How To Wash New Reusable Nappies

Why do you have to prewash new cloth nappies?

It is very important that you prewash your new reusable nappies before you use them. If you don't prewash them, they will not be absorbent enough and they will leak. Just like your new bathroom towels which don't really dry you properly until they've been through the wash!

Prewash new cloth nappies twice.

• We recommend that you prewash new nappies twice before use.
• This can be done at 30/40 degrees centigrade and you only need minimal detergent.
• There is no need to dry the nappies in between the two prewashes.

How long does it take for cloth nappies to reach full absorbency?

The nappies will reach their full absorbency by around 8-10 washes, but 2 prewashes is enough to get started.

It isn't economical to run 10 special wash cycles just for your new nappies, so either put them in with your household laundry, or you can start using the nappies after the first 2 washes just plan to change a bit more frequently the first few times.

Wash brightly coloured nappies separately

If you have coloured nappies and/or wraps you should wash dark/strong colours separately to whites/lights in case of colour running, as not all items are colourfast.

What parts of a cloth nappy system need prewashing?

You need to prewash all absorbent parts of your nappy system; these parts include nappies, boosters and muslins.

You don't need to prewash wraps or fleece liners to build absorbency, but they'll benefit from one wash to rinse away any manufacturing residue.

How much does it cost to wash reusable nappies?

Read our article comparing all the costs of using reusable nappies and single use disposable nappies