Laundering service vs washables - which is cheaper?

[LennyW]

Is it cheaper to buy a set of washable (at home) nappies than use the nappy laundering service?

I estimate that as the service in our area costs £8.50/wk, that's about £850 over two years.

Is it right to think that even when taking the cost of liners, washing detergent, extra cost of electricity and water (and a little bit of heating cost in winter - we don't have a tumble dryer), as well as the cost of the nappies themselves, washables will still be cheaper than the service?

Of course washables are cheaper than the service, the service will be run at a profit.

I must point out here that disposables would be cheaper than the laundering service!

Cheaper to buy washables, esp as the nappy laundry nappies aren't very good.

You can buy a set of nappies second hand very cheaply too, and then still sell them on after you have finished with them that makes them even cheaper

No contest! Washing at home is far cheaper, and you get the nappies which you want as well, instead of having no choice of which nappies you can use. Most laundry services use prefolds, which TBH, are about the worst performing of all nappies! And the laundry service won't wash the baby clothes which are leaked on either!

Thanks everyone. Those posts should convince my DH.

Buying second hand nappies which are like new and washing them at home seems a much smarter option imo. You dont get any choice with the laundry service and like was said before they dont wash all wet clothes when their rubbish nappies leak on them! Also second hand nappies have been washed before so they are more absorbant and you can still get back what you paid for them by selling them on when you are finished!! Also think about what if they cant get nappies to you? All this snow we are having id hate to have to go buy dispoables cos they couldnt get up street with my nappies!

When i was trying to think which option would be best i figured out that using disposables would be a lot cheaper than a laundry service but using my own washables would be cheaper still. Plus my nappies look far cuter ;) lol