a question about washing your real nappies

[bluetortoise]

I know this may sound silly but I have had a few times some redness on my LO (13 mths) skin on the nappy area which I thought it could be related to a build up of soap on the nappies. So, in addition to my normal 60o wash I have then been doing an extra ?delicate/wool? wash (OR just giving the nappies an extra spin on the delicate wash) without any soap so I could get rid of any soap left on the nappies. A bit paranoid, I know, but I wanted to make sure I was not risking leaving red marks on him again, IYSWIM. However I realise that this may cause my nappies to ?wear? quite fast since I have been washing then more than they actually need. How much soap do you use to wash your real nappies, and how do I know there is a build up of soap on them? If I use a reasonable amount of soap do I need to do an extra wash without soap from time to time, and if so how often? Sorry about so many questions?

we use the guidelines on the bottle for soap.
we don't do extra washes, perhaps try a different washing liquid/powder.
We have found that DS2 reacts to surecare, but not fairy non bio liqiud but he does to fairy non bio powder.
could be a process of trial and error.

if you have a modern washing machine there shouldln't be a significant build up.

sorry I can't be more help, I am sure others will be around soon with further tips.

i don't use soap at all but a soak solution of 10-15drops of teatree oil in the soaking bucket and spin, then rinse and spin them after they've soaked for a 2-4hrs. works fine. if i feel that it hasn't done the trick i occasionally put them thru a normal wash.

Cloth nappies only need half the recommended dose of washing powder. My routine is
Rinse
Wash @ 60 with 1/2 dose
Extra Rinse.
HTH

thank you all very much for your replies and very useful suggestions, I will change the soap (am using the fairy non bio powder at the mo) and see what happens. cheers

Def only half the amount of powder, def do a cold rinse first, and possibly after too to be sure. I wash as much as I can bear with soapnuts and eco-balls, but I don't like them not smelling of powder.

Would also agree that definitely only use half the recommended powder. I also do a pre-rinse.

Does your LO get much nappy free time? That can help too.

many thanks for all your feedback. My LO does not get too much nappy free time now BOADQ, he used to get more when he was yonger but he is walking so quite mobile now, and I worry I need to walk behind him with a towel wherever he goes to :-) I also feel the cold a lot and wonder if he would too