Tots bots nappies very rough after washing - any tips to soften them up

[Pidge]

I have just acquired and am very chuffed with some 2nd hand tots bots nappies. But after washing them (at 60, which I guess is normal), they're pretty rough and I'm worried they might be uncomfortable on the skin. When we got them they were reasonably soft.
We don't have a tumble drier - and anyway, that's not a good environmentally friendly option.
And I guess I can't use conditioner as that will affect the absorbency.
Any ideas? Not that dd2 seems to be complaining about the rather abrasive nappies!
And apologies if I don't respond immediately - we're about to be be transferred onto 'Talk Talk' broadband, so given their renowned incompetence we are fully expecting to be without web access for while. I will check this thread again when I'm in work next week.

Message withdrawn

When I air dry nappies tned to rub them against each other[same as with a towel suggested by socci] brings them up fluffier again.

I second the vinegar. Wash nappies as normal and then add to final rinse (i put it in fabric conditioner drawer).

Dry them in the windiest spot you can as the movement helps keep them supple. Also, give them a shake or vigorous flap before hanging to loosen the pile. And rub the rougher surfaces against each other before putting on.

Wash them without soap-powder but with vinegar in the softener drawer to make sure there is no residue
soap making them stiff. Rub them when dry as has been said before. If still not as soft as you would like then add a small amount of softener to the final rinse. It won"t affect the absorbency too much. If you add too much and it does reduce absorbency it can soon be restored with vinegar in the next wash.

Dont worry about the stiffness too much (ha ha). After they've done a wee in them, they soften up anyway. Are you using a fleece liner? If so, the nappy wont be directly on the skin anyway.

Steam iron them?

Steam ironing them isn't a good idea as it will ruin the fibres, unfortunately. Cotton isn't a brilliant fabric for line drying. Pocket nappies may be a better option, or Tots Bots Fluffles, or Bamboo (Wham-Bamboo or Bamboozles for instance). Bamboo takes ages to dry but stays really soft and is a natural fabric. Fluffles are not a natural fabric but dry really quickly and stay gorgeously soft, and the new style ones are lovely, like teddy bears!

Pocket nappies dry quickly and have a fleece liner built in to keep everything soft against the skin.

Using a fleece liner as MissLily suggested works well, although doesn't stop the scratchyness on the hips.

As suggested already, rubbing them together softens them but obviously reduces their life as it will damage the fibres.

Emma

Apparently if you dry them outside and it rains the rainwater makes them dry nice & soft. I've never tried it but I suppose you could rinse them in rainwater?

A Mumsnetter told me to hang them on the line when it is frosty (overnight) and this softens them up beautifully. Works a treat

Suppose you could put them in the freezer & see if that works too!

Liath - good idea!

Gosh - brilliant ideas folks. Will definitely try out the vinegar and I like the line drying in frost notion!! Not sure there's any room in our freezer for nappies!

Thanks ever so much.