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Washing

It's essential to wash nappies several times before you use them to make them absorbent. To test for absorbency pour water on a dry nappy: if it runs off the surface it is not ready for use.

Store used nappies in a bucket with a lid until you have enough for a full load. Put the nappies through a rinse cycle and you can then add 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.

There are now special detergents available for washing nappies which are very gentle and allow you to wash and sanitize nappies at low temperatures. Most real nappy suppliers stock them.

Find out from other parents what they do.

Some washing methods may not be suitable for some nappies – if in doubt call the helpline or your supplier.

Detergent residue can become a problem. For more information visit the Canadian nappy gurus www.bummis.com

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.

Any problems visit our troubleshooting page