Cloth Nappies Care and Washing Instructions 

NEW PRODUCTS

• Liners: Wash these once before first use following the prewash washing instructions listed below.
• Cloth Nappies Care Including Inserts : We recommend soaking these in cold water for 24 hours and then washing them once before use (using the main wash washing instructions listed below). This is to increase the absorbency before use. Maximum absorbency can take up to 8 washes so we recommend more frequent changes up until this point.
• Swim Nappies/Nappy Bags: These are delivered ready to use!

CLOTH NAPPIES / LINERS / INSERTS WASH ROUTINE

Our product supplier recommends washing nappies and liners separately at a temperature of less than 30 degrees.

However, as a parent to parent (with the help of the amazing team behind Clean Cloth Nappies (CCN)), I recommend following the below guidelines and referring back to CCN’s as you require.

DRY PAILING

• A dry pail is an empty basket (usually a washing basket) that is used to store dirty nappies until wash time.
• We recommend using a plastic basket due to its ease of cleaning in case there were any spills.
• An ideal dry pail will have holes to allow for airflow which minimises the development of ammonia.
• A dry pail is recommended over the use of wet pailing due to bacteria growth.
• We recommend rinsing soiled (poo) nappies straight after use and before dry pailing. To do this you can either tip or scrap (with a spatula) the poo into the toilet, or use a toilet spray gun or the toilet flush to wash it off.

DETERGENT:

• Refer to the Clean Cloth Nappy care detergent index for the most suitable detergent for your machine type and preferences. It will also give you the quantity needed for both the pre and main washes and recommend the most suitable wash temperature.
• Washing powder only (not liquid) is recommended for areas with medium to hard water.
• Avoid using fabric softener as it coats the fibres of the fabric reducing the effectiveness of the nappy.
• Also, avoid using vinegar on your nappy products as it can break down components.

PRE-WASHING

• We recommend pre-washing each day, and generally in the morning after a night nappy if suitable. All parts of a nappy can be washed together but make sure the liner, nappy and inserts are separated for the best possible wash.
• You will want a short cycle with agitation at a high rinse speed and deep setting no colder than 40 degrees and no warmer than 60 degrees. Water above 60 degrees can cause delamination of the waterproof shell.
• Use the recommended amount of detergent as listed above.
• If you are having difficulty choosing the best pre-wash cycle. Follow CCN’s on Facebook and in the group search look for your machine type. Between the 55 thousand followers and an amazing team of dedicated admin, it has likely been answered. However, if it has not, feel free to ask the group and those with similar machines will be too happy to help.
• Once washed, there is no need to dry the contents before the main wash so pail damp. Depending on your climate, if you feel like mould can be an issue, drape the nappies/inserts and liners over the side of the pail.

STAINS

• If after the pre-wash you find you have staining (we have only ever had this on the inserts). We recommend soaking the stain in a small bucket with Vanish stain remover overnight and re-adding the garment to the next prewash and continuing the cycle.
• Alternatively, Sard Wonder Soap can be used directly on to the stain and rinsed off prior to the main wash.

MAIN WASHING

• Depending on the number of nappies being used, the main wash is usually done every 2-3 days.
• You want to select the longest and heaviest cycle your machine has for the main wash such as ‘Heavy Duty’. If you are able to extend the cycle such as ‘Intensive’ also do so.
• Make sure you refer to the detergent index above for the correct detergent amount.
• The cycle should be no less than 50 degrees and no more than 60 degrees.
• For maximum wash results, you will want the machine 2/3 full when dry. If your washing does not amount to this, you can add other small garments such as clothing or tea towels to achieve this. This will help achieve a ‘stew’ consistency to create maximum agitation of garments being pulled down periodically achieving a great clean. Too much or too little water will deter this.
• Again, if you are having trouble selecting the best cycle for your machine, please follow the reference listed in the prewash.

DRYING

• Drying can be done using a washing line, cloth airer or drying machine.
• If you are able to dry your garments in the sun the sunlight can help reduce any staining. Just make sure the waterproof side of the shells is facing away from the sunlight to avoid damage.
• If you are using a dryer, let the dryer and garments cool before touching as an extension of the elastic whilst hot can have damaging effects.

BARRIER CREAMS

• Barrier creams are able to be used with Modern Cloth Nappies. Following the correct washing routine using hot water and good detergent will wash this out of the nappy.
• We do recommend the use of a liner such as Microfleece Liners which will add another protection layer to the nappy.

Modern Cloth Nappies are not indestructible so we recommend setting up a correct and suitable wash routine to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of your products. With good cloth nappies care, all these items can last up to 3 kids 😊