What do you recommend to wash nappies?

[isaidno]

I have built up a little collection of reusable nappies and I'm ready to start the pre washing before the baby is born.

What washing powder / sanitisers / etc do you recommend?

I mostly use Surcare for the rest of the family laundry due to DS1's excema, but I don't mind buying a different lot of powder if there is a general consensus that a particular sort is better.

TIA

surcare is fine - use half the mfrs recommended dose though

you don't need a sanitiser in the prewashes (duh). I use Napisan which I know is environmentally evil etc but does get the stains out

Thanks Mrs B

Just a thought, it might be best to hold off on prewashing all your nappies until you're sure the nappies you've got suit your little one - as washed nappies can't be returned to a supplier but unwashed ones can?

Hmmmm...but surely the proof of the nappy is in the filling IYSWIM. i.e best way to tell is see how well in contains and absorbs.

isaidno - If you don't fancy Napisan then there are several more environmentally friendly, alternatives or you can just go without - I don't use any as routine. Hanging the nappies out in the sun to dry really does get the stains out if they worry you. Good luck with your new baby - how long have you got to go?

I use Fairy non bio as DH didn't like Surcare, plus Napisan if the load is pooey.

I don't prewash, rinse or soak

I don't soak or rinse my nappies routinely either. If I suspect the washing powder has built up over time then I give them a rinse though.

That said, a quick cold prewash can really have a good effect on your nappies as it removes any really bad mess before the proper wash but, more importantly, stops the ammonia smell setting into the nappy fabric (which can be a problem in microfibre nappies).

Just bear in mind that the more you wash new nappies, the better the absorbency (if you are thinking of trying a couple before you commit).

When I was getting ready for ds's arrival I just washed them without detergent about 4 times. With breastfed pooey nappies I used FairyNB and a dessertspoon of napisan in prewash. Now he's weaned I use liners and just a normal wash with FairyNB (no prewash). If you like surcare though, stick with it, but like Mrs B said, cut down on the amount reccommended by at least half.

I don't use sanitiser at all.

I wash my nappies with soapnuts (they're not actually nuts!) and occasionally a little vinegar in the softener compartment. Haven't had any problem with staining.

Mrs jamin - good point except I've bought a few here, a few there, and couldn't tell you which nappy came from which place!!

Thanks for the tip about half the dose of wash powder.

cold prewash sounds a good idea, when they are actually used, obviously!

I'm 29 weeks today and getting excited about ny foray into real nappies, having had 2 in disposables.

Ohhh not long to go then .

I'm 35.5 weeks, up until 33 weeks everyone kept saying 'oh no long to go then!' then it suddenly changed to 'oh quite a while yet then'

My DD1 was in disposables, I changed DD2 to cloth at 4 months and never looked back, don't worry if you don't get going with the cloth until your baby is a bit older - best laid plans and all that....

we have stopped using detergent on nappies, apart from now and again for really awful pooey ones. cotton motherease. just use napisan in a soak bucket until it is full of nappies, then wash with a little bit more napisan and three ecoballs, they ae fab. then dry outside on the line in the sun. no stains, very clean and no rash problems (other than those caused by DD eating too many physalis berries.... or something! shame they mess her bottom up, she loved them )

Yeah soap nuts!!!!

We use Morrison's own 'eco ish' one - only about 1/3 of cap and no stains. Use vinegar and soap nuts more now and they rock, especially in the eco smugness factor.

We have a dry bucket for wet nappies and a wet bucket for dirty. Bit of tea tree works as well as napisan.

I always pre wash all the new nappies when I get them ( a bit of a nappy habit here ) I use either soap nuts, or just a washing liquid, like fairy, or surf small and mighty. Don't use the persil small and mighty with comfort fresh... I used it, thinking it really did just have the fragrance of comfort, but it made all our nappies leak terribly. It must have bit of softner in it!

Currently we're using tropical surf small and mighty, as they were still smelling of wee after drying. which never used to happen.

I do a rinse cycle on the machine first, after just dry pailing the nappies until ready for the wash.

So, in short anything is fine really, so long as you don't use fabric softener!

When using soap nuts, which incidentaly are fantastic for all wshing, I put quite a few drops of lavender esseintial oils in the softener compartment, they come out smelling lovely and fresh, ad of lavender!

again, short list here the;

dry pail
cold rinse in machine,
add soap nuts and essential oil,
or, put in powder or liquid wash. also can add lavender oil if you like

HTH?

sorry a bit rambling!