FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Commonly asked questions
WHAT DO I NEED TO GET STARTED?
Nappies, we would suggest around 20/25 nappies for full time use, a bucket or wet bag for storage, wipes and a wetbag for storing when out and about.
NAPPY BUCKET OR WET BAG?
You need something secure to store used nappies before washing, this can be a lidded nappy bucket or a hanging nappy pail. Nappy buckets can be fitted with an optional laundry mesh for easy transfer to the washing machine. Hanging nappy pails are effectively large wet bags than can be hung on a door, out of reach of small children, they are also easy to wash as you can just pop them in with a nappy load. No need to soak!
WHAT DO I DO WITH WIPES?
Washable wipes can be bought in kits or made out of any washable material. Wipes can be used with warm water or if you like you can make up your own wipe solution and pre-dip your wipes ready for use anywhere.
WHAT ARE LINERS?
Liners can make disposing of solids easier, some people use them and some don’t. There are two options; flushable bioliners which are removed from the nappy and flushed away with the solid waste and fleece liners which are washed and re-used once the waste has been flushed away. Please note liners should always be used with nappy cream, to prevent the cream from coating the nappy fabric.
WHAT ARE BOOSTERS?
Should you need additional absorbency in your nappy boosters can be used, there is a huge variety of boosters available with the likes of bamboo, hemp and charcoal being popular for heavy wetters. Nearly any flat pad can be used for boosting; you should never worry about mixing brands or fabrics.
HOW DO I WAS NAPPIES?
-Dispose of the solid content/liner if appropriate
-Store the nappies in bucket/hanging pail until you need to wash – NO need to soak
-Wash as per instructions or (30-60) with around half the recommended quantity of non-bio detergent/Eco-egg/Soap Nuts. NO fabric softener, bleach or vinegar.
-Dry – line dry or tumble dry low (if manufacturer instructions permit)
*An optional rinse may be needed at any stage of the process above if you wish or feel it necessary.
OTHER TIPS
Brand new nappies, just like towels are not very absorbent – to rectify this put them through a couple of wash cycles first to bring the absorbency up to normal. If you have a large amount of new nappies a cheaper option would be to soak them in a bath of water with a little liquid detergent overnight and then wash.
It is fine to wash nappies along with other clothing if you wish.
If your washing machine has a ‘baby clothing’ wash cycle extra rinsing should not be necessary. Remember to check the temperature of this cycle, not too hot!
Flushable liners may be washed and reused if not soiled. Flushable liners are not recommended for homes connected to septic tanks.
Fabric softener has waterproofing qualities and will drastically reduce the absorbent properties of nappies – the only exception may be detergents with clay based softeners built in.
Suede/Minky cloth is virtually stain resistant however for everything else, drying in the sun is the best way to remove stubborn stains.