Have just purchased Cloths........now what???

[Smurfette]

Hey there,
I just bought 12 fitted nappies off ebay and should get them tomorrow. Now that I have bought them I don't know how to wash them etc. I cant ask my friends or mothers group as they all bagged me, so I have come to my new Bub Hub family to find the answers.

I have read a few threads regarding dry pailing. What is that? My nappies are flannellete. How do I wash them and get the best wear. I want them to be all soft and snuggly for my dd's cute little tush.

[cwsmum]

Why'd your friends/mothers group bag you?
I use plain old flannelette flats and they are great :) I just chuck them in a bucket of napisan...well, the homebrand one...leave them soak til the bucket is full...after I put the last one in I leave it for a couple of hours, however long the napisan pack says, then chuck them in the washing machine on the rinse & spin cycle. No need to wash coz the napisan sanitises them as long as you use if correctly.

[veve]

hey hon :)

welcome to the world of cloth!!! dont let your mother group get you down!! I have many many friends who swear they will never use cloth - we just agree to disagree... :rolleyes:

try this thread - it gets off topic a few times... but basically defines dry pailing ..

http://bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=5145&highlight=pailing

any more questions or need clarification - I'll try to help

((hugs))
xxx

[Starlet]

And whatever you do, don't use fabric softener with nappies or baby clothes, it can irritate their skin.

[reAllytee]

Dry pailing is as easy as it sounds !
You use your nappy bucket empty with nothing in it unless you want to deoderise it as it does get a little smelly sometimes but not unbearable.
Just use your nappies as normal then when changing bubs throw them into the bucket if they are only wet but for pooey nappies remove poo & put into your toilet then put nappy into bucket which once you have a full load you can wash !
Easy peasy !
No need for yucky dirty nappy water !
You just use a smaller amount of laundry detergent no fabric softener then either was in hot or cold your choice then line dry or tmble dry again your choice. If you find they get a little smelly throw in some vinegar for the final rinse & it will take it away !
Its just all soooooo easy tis great.
LucyE is our queen of clothies so im sure she will be along soon to help you out in any way you need her :D
Good luck & welcome to the dark side :devil6:

[Smurfette]

Thanks Ladies

Am really excited about getting my nappies.

I think friends/mothers group just tried to make them selves feel better by trying to convince me ( or themselves) that it is cheaper or the same cost as disposables. Oh one also argued that cloths are just as bad for the environment as disposables by the time you use chemicals.

They are kidding arent they. Doesn't it take years and years to break down one nappy?

One more thing: liners. which one, are they reusable?

[veve]

I use pieces of microfleece to line my nappies - for several reasons

a) it is cheap - from spotlight...about $8 a metre... but 50cm made me about 30 liners ( I think... haven't counted them :rolleyes: )
b) it does NOT absorb liquid... so putting it between the bubs and the nappy ensure that the baby's bottom is touching dry material at all times (really - it is FREAKY :laughing: ) - you can have a DRENCHED nappy after a long night... but bubs will be dry!
c)microfleece does not require any sewing as it doesn't fray - you just cut it up into pieces the right size :D and then I just wash them with the nappies. Occasionally I need to rinse a pooey one... but it rinses off the fleece pretty well..

just be careful that your nappies dont already have a fleece lining on the inside - as TWO layers of fleece can lead to problems (the liquid doesn't know where to go!).

although before I got microfleece I just lined my nappies with the liners from woolies (in the baby section)_ - they look like chux cloths... and do the job ok ..

xx

[aardvark]

I'm just using flannelette flat nappies, and I'm a convert to dry pailing.

With DD#1, we used Napisan. It was such a drama that we had nappy wash service for #2. Now with #3, we are dry pailing the nappies. I have quite a few, so we can wash nappies only when we have a full load - about every 3 days. I'm finding that dry pailing and a hot wash with detergent is actually removing stains better than Napisan did, and it is so much less extra effort.

I've also purchased bulk cheap face washers from spotlight, and keep a supply of them wet in a lunchbox on the change table. I just chuck them in the bucket with the nappies at each change, and they go through the wash with the nappies as well. The amount I save on wipes will pay for the face washers in a very short time - and I'll have bulk cleaning cloths when the facewashers are no longer required for nappy changes.

[Rainbowbrite]

I've also purchased bulk cheap face washers from spotlight, and keep a supply of them wet in a lunchbox on the change table. I just chuck them in the bucket with the nappies at each change, and they go through the wash with the nappies as well. The amount I save on wipes will pay for the face washers in a very short time - and I'll have bulk cleaning cloths when the facewashers are no longer required for nappy changes.

I knew there was something else i needed to buy. Thanks for the reminder :)

RB

[Oscar's mum]

Well for liners I use facewashers, and as wipes I use facewashers they are an absolute godsend in my house. To wet the washers to use though I buy demineralised water as it dosn't go as mouldy as quick as normal tap water. To that if you want a nice smell perhaps you may want to add a chammomile tea bag which also is soothing!

In the bucket when dry pailing I use bi-carb and a few drops of essential oil, it keeps the bucket from smelling all icky!

Any other problems or questions just ask!

[Smurfette]

Sorry to sound dumb. When you say you add bi-carb and ess oil. Do you just sprinkle it down the bottom?

[Oscar's mum]

I sure do, the bi-carb will help nuetralise any smells, if the bucket still gets a little smelly after doing that before you get to wash the nappy's just sprinkly more bi-carb ontop of the nappies already in the pail!;)

[jarrahsmumma]

definatly dry pail..will help the elastic last in the fitteds

also you wont have to worry about colours running

if your friends bag you again pop this fact at them $3000 a yr for disgustables $1000 for good cloth system including costs for growing cotton/hemp, washing powder, electricty for washing machine. Then with future bubs you can use your fitteds again. Oh and that whole save our beautiful earth:thumbsup:

check out www.nappycino.com.au for more cloth nappy info