By: Karen Jackman – 28 November 2016
Many cloth-nappy parents experience this problem: your inserts feel soft when new, but after a few washes they come out stiff, crunchy, or board-like.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and the good news is, it’s easy to fix.
Recently, I came across a Facebook thread from a mum who said:
“My cloth nappy inserts end up very stiff after the wash.”
She explained that she dry-pails for two days, washes on a cold cycle with Earth Choice or Cold Power, then dries them in the sun. Pretty standard.
So why the stiffness?
Below are the most common causes — and the simple solutions that other cloth-nappy parents swear by.
1. Detergent Residue Buildup
The number one reason inserts turn stiff is detergent residue.
Supermarket detergents often contain:
- fillers
- fragrances
- dyes
- oils
- softening agents
These bind to fabric fibres and create a crunchy, stiff texture over time.
✔️ The Fix:
- Use a zero-residue detergent designed specifically for cloth nappies.
- Use less detergent than you think.
- Rinse thoroughly.
(And yes — this is where Kindy Ecobaby Cloth Nappy Washing Powder shines. It rinses clean and won’t clog fibres.)
2. Not Enough Water in Your Wash
Front loaders especially are known for using too little water, meaning detergents can’t rinse away properly.
✔️ The Fix:
- Add a wet towel to increase water volume.
- Select "extra rinse" if your machine has it.
- Reduce load size so nappies can agitate properly.
3. Over-Spinning the Inserts
One mum commented that high spin speeds “squish the fibres together.”
While this isn’t the main cause, very high spin speeds can compress fibres slightly.
✔️ The Fix:
Use a medium spin speed instead of max.
4. Hard Water Issues
If you live in a hard-water area, minerals like calcium and magnesium can bind to fibres and create stiffness.
✔️ The Fix:
Add a natural softener like epsom salts to the rinse cycle.
It helps break down minerals and softens the fabric beautifully.
5. Not Enough Rinsing
This is the big one.
If inserts aren’t rinsed well, detergent, urine and bacteria stay trapped — causing stink and stiffness.
✔️ The Fix: Rinse, rinse, rinse.
- Do a short cold pre-wash.
- Follow with a long hot main wash (60°C).
- Make sure inserts have plenty of room to agitate.
- Finish with an extra rinse if needed.
There’s no need to strip wash constantly — if your detergent is low-residue and you rinse well, your inserts will stay soft.
The Bottom Line
Stiff cloth nappy inserts are almost always caused by detergent residue, hard water, or insufficient rinsing — not the inserts themselves.
With a few simple tweaks, your inserts will stay:
- soft
- absorbent
- long-lasting
- stink-free
And yes, using a cloth-nappy-safe detergent like Kindy Ecobaby Cloth Nappy Washing Powder makes a world of difference. It’s formulated to rinse clean without clogging fibres — exactly what cloth nappies need.
If you’ve dealt with stiff inserts (or found your own secret trick!), I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments.