Prewashing Hemp Inserts

[Jules12]

Hi guys,

I am due in just over four weeks with my first! :smiliedance: I want to use cloth! I decided to try Greenkids so I bought 6 to start with, each with a Hemparoo Insert. I also bought 2 BBHs. Now that I'm on maternity leave I'm getting things ready, including prewashing these nappies. But, I have a couple of questions...

I know that you are supposed to prewash the nappies at least 3 times to increase the absorbancy of the hemp etc before use. Does this include the nappy/cover/PUL part or is the prewashing necessary mainly just for the Hemparoo part?

Now, I put them all in together the first wash and there was so much fluff from the Greenkids hemparoos - is this normal? I didn't realise they would lose so much fluff. I've been drying on warm cycle after each wash, rather than the clothes line, just to try to defluff everything. I've now done 3 washes of the inserts, and onto a fourth, to try and get as much fluff out as possible. (I only washed the covers/fitted nappy parts once, because I didn't want to get any more fluff on them.) And I only used half washing powder on the first wash, none since. I've tried setting the washing machine to warm and hot, but neither seem to work - the water still always seems cold. Would cold washing be making any difference?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Jules.

[CurlyG]

Hi! :wave: Welcome to the wonderful world of cloth!!! I don't have any advice because I'm new to all this hemp and bamboo stuff too, but I just wanted to say :thumbsup: :thumbsup: for taking the cloth plunge! The ladies here are really lovely and will be able to answer all your Q's. They're fab! :yes:

[Zada]

when u wash the inserts you dont have to dry them in between washes either. they will get a little fluffy so thats ok. the pockets / covers only need 1 wash. i washed my inserts once before use they worked fine :thumbsup: i hate washing in hot water so i rinse them in the sink in hot water then wash in cold too.

[H&B'sMum]

The fluff is okay, doesn't stop it working. Also you really should be drying on the line as much as possible.

Have fun with cloth and good luck on the birth of bubs.

[Hathor]

Also Re the fluff being on your nappy :) Try using a lint brush, comes off VERY easily! And it only happened to me the first time.

[Jules12]

Thanks for the replies guys! :) And the nice welcome! Yeah, I can see now that I've washed them 4 times there is a lot less fluff. I guess I just wasn't expecting it the first time and got a bit worried when it came out all over my nice new colourful Greenkids!

Re the line drying - I know that this is best for the sanitising aspect when drying used nappies but the prewashes don't necessarily require drying in between anyway. I was using the dryer (warm cycle) to get the loose fluff off as much as I could. Plus a few people here have commented on them being more absorbant after drying in between prewashes.

They're all done now (covers etc only one wash though right?), so I can start stuffing them and arranging them in the pretty basket I bought for my 'nappy station'. Yay! :yelclap:

[Zada]

yep covers only one wash...Although i dont even wash my pul covers before i use them lol. Good luck with it all :thumbsup:

[CurlyG]

:thumbsup: Good work!
And I'm sure you will arange that basket and then re-arrange it and then re-re-arrange it and so on and so forth :D
Ahhhh, the joys of nesting :laughing: