Where Do I Start on Wash Day?
By: Karen Jackman
On: 21 October 2016
How to Wash Modern Cloth Nappies & Inserts (Simple Wash Day Guide)
Starting your cloth nappy wash routine doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right water levels, detergent and a consistent routine, you can keep nappies clean, absorbent and fresh without damaging fabrics.
Here’s your step-by-step guide.
1. Choosing the Right Washing Machine
Modern cloth nappies can be washed in both top loaders and front loaders, but each has its quirks.
✔ Top Loaders
Ideal for cloth nappies because they naturally use more water, which helps rinse away detergent and residue.
✔ Front Loaders (especially high-efficiency models)
These machines use less water, which can lead to residue build-up if not adjusted properly.
If your front loader doesn’t allow manual water level changes:
- use the wet towel trick (add 1–2 wet towels to increase weight and water level)
- reduce the number of nappies per load
Proper water levels are essential—insufficient water causes detergent and urine residue, which leads to leaks, smells and poor absorbency.
2. Prepping New Cloth Nappies
Before the first use, nappies must be washed so they can absorb properly.
✔ Synthetic or stay-dry nappies
1 hot wash with a small amount of zero-residue detergent is enough.
✔ Natural fibres (cotton, bamboo, hemp)
These contain natural oils and waxes.
Wash and dry them at least 3 times before use to activate full absorbency.
Absorbency Test
- Pour warm water onto the nappy.
- Natural fibres should absorb straight away.
- Stay-dry fabrics need gentle pressure.
- If water beads and sits on the surface, wash again.
If absorbency still seems off, your machine may not be using enough water—adjust water levels or use the wet towel trick.
3. Storing Dirty Nappies (Before Wash Day)
Store nappies using the dry pail method—never soak modern cloth nappies.
✔ What to do
- Remove nappy and cover.
- Shake or flush away solid poo.
- If baby is exclusively breastfed, poo will wash out easily — no need to shake.
- Remove inserts/liners.
- Secure velcro tabs to prevent snagging.
- Place everything in:
- a dry nappy pail, or
- a hanging wet bag
✔ What not to do
- Do not soak nappies — this damages elastic, PUL and can cause mould.
- Do not leave dirty nappies unwashed for more than 2–3 days.
✔ Nappy Cover Tip
- Polyester PUL covers: can be washed with nappies
- Nylon or wool covers: wash separately
4. Your Wash Day Routine (Simple + Effective)
Here’s the cloth-nappy-standard wash routine:
Step 1: Pre-Wash
- Cold or warm short cycle
- Small amount of detergent
- Removes urine + surface dirt before the main clean
Step 2: Main Wash
- Hot water (up to 60°C)
- Full dose of detergent
- Enough water for nappies to move freely
Step 3: Dry
- Line dry whenever possible
- Sunlight naturally bleaches and deodorises
- Inserts can go in the dryer
- PUL covers: avoid high heat to preserve waterproofing
Wash Day Made Simple
With the right water levels and a consistent routine, modern cloth nappies are easy to clean and maintain. Following these steps will:
✔ extend the life of your nappies
✔ prevent stink, residue and stains
✔ keep absorbency strong
✔ make cloth nappying simple for your whole family