ever here's a brief overview.
There are several different types of cloth nappy. Most basic are squares of towelling à la old school, which need a waterproof wrap. Then you have fitteds, which are cloth shaped like nappies, and need a waterproof wrap (these are bombproof and super reliable, but can be bulky). Then there are ones where the waterproof is attached to the inside part, but you have to stuff cloth inside to increase absorbency, these are pockets ( can be made up in advance, straightforward, often leak ime). And then you have all in ones, which are as the name suggests and most like disposable nappies (these are a bugger to dry, more expensive, still leak ime, but dead easy to use). And then there's a few weird and wonderful variations. Flips are basically a pad which sits in a wrap. They'd be rubbish for a baby I think, but for a toddler when it's more of a just in case, and who doesn't poo often, they're nice and slim. Some people use them with babies.
Every time I put a disposable on my eldest overnight it leaked or even burst (he was covered in little pee absorbing beads). Bamboo cloth nappy with wrap = no leaks. Although the smell of ammonia was so strong in the morning it made my eyes water!
The initial outlay is high, and puts people off, but if you add it up they are cheaper in the long run than disposables. They massively reduce the chemical exposure compared to disposables. And disposables take between 300 and 700 years to biodegrade, whereas cloth doesn't. Also, depending on your sensibilities, you can buy (and sell) them used. And if you reuse for another baby you are serious quids in compared to disposables and for the planet. I bought fitteds used, I've used them in 2, they're in great condition and will do my third, and then I'll sell them or give them away = win for purse and planet.
Washing - you put them in a bucket with no water and no products. When ready to wash (every 24-72 hours depending on routine, drying times and how many you have), you through them in the machine, rub either a prewash or a rinse, wash on a normal cycle, with a seriously reduced quantity of non-bio powder, and then I hit the extended rinse button. You can line dry, but 15 mins in a tumbler once in a while fluffs them up a bit. You can wash them between 30 and 60. I normally do 40, with a 60 once a month.
Baby poo can go straight in the machine. It sounds grim, but modern machines and powders are more than able to cope with it. Once they're on solids, you tip it down the loo before you bucket them.
If you're washing nappies you can also wash wipes, which is another giant savings. A pre made set of cheeky wipes is about £35 and comes with everything you need, for ever. And that's it. Huggies wipes on offer are 75p per pack. That lasts about 3 days with a baby. Cloth wipes are much better at cleaning poo as well, wipes can sort of smear it. I made my own wipes, so it was even cheaper (I bought some second hand towelling squares and cut them up, not pretty but job done for about £5).
Frugi used to be called Cut4Cloth. All cloth nappies are bulkier than disposables, and these days baby clothes are made to fit over disposables. So vests in particular, but also sleepsuits and trousers can be a tight fit. Frugi makes clothes for cloth nappies. Plus they're organic, fair trade, and bright fun colours. Spendy full price, but okay in the sales.
You can't use normal nappy rash creams, it buffers the absorbency) but you can use stuff like CJs Butter which is divine and free of chemical nasties (it's technically edible). I still use their stuff on my boys.
Here's the nappy lady site for some ideas www.thenappylady.co.uk/reusable-nappies.html