Let’s start off off by staying true. Washing modern cloth nappies probably is not your beloved household chore! Modern cloth nappies get utilized day right after day by our minor ones so naturally we want them to be clean. Following all, it is individuals minor tushes that we desire to shield from rashes and germs inside the very first location. Now I really like my natural, “sunshine and rain will clean everything” thoughts, but when it comes down towards the real “dirt” of cleaning the nappy, I want it C-L-E-A-N!
Up until recently, we’ve usually spruiked either employing no detergent, or if you’re a detergent-nazi, making use of a ? with the proposed dosage.
In the past 12-18 months, we’ve noticed products getting into the market place that happen to be particularly designed for modern cloth nappies. These detergents are non-soap primarily based – that evil substance that will build up on your nappies and result in them to repel water.
The two that I am most aware of in Australia are Rocking Green, a phosphate free powder containing sodium carbonate, sodium percarbonate, normal chelating agents, sodium sulfate, biodegradable surfactants (and exactly where scented) all-natural fragrance oils, and also the Cushie Tushies Laundry Liquid, developed from plant esters based on apples, oats, corn, & soy, Australian eucalyptus oil added to the mix making it all smell great (and it does!)
Then last year, Australian nappy manufacturer, Amanda McCracken (www.mandymac.com.au) teamed up with a few scientists to throw an excellent big steaming poo while in the washing pile.
The team tell us that whenever washing, scientifically, we need water, mineral content, agitation and detergent. In case you don’t eventually get the mix right, you will have to boost the others to make up. Their example being, someone with hard water may need to scrub harder with more detergent. You get the thought.
Now to the crap
Urine is made mostly water, some salts and urea that are mostly sterile inside the bladder. Once the bladder is relieved, it’s a new story.
So pee, they tell us, can break down upon contact with any bacteria, even the good bacteria that lives on your baby’s bottom. If you can’t get the urine out quickly it can break down the modern cloth nappies as well.
Poo is the other half from the problem.
Flush-able liners are fantastic for easy removing of solids, but when you do not possess them you will need to flush the solids along the toilet and then you are still stuck with a soiled nappy, and bacteria.
Like common laundry, nappies are cleaner and last lengthier if they’re washed sooner. Stains have less time to set in, bacteria have a lesser potential for growing along with the urine has a lesser possibility of deteriorating the material. Most parents use a dry-pail as their first step. You can rinse off any soiled substances or urine and toss into the pail. There’s no drowning hazard and it’s not as heavy as a bucket full of water. It’s also suggested to pre-rinse. Cold water without detergent. The idea is to rinse away bacteria and urine in this step so we use less detergent while in the next step. Lastly, the actual cleaning part. This is in which you need to focus on individuals factors.
Water – not a lot we can do about that. Hot water is a great idea when you are trying to get out a very tough stain, but it can damage some in the parts of a nappy. Cold water is always a great thought but you need more detergent. So a proper balance is the good way to go. Warm water, good amount of detergent plus a long cycle will make nappies sparkling C-L-E-A-N!
The biggest thing we need to emphasise, is UV rays.
Plain ol’ sunlight.
It doesn’t have to even be direct sunlight. Those UV’s may be harmful to your skin, but they are great at sanitising nappies and getting out stains.
All toilet humour apart
I’m not an environment scientist, only a mum that’s employed cloth full time for my child.
We didn’t use detergents, for the reason that my child experienced (yet still does) from eczema. We did get ‘nappy rash’ on occasion, but it was as a result of her skin condition. I can’t say that I felt employing cloth ever exacerbated the problem, and in fact, we tried disposables when using thick cream, however they actually made the problem worse.
I will say, though, that our nappies often smelt – my daughters urine was toxic (I say that with no chemical research though!).
So that as much as we need to wash often, every second day was just about the norm for us, unless it was teething time. When that happened, you did not want nappy hanging out for too long. There also wasn’t any pre-rinsing taking place. My nappies were constantly clean, and also the sun got out the unsightly stains. I just wish I would have realized these new laundry liquids before, as feedback has been that (especially the Cushie Tushies Liquid) is great at neutralising ammonia smells and making nappies appear new again.
Salena Knight is the owner of flowerchild, an eco-baby boutique located in Sydney and mother of one-now-toilet-trained daughter.
www.flowerchild.com.au
Got a dribbly, cranky bub? A Modern Cloth Nappies is a safe, natural alternative for your child.