Washing
Washing your nappies at 60°C will ensure they are clean. Boil washing was common before people had washing machines. However, boiling can reduce the life of the nappy, so is not generally recommended by manufacturers. It is also costly to your purse and to the environment.
Some people add domestic borax or sanitising powders to nappies waiting to be washed. These are germicides, so if you choose to use them, you may not need to wash the nappies in detergent after soaking – just rinse thoroughly.
Rinsed soiled nappies and nappies that are only wet can be added to the rest of the household washing at 40°C.
If your baby is under one year old their rinsed soiled nappies should still be washed at 60°C (while he or she is developing resistance to infection).
Wraps should be washed at 40°C. They don’t have to be washed each time they are used if they haven’t been soiled and can be quickly rinsed under a tap if you feel this is necessary. Most are very quick drying.
Biodegradable liners can also be washed once or twice if they are wet and not soiled.
Storing
Wet nappies and rinsed soiled ones can be placed in a dry lidded bucket while waiting to be washed. If soiled nappies need to be stored for longer than a few days, fill a bucket with enough water to cover the nappies and add a few drops of tea tree oil or vinegar or a tablespoon of borax if you have it.
Don’t soak wraps, all-in-ones or pocket nappies as this shortens their lifespan.
Drying
Dry nappies out on a washing line if you can. Sunshine will deodorise, sanitise and naturally bleach them. Otherwise line-dry indoors. Avoid tumble drying, as this uses a lot of energy and therefore costs more, reduces the life of the nappy and is not good for the environment. Some washing methods may not be suitable for some nappies – if in doubt call the helpline or your supplier.How many will you need?
If you usually wash nappies every 2-3 days you will need:
- 18–24 nappies for a newborn (going down to 18 nappies as your baby moves onto solid food) and
- 3-4 waterproof wraps in each size.
If you use shaped, sized nappies you will normally need three sets - small, medium & large - as your baby grows.
If you use one size, birth-to-potty nappies, one set should be enough, although you may need a particularly small set for a newborn.
How much will it cost?*
Starting with 24 flat nappies and 4 wraps plus some liners (at £2-3 per roll of 100), you can expect to pay around £60 for a set. You will need to get larger wraps later as your baby grows, which will bring the total to about £120 for everything until your baby is potty trained. Retailers often sell sets, which are better value than buying individual items. One-size wraps cost more but you will need fewer. A full set of birth-to-potty shaped nappies with wraps and liners, providing everything you need in one go, will cost a little over £200. This compares to £600-900 for disposables.
* Estimated from average prices at the time of publication.Laundry Services
Laundries supply, deliver, collect and wash your nappies for you. They supply a lidded nappy bin into which you put the wet and soiled nappies. Once a week all the used nappies are collected and a freshly laundered set delivered. They are washed to hospital disinfection standards and thoroughly rinsed to protect your baby’s skin. You might need to provide your own wraps. After the nappies’ useful life they are sent for reuse by industry. Some laundries also sell new nappies.
Laundry services cost £8.50 - £11 per week.
Cute as they are, with babies comes mess, whether they are rubbing food into their hair or being sick over their clothes! Just as you wash their other clothes you can wash their cloth nappies – and just as simply.
What we recommend
Do
- use eco laundry liquid or powder where possible.
- use an A-rated washing machine to reduce energy and water costs and consumption.
- add half a small cup of vinegar in the last rinse cycle, or a few drops of lavender in the conditioner compartment of the washing machine to keep nappies soft as well as smelling fresh.
- thoroughly rinse nappies before drying – whether in the washing machine or after just soaking.
- pass on your nappies for another child to use when your child is potty trained.
- use a laundry service if you don’t want to wash your own, particularly in the early months.
- try first – get a trial pack of different types to see which suit you best before getting a full set.
Don’t
- use commercial fabric conditioners as they reduce nappy absorbency.
- tumble dry. This shortens the nappy lifespan and consumes more energy.
- use chlorine bleach or perfumes. These chemicals and the optical whiteners and other ingredients in ordinary washing detergents may cause skin irritation.