How Do I Wash Roam Reusable Cloth Nappies?

 

Here are our recommendations on how to wash your reusable nappies. They are meant as a guide and this is what works well for us (and has done for three years of cloth nappy use). If you have your own way of doing things and it works for you — stick to it. If you're new to reusable / cloth nappies, it's a good starting point! We include a wash and fit guide inside every Roam order.

Washing Roam Reusable Nappies

1. Knock any solids (poo) into the toilet after nappy changes
   

2. Pull out inserts and store everything in nappy bucket or wet bag — do not soak
   

3. Machine wash every 2-3 days with a cool pre-rinse (no detergent) and a long cottons wash cycle at 40°c - 60°c, with detergent and spin set to 1000-1200. You can also add in other underwear, socks, tea towels at this stage to ensure the drum is 3/4 full when loading
   

4. Air or line drying is preferable and will preserve the lifespan of cloth nappies. Inserts can be tumble dried, but do not tumble dry the PUL covers
   

5. Don't use fabric softener or bleach
   

6. Use a liner when using nappy rash creams or avoid lanolin-based creams.

 
Notes & Tips:

+ Unless you have a setting on your machine that’s between 40°c and 60°c, Roam recommends washing nappies at 60°c, especially for younger babies, at times of household illness and when nappies are shared between children. This ensures a hygienic clean. Of course, this is entirely up to you and washing at lower temperatures may suit your family just fine.

+ Aim to wash nappies every 2-3 days, or when your bucket/bag is full. Just empty everything into the machine, along with the mesh/wet bag. Aim for the washing machine drum to be 3/4 full when loading.

+ Poo from breastfed babies is liquid and biodegradable, so can go into the machine without rinsing/flushing until they’re eating solid food/weaning.

+ We recommend non-bio washing powder for nappies, but use whatever you have and don’t overthink it, unless you’re experiencing leaks, rashes or other issues. Our advice is meant as a guide.

+ Eco eggs and soap nuts may not be effective when washing cloth nappies, but you can always try.

+  We also recommend an additional rinse cycle if there’s lots of suds or the nappies smell heavily of detergent. If this happens, just use less detergent next time.

+ Weaning, teething and illness can all affect baby's poo and make nappies a bit tricker to deal with. At these times, ensure you're thoroughly washing nappies every 2-3 days to prevent build up issues. You can also use disposable liners to help with poo clean up.

Please get in touch with us if you're having any issues with the washing or fit of your nappies, we'd love to help.