufficient to sterilise them. They can be washed with all your other whites.
As with washing towels, do not add in any fabric conditioner as this can reduce their absorbency.
The wash temperature for the wraps may be lower, usually a 40 degree wash, but always check the instructions on the label.
Select a routine that suits you, maybe washing every 2 - 3 days which will then reduce the amount of water consumed as well.
Fold down any Velcro fastenings to prevent snagging during washing.
Use non-biological detergents. Biological detergents can cause skin irritation.
The only laundry service for our area appears to be Cotton Bottoms at the present time.
Rother have a pdf leaflet for download which provides some more information.
Consider adding a small amount of white vinegar to the wash if you live in a hard water area. This keeps the nappies soft.
Storing Soiled Nappies
Soiled nappies don't necessarily need to soaked. You can either store them in a sealed bucket before washing or if you choose to soak them you might add a few drops of tea tree oil to the water as a natural antiseptic and disinfectant. Alternatively, you could use a tablespoon of Bicarbonate of Soda, 2-3 drops of white vinegar or one of the many bleach free soaking agents available from nappy suppliers.
A nappy net makes transporting nappies to a machine a great deal easier if you store the nappies in a bucket. The net goes inside the bucket, like a bin bag, as a liner. The nappies are then stored until they are due to be washed, perhaps daily or every two days. You can then hoist the netted nappies out of the bucket and put everything straight into the machine for washing.
Drying
Nappies can be put in a tumble drier although it is never advised that wraps are tumble dried as it may affect the waterproofing on them.
They can dried on an airer, a radiator rack or in the airing cupboard if you still have one. They should not be dried directly on top of a radiator as the direct heat may damage the waterproof layer.
Obviously in dry weather, the best place to dry your nappies is on a clothes line in the fresh air. The sunlight will also help to keep the nappies whiter.
Laundry Services
A laundry service, if it can be afforded, can collect soiled nappies on a weekly basis and swop them for the previous weeks fresh nappies.
It is simple and sanitray as nappies are sterilised to hospital standards in a 90 degree wash.
You should budget around £10 per week for one baby for the service and it might be possible to agree reduced charges where ther are two children at nappy stage in the household. This will depend on the service provider.
