My cloth nappy routine
I am sharing my routine with reusable washable cloth nappies to show how anyone can use this sustainable resource. It becomes a normal part of household maintenance, ideally every day or two. Most steps don't take much time for keeping the cloth nappies organised and clean. I will also list the supplies that are used in my cloth nappy collection.
What I use for cloth nappies
I use a mix of Modern Cloth Nappy (MCN) supplies alongside terry towelling cloth nappies. This is because, in my experience, cotton terry cloth is more gentle on the skin and may prevent rashes. The terry cloth is folded into a rectangle and put inside the MCN cover like a liner. I usually add a booster insert or a couple of normal MCN inserts in the pocket of the cover. This combination will provide sufficient absorbency for hours or overnight. Of course, I change the nappies every four hours or when soiled. I enjoy the peace of mind when having an absorbent nappy that can last overnight and not leak during the day.
Sometimes a terry cloth will not be added because they may all end up in the laundry (I don't run out very often) or I want something more compact. Or I just want a change. I have a few reusable nappy liners that were from a local craft market. A nappy liner is meant to protect the skin from the cover. My cloth liners feel like sturdy cotton. In this situation, I would put a booster and two inserts into the pocket of the cover. Then I would add a reusable liner in the main part of the nappy cover.
MCN may be more popular for parents who choose cloth nappies at all (What portion of parents even try cloth instead of disposables?). It could be pocket nappies, all-in-one, all-in-two and other kinds of nappies. Some parents use terry cloth. I have seen more cotton terry cloth nappies in the discount department stores, compared to MCN. But I don't personally know anyone else who currently uses terry cloth. I am just sharing the sorts I use because that is my experience.
Storing clean nappies
I see two ways to store cloth nappies. The components can be stored separately or nappies can be stored pre-assembled. I sometimes find the time to set up the nappies in advance. But it doesn't take much time to set up a nappy when it is needed. Both options are fine.
Cloth nappies can be stored in almost anything. My nappies are kept in a couple of small boxes up the top of a closet. We previously also stored them in draws a while ago. I also had a phase of keeping nappies stacked on shelves. I stopped doing this when I worried my child might play with the nappies because they were accessible. I now keep my nappies out of reach so my child cannot treat them as toys. Cloth nappies may need more storage space per nappy compared to disposables. I rarely become perfectionist about nappy storage.
Storing used nappies
I use a couple of nappy buckets to store used nappies before they get washed. It is basically an ordinary bucket, with a lid that seals odours and germs inside the bucket. The nappies usually only stay in the buckets for a day or two before they are cleaned. A basic nappy bucket can be bought at a very low cost.
Where's a tip. Store used nappies disassembled with all the components staying separate. It's better to do that immediately than trying to disassemble a day-old used nappy.
When going out, I put a used cloth nappy in a wet bag. These can be found online or at some places that sell swimwear. The bag should seal enough to keep those germs away from everything else. Then when I get home, I toss the nappy into the bucket with the others.
Washing and drying cloth nappies
Everyone will have an opinion on how to clean cloth nappies. There are Facebook groups for this purpose. Some good cloth nappy brands publish guides on how to wash their branded nappies. Here are a few basic ways in which I clean my cloth nappies.
My cloth nappies are dried in a routine that is similar to this below image. However, I do not peg the covers. They can hang from a line when the press stud buttons are fastened.
Read after images...
Air drying cloth nappies on a airer hanger inside the home. Image: iStock/Getty.
Cloth nappies can also be dried outside like this.
Air drying cloth nappies on a clothesline outside. Image: iStock/Getty.
Scrape or spray poo off the nappy
Solids must be rinsed off a nappy before it goes in the washing machine. That gunk and bacteria should be kept out of the washing machine as much as possible. I take off the solids before storing used nappies in the buckets. Ok. Is this the point where you see cloth nappies as a yucky thing to avoid? Guess what. All parents have to change a nappy and see poo whether they use cloth or disposables. Even those on an Elimination Communication journey would see poo. It happens. Whichever your parenting experience, don't let poo get in the way of sustainable cloth nappies.
I prefer to scrape or toss poo into the toilet and rinse stubborn stuff in the laundry sink. Some parents install a nappy sprayer onto the toilet. I don't do this because it is not an option in my current place but I wish it were possible. Be reassured, nappy solids can be removed in enough different ways.
Toss them in the washing machine
After removing solids and storing nappies for a day or two until I'm ready, it's then time to wash the reusable cloth nappies.
This is the easy part. Chuck all the nappies and cloth wipes into the washing machine. Use a gentle natural detergent. I prefer a liquid. Wash cloth nappies in cold water to protect the materials. This is especially important for the MCN covers. If I ever wanted to deeply clean my white terry cloth, that could be washed in hot water. That usually does not seem necessary. I run a very short cycle after a normal long cycle. Before starting this, I pull the terry cloth so it is not bunched up. Then excess gunk should wash off the terry cloth in the short cycle.
Air dry modern cloth nappies
MCN cloth nappies should only be air dried and not tumble dried. Simply hang dry the MCN covers, inserts, boosters and reusable liners. Some materials would ideally become extra sanitised when dried in direct sunlight. Other brands recommend air drying in the shade. I usually hang my nappies on airer racks inside. I still feel nervous about dust, leaves and bugs outside. It depends on the environment. Right now, my lifestyle proves how anyone can hang dry cloth nappies in any indoor or outdoor space. Don't let the trend of high density living get in the way of a cloth nappy routine.
Air dry or tumble dry pure cotton terry cloth nappies
Cotton terry towelling cloth nappies could be occasionally tumble dried. I would not do this continually but my nappies survived it when I was desperate. Let's face reality. We all know the dryer is not the most eco friendly option. But life happens. Sometimes the weather prevents things from drying soon enough when they are hung on a line. Or life gets busy so nappies must get washed and dried quicker. I have mostly just done this in the middle of winter or travelling for a short time.
Traditional cotton terry cloth nappies can also be line dried. This is better for the environment and budget when skipping the electricity-consuming dryer. It also may be more gentle on the fabric - although I am not an expert on fabrics. My usual routine involves just hanging my terry and MCN nappies all together on a laundry airer hanger. I am now in the habit of washing the nappies almost every day. Then they fit on one hanger. It fits anywhere in the home.
A few more tips for air drying nappies
Keep a window open when hanging the washed nappies inside. Spread out the nappies for breathability. The more air flow, the better.
Drying time is a major influence when a parent decides on how many cloth nappies to buy. I keep enough nappies for two days or a bit more. If you live in a location that has cold weather or humidity, extra nappies may be needed.
If you want to support the environment more, look for sustainable pegs instead of plastic.
Do what you can
Cloth nappies are an achievable effort. Parents are busy. Life is busy. I developed a routine for washing cloth nappies and it is not too time consuming.
Note:
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