Washable Nappies

SwipernoSwiping

oh.. As a side thought, Spaghetti Monster, as your only using a small amount of powder. ( though many MSE folk here would tell you to ignore the instructions at the best of times - I have learned to heed their wisdom!)
You might find that your machine is causing a clog in the rinse process. Depends on how old your machine is and how much limescale is about in the machine too.
If this is the case. There's a couple of things I have known people to do.
1.
Check the filter is clear. Empty wash at 60 with bleach - lots of rinses after till theres no suds.
2.
Calgon
3. Empty wash with two capfuls of white vinegar at 90.
4. empty wash with soda crystals at 90.

Which ever you prefer, all have cleared things out.

mummy2mygirls

I Used to get smelly nappies quiet quick and always needed to strip my nappies - but now i know longer do and the thing i changed was using more washing powder! I started with only a tablespoon as was told thats best but now i use 3 tablespoons and do two extra rinses at the end of the wash to make sure I dont get a build up - also wash on a 60. Not the best mse as using slighty more powder and washing on high - but much better to not get smelly nappies and have to keep stripping them. When i did strip them I would use a squirt of washing up liquid in a 60 wash and then rinse LOADS till all bubbles gone...

I have also always line dried (or on the rads for inserts) and dont get crunchy nappies. I think limescale can cause crunchy nappies. When doing normal washing I use soda crystals all the time along with my powder to make sure machine doesnt get a build up of lime scale - not sure if that has helped not get crunchy nappies???

My totsbots are the least reliable nappy ive got But I still love them and just have to make sure I dont go over 2.5-3 hrs without a change. Most reliable has to be my ebay cheappies and bumgenius V3s... But the ebays are so much cheaper and have nice pretty patterns lol

Cant wait for my new baby to come so I can use my fluff on small little baby :)Also got some teenyfit which are soooo small and cant wait to use them

sparkle76

Hi everyone and happy Bank Hol!

I got some prefolds on Freecycle (small and medium sizes). From what I can tell on the Nappy Lady website the 'Angel' fold is best for these.

1 - What wraps should I get and how many?

2 - Also we are in a hard water area so do I need to wash these now before bubs arrives (end of July) and sun dry them or anything?
Alot of them seem brand new.

Thanks

SwipernoSwiping

Morning Sparkle. Happy Easter!

Well done on the find.:beer: If they seem new I would give them at least one wash, if not two.

I live in an extremely hard water area. I am Forever descaling kettles here. Just add some soda crystals in the wash drawer or white vinegar in softner drawer. Soda Crystals also get your whites whiter

Sundry for stains - tumble for softness - mix and match 5/10 minutes in the tumble then line dry.. eco softness perhaps?:rotfl:

Wraps. Any wrap with a leg gusset is needed, it helps to keep the nappy still It's basically an extra bit of material. Mother Ease Rikk (velcro) and Airflow (popper), Tots Bots, Nature babes all do gussetted wraps. tots and Nature babies have the best choice of pretty designs.
Angel fold is best to start, and you might find using a nappi nippa good for keeping that nappy still on wriggle bums!

all thats left is to grab a teddy and get practicing.

SwipernoSwiping

Mummy2mygirls - what totsbots do you have. Easy Fit? Flexitot? Never heard of an ebay cheapie out performing tots - unless we're talking pockets or all in ones.

spaghetti_monster

Thanks for the advice! I was replying yesterday, but lost the whole post, so in short......

I do wash with very little powder and have only been using the nappies for about 6 weeks (we used disposables for the first few days as I had a c-section and the washing machine was out of action for a couple of days), so I'm a bit disappointed that they already smell, but maybe this is normal?
Also, is it normal that they'd need boosting when LO is only 8 weeks old? I can't put them on any tighter, as they will leave red marks/indents on his legs. As it's my first baby I was thinking that maybe all nappies leak and washable ones will leak a bit more than disposables...

Nicki

No they shouldn't leak provided they are changed frequently enough (about every 3 hours). As it's recent, and they smell too, it does sound like they need stripping. Perhaps your machine isn't rinsing thoroughly enough if you only use a little powder, and detergent has built up? Maybe try soaking one in a vinegar and water mix for a few hours and see whether any scum comes to the surface. if it does, you have a build up and the performance will improve with stripping.

SwipernoSwiping

Spaghetti Monster. The only leaks I have ever had is in sposes or using ebay cheapies.

If they are new (and not new to you)

Do the soak test. Take about 100ml of water and pour onto a dry nappy. If it soaks straight in there is no need to strip. If it puddles, you need to strip the nappies.

Did I read right your using Ecover? If so be aware that Ecover doesn't rinse out well from nappies - and yes therefore probably will need stripping .

spaghetti_monster

Thanks again for the advice - I will give the suggestions a try.
I am using Ecover - I'm in Holland and there's not a great selection of washing-powders.......

ETA; the supermarkets are a bit carp here. The only other thing I can find after scouting around is to order something called Potion from tots-bots online..

SwipernoSwiping

Ah... thats why you need to strip so soon.

Ok so not sure of the limits of shipping here, but if your Eco-minded Bio -D is good.
http://www.biggreensmile.com/products/bio-d-washing-powder-1kg/bdwash1.aspx?productid=bdwash1
They also do a larger box if you check the site. You might want to consider getting some bio -d Nappy Fresh too
http://www.biggreensmile.com/products/bio-d-nappy-fresh/bdnappy.aspx?productid=bdnappy.

Basically Potion isn't the best from what I have heard, but better than ecover. Potion is evolved from the Bio-D above as they used to recomend that I believe ( going back some and memory is a bit dodgy!)