Which detergent do you use? Recommendations needed

[HeinzSight]

I'm new to this and very excited about my imminent arrival of my bum genius nappies.

Which detergents seem to work the best? I gather it should be a non bio? And no fabric conditioner.

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I use bio, as it cleans better and my dd has no sensitivity issues with the one I use. I use Simply Bio. I think some people use Bold 2-in-1 as it has a clay-based softener that doesn't affect absorbency.

Good luck with your bumgenius!

Thanks afterglow

So bio doesn't affect the absorbancy then, that's good. My DD doesn't seem to mind me using bio on her clothes, hopefully this new LO won't mind either when it arrives!

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I have totsbots nappies and they recommend using non-bio because there is an enzyme in some bio detergents called cellulase which is corrosive to bamboo fibre and cotton - maybe check what fibres are in your nappies to see if its a problem for you?

I've ordered some BumGenius. Not sure what they're made of. They're the new version 3 ones.

Heinz - this site www.bebeco.co.uk/bumgenius-v3-593-p.asp recommends non bio, and this site www.bumgenius.com/one-size.php says to use 'additive free detergent' which maybe means non-bio (otherwise not sure what additives it is referring to, maybe optical brightners that some have???)

thanks for that. Love your name btw

Thanks - sadly I picked it for a reason!!

I've recently switched to Bold 2in1 and i love it, my nappies have never smelt so fresh!

I got my BG last week and have been using Ecover non-bio - that's what my nappy-trial lady recommended, although I use it anyway.

Some bad BF explosions have left stains after one wash, but they either go when hung in the sun or the second wash (after being used again - they are very clean poo stains ).

Have used Bio D, Surcare and Ecover in the past, but am fairly impressed with Simply Pure which are tablets that go right into the drum. It's unscented but seems to clean quite well...

I did use Ecover, but recently changed to Fairy non bio for his nappies and clothes on the advice of my GP as he has eczema - and it's really helped with both his eczema and nappy rash.

do the non bios get stains out? I was thinking of using Fairy non bio gel?

Heinz - my non bio (supermarket own brand cos I'm a cheapskate) does get the stains out, but I always have a fleece liner in so the nappy isn't too badly stained anyway. Have used fairy non bio tablets and like them a lot, esp. the smell - never used the gel though.

I use the Fairy non bio gel and love it - seems to make the nappies a lot softer, which is great as we live in a really hard water area. I've never seen anything completely get stains out in the wash, but if you put them to dry outside the sun bleaches them really well and removes the stains.

I used fairy non bio & comfort pure when DD was first born. recently changed to surf tablets and asdas own fabric conditioner and my washing smells lovely and fresh

I use 1 fairy non-bio tablet with my bg and every 4-6 weeks I do a bio wash followed by a non-bio wash just to clear stuff out. DD is a rather sensitive skinned LO though so we all suffer if she wears bio washed stuff next to her skin

Don't use softner - it will stop your nappies absorbing.
Also I have had customers who use fairy non bio and their nappies started to leak.
I always recommend own brand non-bio. They don't have softners, and they have less fragrances etc so less likely to cause a reaction on baby.

At the risk of a hijack - my nappies are smelling at the moment - what's the best detergent to stop this? (or presoaker)

Yes, mine smell too, sasa - I've just bought an own brand super-concentrated liquid bio, hoping it will work better than the Sainsbury's faux eco bio I was using before.

The Nappy Lady recommends using bios as they get all the nastiness out (crap paraphrase, I know - read here - scroll down page).

I use bold 2in1 as it doesn't affect absorbancy, smells nice and gets them clean. I do a rinse before the main wash to get the worst out and this avoids setting the stains too and an extra rinse at the end to avoid a build up of detergents and to make sure nothing irritates the skin etc. Works really well for us.
I only use one tablet though - usually you use half of what is recomended for your water hardness

Yep I always use half of what's recommended (that's why I don't buy the little gel sachet things) and put an extra rinse on at the end. Since I've been using the Fairy his nappy rash (which he'd had from about a week after starting reusables) has cleared up completely.

The best thing for stains is just putting them on the line. Difficult, i know with the weather, but nothing bleaches like the sun. Personally I hate Napisan as DD got a very bad rash after nappies were soaked in the stuff.

Absolutely, I couldn't believe how brilliant the sun was for bleaching them. Put them out, vivid yellow stains, bring them in, sparkling white!