What am I doing wrong?

[MonMic]

I have been using flat terry cloth on both my kids an drecently decided to stop soaking and just use the hot wash method.

I dry pailed the nappies then rinsed and put on a 60C wash with half powder.

But the nappies all went yellow and started to smell after a short time plus my DD ended up with thrush. :mad:

What am I doing wrong?

The only thing I can think of is adding vinegar to the wash? does anyone do this, how effective is it?

Any other ideas?

Thanks
M.

[SweetSerenity]

Maybe add napisan???
When we used cloth nappies, we always soaked in napisan aswell as washed with normal washing powder and a sprinkle of napisan...came out perfectly white.
So thats all i can suggest :o
Love Nat xxx

[LucyE]

Are you using any creams? They can tend to coat the nappy fibres and will require 'stripping'. I've never used any creams so have never done a strip wash. Mor, Wawa can you help???

This is my wash routine:
dry pail
every second night I load the machine and use the recommended amount of detergent (OMOmatic) because we live in a hard water area
I select the prewash, soak and extra rinse options, wash on 40C and go to bed.
In the morning I hang them on the line.

My white nappies are still sparkling and I've never used Napisan. My unbleached nappies are even whiter than a friend's white nappies.

[MonMic]

Nat: I have been soaking in Napisan in the past and tried to move away from that to cut down on chemical use. Maybe my powder isn't strong enough as its not front loader specific (I have a front loader)

LucyE: Yes I use a barrier cream as my DD gets nappy rash otherwise so as you say maybe thats affecting how well the nappies get washed.

Thanks ladies
M.

[SweetSerenity]

Thats a shame...the wash mine used to get was a 2hour one. After them soaking for over a day, i'd pop them into the washing machine (ours isnt a front loader though) and select the "soak cycle" which allows them to soak and then does the heavy duty wash etc. Goes for 2hrs all up. Its great!:)

[Ky]

Are you hanging your nappies on the line or using a drier?

The sunshine kills a lot of bugs and bleaches them for you to an extent.

Keep up the good work - I was too lazy to use cloth nappies :o

[LucyE]

Definitely try a front loader specific detergent. By using normal detergents, you need to decrease the amount you use to reduce the suds produced but that also means you decrease the amount of 'cleaning' bits (LOL very technical terminology) that is washing the nappies.

On a side note, what about cloth causes the rash? Is it the wetness against the skin? If so, have you tried using fleece liners because they will provide a 'stay dry' feel against the skin.

[Mumoffour]

i use planet ark washing powder and rinse in vinegar and have no problems with nappies going yellow or nappy rash on both my kids. as an added bonus using the vinegar regularly stops the soap scum building up in the washing machine. :)

[Oscar's mum]

Are you hanging your nappies on the line or using a drier?

The sunshine kills a lot of bugs and bleaches them for you to an extent.

Keep up the good work - I was too lazy to use cloth nappies :o


I agree with the hanging on the line out in the sun if that isn't what you are doing at the moment, the sun bleaches everything and kills germs.


I read somewhere about a sprinkling some baking soda on top of the nappies in dry pailing, but I cannot for the life of me remember what for (ie smell or stopping discolouration).

Perhaps give it a go as it really wouldn't do the nappies any harm.

Oh for an alternative nappy rash barrier you can mix up baking soda with water and plaster on bub's little bum it works as an excellent barrier and it chemical free and you wont have to worry about it wrecking your nappies.

[Oscar's mum]

Just a few helpful hints I have found


Instead of using commercial wipes use cloth with the solution below:
cooled cup of chamomile tea
1 teaspoon honey
Shake well.
This mixture is beautifully soothing on baby's skin and Honey is naturally antiseptic so it aids in the healing of nappy rash very gently and effectively


Distilled vinegar is especially useful for removing detergent and soap build up, as well as for preventing stains from setting, balancing pH and neutralizing urine. It is a natural fabric softener making it a very handy and inexpensive product for your cloth nappy laundry.


After emptying your nappies to wash rinse the bucket with hot water and tea tree oil as this will be a natural disinfectant. Oh correction about the baking soda sprinkled over the nappies if you put it in the bottom of the bucket with tea tree oil it will make it smell lovely and also will act as a disinfectant.

Baking soda also can whiten up any yellowy nappies too.

Hmmm I think I should be the new advocate for baking soda! :p

Hope this helps.

[kailensmum]

I do usual napisan soak with a little eucalyptus oil, then wash with omo sensitive and on the line to dry. I use aromababy barrier balm on his little toosh and have never ever happy any rashies. The baby balm is a little expensive (about $25 for 100gm) but i haven't finished the first tub yet and i got that when he was 6 weeks old, now 9.5 months. gets used at every change. :)

[LucyE]

Just be wary about using baking soda (bicarb of soda) regularly on nappies because it will deteriorate them over time - especially if you have fitted nappies.

Re vinegar - I live in a hard water area and find vinegar to not be very useful. It reacts with the minerals in the water to produce an acrid smell. Worked wonderfully when we were on tank water though :)