"Using cloth nappies was much easier than I thought it would be"

That is a common statement from parents when they actually start using reusable nappies.

So why do a lot of people experience this? I believe because people think modern reusable nappies are still similar to the ones our grandmothers were using. And that we also still need to have a complicated wash process.

But it is not the case!

So why are cloth nappies easier to use than when our grandmothers were using them?

 

Having a choice

Disposable nappies only became mainstream in the 1950s, before that there was only one option: cloth nappies!

Today we do enjoy having the choice to use cloth nappies or disposables.

Having used cloth nappies full time for 2 children, taking them camping and on overseas holidays...it is nice to know there is another option should they be needed!

 

Better detergents and washing machines

Modern detergents are much more efficient at removing soiling and stains. Back in our grandmothers' days, the cleaning products were salt, boiling water and sunlight soap.

All the family washing was done in an outside laundry. Instead of a washing machine, there was a washboard, a copper boiler and a wringer. Every part of this process was manual.

A little later, napisan and better detergents came on the market which made washing easier. The wringer washing machine came along. This somewhat cut down the manual part of the process, and at the time was revolutionary and greatly helped women regain some freedom!

But it still required a lot of time and some manual work.

Woman using a wringer washing machine. Burt, Gordon Onslow Hilbury, 1893-1968 :Negatives. Ref: 1/2-036691-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22815414

The detergent options nowadays are far superior and make cleaning more efficient!

The modern washing machine has revolutionised the washing process and made it so much easier. Just put your washing in, detergent, push a couple of buttons and that's all!

Machines now self-heat (front loaders), there are many programs to choose from and some machines now combine washing and drying!

 

What next?? Could the washing machine also do the folding?? (Can't wait for that!)

 

No more soaking, scrubbing or boiling

The absorbent nappy inserts use to be put in buckets to soak, sanitise and help remove soiling.

The nappies would first be scrapped off poo with a wooden or plastic scraper, scrubbed on a washboard before being either boiled to wash, or put in buckets to soak before washing in a wringer washing machine. The buckets would contain soap and napisan, and manual scrubbing would be done before putting the nappies in the wringer washing machine.

Once cleaned, the nappies would be fed through the wringer to remove as much water as possible before hanging to dry.

This took a fair bit of time each day!

 

So why do we not need to soak or scrub these days?

Well, why would you if you don't need to!

That's one reason, but also the reason why nappies used to be soaked is because they used to be washed with soap (not modern surfactant detergents) and napisan (or equivalents) used to contain chlorine bleach which would sanitise the nappies.

Modern napisan no longer contains chlorine bleach, it is a stain remover but does not sanitise like it used to.

On the other hand, modern washing machines with temperature control and modern detergents sanitise the nappies much more effectively.

Have a look at the Real Nappies Care Instructions, the process consists of:

• a quick prewash in the washing machine to remove the bulk of the soiling,
• a long wash in the washing machine with your own clothes, baby clothes, bibs, burp clothes and all the other small bits and pieces a baby dirties.

So forget the soaking and scrubbing and just use the washing machine!

 

Modern materials and designs

We have at our fingertips a wide variety of reusable nappy designs and materials.

There was only a couple of options before modern nappy times:

• terry towelling flats
• cotton flats

These were held together with a nappy pin and over the top, a pair of plastic pants called "overnaps" or "pilchers" would be put on to keep all the wetness in.

A little while later, "fluffies" came along, they were made of micro-fleece.

The plastic pants were noisy, not breathable and both options were hot. The plastic pants would wear quickly and need replacing often.

 

Nowadays, there are options galore in terms of absorbent insert and nappy cover materials! If you want to look into these options, find out more in the Cloth nappies for beginners page.

Nappy pins have been replaced with Snappi nappy fasteners. And you don't even need to use nappies like in the old days...simply have the insert as a pad inside the nappy cover and secure the nappy cover with velcro.

The modern materials have improved breathability, we can choose various inserts to suit different situations (eg. day vs night nappies or heavy wetters) and are harder wearing.

We also have Organic Certified nappy options!

 

There is such a variety that I also think it has made cloth nappies more overwhelming for new parents to figure out. But again, once you get going it gets easier!

 

 Jump in and see for yourself! Real Nappies are simple to use and keep clean.

 

This set is a good place to start: