Washable nappy guide

Caring for washable nappies

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.

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.

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.