A rash of savings: Get the cheapest nappies/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

Zziggi

Alleycat wrote:

I hadn't thought of that, but just asked OH as he 'knows' about these things and he has said that yes it would neutralise the ammonia. Just slosh a bit in the softener section of the drawer next time you do a wash. You will have to let us know if it works!

Give me 2 days and i'll be washing again. I'll try some vinegar despite using the 2in1 stuff.

Alleycat

What nappies do you use? You really need to be careful using fabric conditioner even the 2-in-1 type as this will knacker the nappies absorbancy. If you do use it, I would suggest putting an extra rinse on to reduce the build up.

Zziggi

Alleycat wrote:

What nappies do you use? You really need to be careful using fabric conditioner even the 2-in-1 type as this will knacker the nappies absorbancy. If you do use it, I would suggest putting an extra rinse on to reduce the build up.

some terry squares and a few tots bots ones with motherease wraps

pennies2pounds_3

rev229 wrote:

I used terries with both of my children, I never soaked then in anything, just put them in the nappy bucket and every 3-4 days washed the whole lot in the machine using bicarbonate of soda instead of washin powder or nappisan, don't use bold as it has fabric conditioner and decreases abosorbancy of the nappy, my nappies were lovely and never smelt. I bought terries and various wraps have used them for both my children leant them to a friend who used the for her two kids and returned them to me we use them for allsorts now . They are now 9 years old and probably the most useful items I have ever bought and over the years certainly saved us lots of money.

How much bicarbonate of soda did you use ?. Is it refined bicarbonate? Babe is due in june ! . I could start to stock up now if its lots

rev229

I think it was about a 3/4 washing dispenserfull I remember having to go to tesco phamacy and asking them to order a larger box which they did was 7 years ago otherwise it was just the small tubs from the baking isle. I use flushable nappyliners so there wasnt many heavy stains you can was at any temp depending on stains etc. I also used nappy nippers instead of pins 3 prong gripper thing john lewis used to do also boots held nappy very well and much better than pins. We also used diffeernt wraps eg kooshie rather than plastic elastic pants these don't work very well. Pants were rinsed in washing machine. It was all very easy.

Zziggi

large quantities of bicarbonate of soda can usually be bought from chinese shops at a very good (cheap) price.

geniusmonk

http://www.treehuggermums.co.uk/articles/clothnappies/article.php?article=37

this article is from the company we used for our nappies, although youngest is just out of them. :j

Hope it helps.

mummytofour

I wash like everybody else, dry pail, pre wash then wash, BUT i wash at 40 there is very little need to wash at 60 and in the long run if you have PUL wraps in there also then they will not last as long.

I use gloop( home made washing stuff) and viniger in the draw.

Have you tried give your machine an empty wash at 95? that might help.

joannasmum

One reason why nappies smell of ammonia is that there is a build up of detergent in them and this retains the ammonia smell. I wash at 60 with 1/4 of the amount of non bio liquid and still occasionally have a build up and when this happens I normally rewash at 40 with no detergent. You should see the amount of suds that come out of them. I also put some drops of tea tree oil into the detergent to kill any bugs and vineger in the rinse to fluff up the fibres.

HTH

pdoff

have only yesterday started using reusables on 3 month old - got some 2nd hand sam i am ones. used flushable liner but there was still a pooh explosion!! anyway, his clothes seem to be soaked after a couple of hours. (used disposable last night) i have a pad to put in them but his bum looks huge as it is & dont think clothes will fit if i put that in too! if i wash in bicarb of soda & use vinegar instead of softener do u think that will help with absorbency? 2 hours is not long enough to do shopping etc & toddler gets bored waiting for me to change nappies!!
dont like the idea of dirty nappies hanging around, especially with nosey toddler (although think he would be ok but he likes to help so can see him trying to put them in wash!) so would it be ok to wash at 60 with towels? - usually have wee on them anyway as like to give ds2 nappy off time after bath to help with nappy rash. having said that if i need to change so often i will soon have a full load!