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Caring for washable nappies
Home washing
- New nappies need to be washed a couple of times before they are first
used to help their absorbency.
- If you wash your nappies at home a 60°C wash is sufficient to sterilise
them. They can be washed with all your other whites. Do not add fabric conditioner
as this can reduce their absorbency. The wash temperature for wraps may
be lower, check the washing instructions label.
- Select a routine which suits you, maybe washing every 2 to 3 days.
- Fold down any Velcro® fastenings to prevent snagging during the wash.
- Use non-biological detergents. Biological detergents can cause skin irritation.
Storing soiled nappies
- Soiled nappies don’t necessarily need to be soaked. You can either
store them in a sealed bucket before washing or if you choose to soak them
you can add a few drops of tea tree oil to the water for its antiseptic
and disinfectant properties. Alternatively, you can use 1tblsp bicarbonate
of soda or 2-3 tblsp of white wine vinegar or one of the many bleach free
soaking solutions available from nappy suppliers.
- A nappy net makes transporting nappies to a machine a lot easier if you
store nappies in a bucket. You can just hoist the net out of the bucket
and put it all in the washing machine.
Drying
- Nappies can be put in a tumble dryer or dried on radiator racks. It is
not advisable to tumble dry wraps or put them on radiators, as this will
damage their waterproof layer. The best way to dry your nappies and wraps
is on a clothes line outside. The sun will also help to make them whiter.
Wraps will also dry quickly in an airing cupboard.