EcoBalls!

[naturemum]

Hi - Am using Ecover Non-Bio to wash nappies. DS is 4 months old and exclusively breastfed (to give you an idea of content!

Have seen the EcoBalls in Green Baby catalogue and thought they seemed like a sensible choice for washing nappies. Has anyone used these before?

Would you recommend them?

I used something similar a few years ago.

They lasted for ages and ages. They seem to work ok, but with bf poo you might need to use an extra stain remover before washing, which is a bit of a hassle.

If you're not bothered by the stains, then everything will be perfectly clean, just not spotless.

I did miss the fresh smell of conventional powder though and even ecover has some kind of a a clean smell. After using the balls my washing just smelled of fabric IYSWIM.

Now the weather's improving then sunlight will naturally bleach any poo stains if you get a chance to use a washing line.

Worth a try even if just to guarantee you'll get no residue on your nappies - so better for baby's skin.

I used to use them when ds was a few months old, and then stopped, can't remember why. I started to use them again, because at 14 months my ds started to develop a nappy rash, which we worked out was triggered by residual detergent in the cloth - the smell of washing powder indicates there is a residue.
The build up of powder actually caused the nappies to smell pooey the minute they had been pee'd on, this was particularly noticable with hemp nappies. I used to do a prerinse, then a full wash with prewash, then another final rinse, to remove the detergent. I now do a full wash and an extra rinse with vinegar which I probably don't need to do separately , so it's made quite a difference to the time taken to wash the nappies.
I find that they nappies just smell like wet cloth at the end of the wash, instead of detergent.
If they nappies look very grey, I put in some Oxiaction as a prewash, but most of my nappies are coloured and they look fine,and less faded than when I used Fairy Non-Bio. Apparently you can also buy an ecover laundry bleach.
I saw a great deal on ecoballs on Ebay, it's the wash-it brand which is the same one carried by Lakeland.

That's interesting Maisiemog, my ds has had a bit of bum redness and I have also noticed odd smelling nappies that have just been weed on.. Had a feeling washing powder was at fault so have been doing extra rinses + vinegar. Doesn't seem to be improving completely so think I may give eco-balls a go. How much vinegar are you supposed to use in the final rinse?

worked fine but balls wore out fast. though we had a washer drier then, maybe that was the prob.

Am now a complete convert to gloop, it is fab! even on bf nappies!

What's gloop?!
I've always been tempted by those balls too so may give them a whirl - do you use for clothes too?

I usually just tip in about half the fabric conditioner compartment of vinegar. I think it does add a bit of a smell - vinegar, but it's good for the nappies ph balance, I've been assured.
With the ecoballs, you are supposed to reduce your washing time, because the 80 or 90 washes they are supposed to do is based on a one hour wash, or a quickwash, apparently that should be enough to get them clean. So you have to rethink your whole approach. It's hard though, if you have been accustomed to washes taking three hours or something, to believe that one hour is enough.

Re the dryer, I read on the packet that it shouldn't make any difference if you leave the ball in for the drying cycle. They are worn out when the balls inside are actually shrivelled up and go dark.