Tips for softening up nappies

[Bouncingturtle]

A few of my nappies have gone a little hard. Any tips for trying to get them lovely and soft again (they are cotton and microterry).
I normally wash them on a 60 deg wash with my eco balls, Ecover laundry bleach, and some white vinegar and a few drops of lavender oil in the fabric conditioner oil. I have my new washing machine now which has a stain blaster setting so last load I did at 40deg and that did get them lovely and clean - the old machine failed to get poo stains off at 40.

Any tips? TIA. Going to bed now so will check in morning.

Can you finish them of in a tumble drier? Not very ecological, I know, but if you can put them in for 10 mins or so it can really help. I was going to say vinegar but you're already using that. I don't use any bleach (or fabric conditioner)- d'you think that might make a difference?

using soap nuts helps too.

I don't have a tumble dryer and I don't like the idea of soap nuts, I hear they are not very good on whites. Ecover Laundry bleach is non chlorine based so wouldn't have thought it would make a different. I've never used fabric conditioner, AFAIK you shouldn't use it as it will affect the absorbancy.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Any others?

Actually, how much vinegar should I use? I normally use about 1/4 cup. IS this enough or too much?

Soap nuts are fantastic and you can use them with powder just to benefit from the soft water (you will need less powder though as it will be like having very soft water). I agree they can slightly discolour your whites but I just use a colour catcher in with them on my whites (and reuse several times) and haven't had a problem. I stopped using vinegar as I don't think it made any difference.

You can get free soap nut samples on the net from www.inasoapnutshell.com, I think it's just the price of postage you have to cover.

No don't use conditioner it will make them less absorbant. The other thing to do is shake them/hit them etc to make them softer - better line dried in the wind IYSWIM