Help for a 1st timer real nappy user

swampytiggaa

i dry pail mine then wash at 60..... not had any problems with smells. I agree with the poster who said that i don't think 40 is really hot enuf.... in fact my friend who is a scientist says that with cloth nappies you need to either

1. wet pail with milton or similar then wash at 40 or
2. dry pail and wash at 60

no other combination will kill the nasties.

now my latest baby is on solids i stick the nappies on a rinse and spin before i wash them to get rid of any stubborn solids iyswim - then onto a 60 wash

hope this helps!

narabanekeater

hello and thanks for so many replies
My washer just does a normal 40c wash which takes about an hour so next time I shall try at 60 and see what happens
I want to try to stick with the reusables and the washing smell is the 1st hurdles weve come accross

Mrs._Irwin

Definitely use white vinegar in the softener compartment.

If your nappies are bamboo, then never do them hotter than 60 as the fibres will cook and be ruined.

flea72

swampytiggaa wrote: »

my friend who is a scientist says that with cloth nappies you need to either

1. wet pail with milton or similar then wash at 40 or
2. dry pail and wash at 60

no other combination will kill the nasties

not being funny, but who here wet pails or boil washes their own underwear? Nappies dont need to be treated any differently to knickers/pants

And before someone says they dont wee and poo in their pants so its not necessary, the reply is your genitals still have nasties on them no matter how much you wipe, and when potty training, i doubt you treat underwear that has been worn during an accident, any different to your normal wash

Flea

OrkneyStar

weezl74 wrote: »

hiya, I wash mine on a quick wash (40 mins) at 30 degrees but with a little scoop of napisan, so I don't need the heat to kill the germs, as this is more expensive

Hanging them out on the line gets rid of any smells

This is what I do too.
DS is older now, so most of the poo is flushed down the loo before washing (as it is more solid), and it is mainly a little poo stain and wee that is being washed off. If they were really yucky then I might do them on a longer wash, and an extra rinse too. hth

elyphant

Dry pailing and washing on 40 should be enough, certainly was for ds2. Use less washing powder/detergent - about 1/4 to 1/2 of normal amount. If you use too much, it builds up in the nappies and the reaction of that with wee next time it's used can be a bit stinky! Certainly agree with the poster who said that 40 degrees is enough. I do seem to remember something about washing at 60 before baby has had all their jags, or if they have an upset tummy, but I'm afraid I'm not very sure about that.
Def recommend a bit of white vinegar instead of fabric softener - kills any odours and softens (jsut like with towels, you shouldn't use fabric softener on nappies as it affects their absorbency).
Line drying is definitely brilliant for smells.
Persevere with them, they are definitely worth it, we loved them and I'm sure saved a fortune. Just takes a bit of jiggling about to get your washing routine right/to suit you. There are lots of cloth nappy forums online where you can get tons of advice - not sure if allowed to post but I always used to go on babycentre dot co dot uk for help.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

flea72 wrote: »

not being funny, but who here wet pails or boil washes their own underwear? Nappies dont need to be treated any differently to knickers/pants

And before someone says they dont wee and poo in their pants so its not necessary, the reply is your genitals still have nasties on them no matter how much you wipe, and when potty training, i doubt you treat underwear that has been worn during an accident, any different to your normal wash

Flea

I think I understand your point, but at the risk of there being too much information, surely you have to replace undies regularly precisely because of normal human activities? I for one throw anything a family member has - shall we say - discoloured away if a second wash fails to rectify the problem.

OrkneyStar

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I think I understand your point, but at the risk of there being too much information, surely you have to replace undies regularly precisely because of normal human activities? I for one throw anything a family member has - shall we say - discoloured away if a second wash fails to rectify the problem.

Can I suggest Napisan for any stubborn stains ? Works wonders .

flea72

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I think I understand your point, but at the risk of there being too much information, surely you have to replace undies regularly precisely because of normal human activities? I for one throw anything a family member has - shall we say - discoloured away if a second wash fails to rectify the problem.

as no-one gets to see my pants, then yes, i still use them if stained - what women doesnt have 'time of the month' pants. if i had to throw them away, every time they got the slightest stain, id be replacing them on a monthly basis

however its only a stain, i doubt there is any residue, so whats wrong with still wearing them?

Flea

painted_lady

Well, i always wash anything with a bodily fluid at 60, thats "time of month" underwear, or anything anyone stains or dribbles on, esp as DS is potty training.