How Do I Wash Different Types Of Reusable Nappies?
Posted by Babies - 24/07/10 at 10:07 pmIf you use reusable nappies, then you may have found that traditional laundry soaps are less than ideal for washing nappies. There are also many who need to add an extra rinse, add vinegar, or even use unscented detergents to protect their baby’s sensitive skin.To guide you in finding the right cleaning habit for your cloth nappies, here are several pieces of advice
Cleaning Habit
The first step to having a good wash routine for your reusable nappies is to rinse your nappies thoroughly, making sure you have dumped all the solid waste out of the nappy before throwing in the machine. Although, this does not happen if you breastfeed your baby. However, if your baby is breast fed, you don’t have to wet and remove the wastes from the nappy because they can be removed during the first wash.
You typically do not need to add anything to the first rinse. The actual wash is the next step to cleaning your reusable nappies. In this step, you can add oxygen cleaner if you have stains, as well as your detergent. It is always recommended that you use a detergent specifically made for cloth nappies, although you can also make your own detergent if you wish. If you have been having problems with rough nappies, then you should add vinegar to the last rinse. Essential oil can also be added at this point if you want your nappies to have a real good smell.
Your Detergent
Even though you may not believe it, the type of detergent you use on your reusable nappies has a huge impact on the absorbency and smell of your nappies. If you have been having problems keeping your nappies fresh smelling, then you will want to consider stripping your nappies. To strip your nappies means to take out all of the detergent build up, so the nappy is just like new. A good way to do this is to clean the nappies with hot water and dishwashing solution. When you start stripping your cloth nappies, begin it with hot water rinse and put a little dishwashing agent. You continue washing the nappies until no bubbles appear in the water and then dry it just like the usual. Make sure that the detergent you use is free of scents, optical brighteners, and other chemical additives for the best smelling, cleanest nappies. There are lots of ecofriendly soap in the market which are made only for reusable nappies.
Do I Need that Extra Rinse?
One usual reason why cloth nappies accumulate soap residues and become stinky is the insufficient water or rinse. That one extra rinse really does matter, and can completely change the look and smell of your nappies for a cleaner and more desirable outcome. Also, make sure you aren’t overloading the washing machine. About 15 nappies makes a large load and anything more will reduce the amount of water flowing through the nappies.
Having the right cleaning routine for the cloth nappies needs some readings and studies although these guidelines are good enough to help you wash and maintain clean cloth nappies.
