Cloth nappies

A question about : Cloth nappies

I've just bought a wad of cloth nappies online to try and save money, with 2 in nappies full time and both with digestive problems I'm just weighing up if it's really saving me anything,
Nappies need to be rinsed, then washed at 60 then extra rinse, then as I need them to be dry in time I hang them to dry on an airer but then finishes them in the tumble dryer else I don't get then dry in time for the next wear iykwim. I have no idea at the cost of this but I wash every other day.
I have to buy liners and tea tree for the bucket, this costs approx Ј2.00 per week.
Now, a pack of 50 nappies that last a week cost Ј5.99 from lidl??
It also takes up time and effort and with my study's and working full time I'm wondering if it's really worth it and maybe that time is better spent batch cooking food/ getting work done?
What do you all think. I'm keen to get others opinions.

Best answers:

• We have used cloth nappies for our youngest two (oldest was out of nappies when adopted) we bought one of those big all stage packs before our daughter was born, it was just shy of Ј500, that is far less than we would have spent on disposable nappies, even when you consider the wash twice a week. How on earth is it costing Ј2 a week in liners and tea tree? We have never used a liner and a bottle of nappy soak lasts us well over a month.
  My son is now using those same nappies which makes it even cheaper, for us putting a nappy into a bucket for a soak and then into a washing machine isn't a hassle, but it isn't something every one wants to do. Personally for us its the easier option than having nappy bags, and either having a sealed bin somewhere in the flat, or going out to the communal bin after each nappy change.
• Well it's Ј1.99 a pack of 100 liners and I easily gt through 1 per week, with 2 in cloth that 50 nappy changes per week each so 7 changes per day roughly per child. And I threw in the 1p for the tea tree oil.
• I got the flack from both sides as I went for cloth nappies in Summer & disposables as soon as drying became an issue. My argument that potty training is a summer sport was barely accepted.
  There are solid OS MS points for cloth, but drying is a chore even if you & other parent combine on the wringing out duties. That said, no disposable ever covered three generations!
  In the end, the unaswerable clincher has to be happy children.
  While "It works for us" is a viable defence, stick to cloth. If it doesn't, do something else, as parenthood is Tough Enough!
• Reusable liners, I've never used a disposable liner with a cloth nappy x
• You can definitely get reusable liners or make your own from some fleece. Or for wet nappies you can wash the disposable ones and reuse them 2 or 3 more times.
  I'm not sure what all the rinses are about either? I used to dry pail mine and throw them in on a cycle with a prewash option with a small amount of washing powder and didn't do any extra rinsing at the end. So long as you only use a quarter or half dose of detergent you don't need extra rinsing (too much detergent makes them smell and become less absorbent).
  If you are worried about the tumble drier and have enough nappies to last two days, just wash every night and hang them to air in the morning. They will be dry by the following evening especially as the aired won't be overloaded so they will dry quicker. And if you are washing daily the nappy pail won't smell so you won't need the tea tree either.
  Your washing costs will be about Ј3.50 per week if you wash every day and don't tumble dry (at Feb 2013 prices anyway based on a 1 hour cycle at 60), plus whatever the small amount of powder you use costs. You only need a small amount if this and powder is better than liquids anyway and much cheaper too.
  As to whether it's worth it, assuming you weren't doing it to be green, if you stick to cloth based on these calculations, you'd be about Ј130 better off over a year. So it's up to you whether this compensates you for the extra inconvenience of washing?
• I agree with people above. You can wash disposable liners. If your DS is allergic to fleece lines, you can buy silk ones - they are expensive and require hand-washing, but will last.
  Your final comment about detergent struck a chord. Put a tablespoon of white vinegar in your machine where the fabric conditioner normally goes and that will help get rid of the detergent. It will make your nappies a bit softer and is much cheaper than fabric conditioner, which should never be used for nappies.
  If your LO is getting a sweat rash, I would look at your wraps as the likely culprit rather than the fleece. Are they fully breathable? I know you are now using wool, which requires a whole load more care, but some children react badly to wool.
  You can wash them at 60 degrees if you want to, but 40 with a scoop of sanitizer is ok too. You don't need tea tree - in fact, if your LO has a rash, that's something I would get rid of as it's strong stuff.
  I used cloth on my children (now 14 & 12) and sold and advised on cloth nappies. Often, it's a case of tweaking something to make it work for your situation. So I think I'd ditch the tea tree and dry pail, then when you wash, add the vinegar. See how that goes before making other changes. Then try washing any wet liners, to get another trip out of them. Finally give fleece another try, or use them on your non-allergic child and get a couple of silk liners to try.
  I hope this helps - do pm me if you want any other tips.
• I used to wash the disposable liners, in a laundry net. I kept track once of how many times it could go through the wet nappy-wash-wet nappy-wash cycle and it was around 6 washes before it shredded!
  Have you tried soap nuts? They work well at 60 degrees and don't need much rinsing.
• I'm going to order the trial pack for soap nuts and see and than look to the Eco egg, both of these need less washing!
• Just remembered that some of my customers used to shower off their nappies into the bucket to get the worst of the poo off. If the shower did not reach, they used one of those attachments. It might save you extra washing.
  Where are you based? The only reason I'm asking is that I am still friendly with the girls I worked with and if there is one close to you, I'm sure she would be happy to help - none of them sells now so no need to worry we are trying to pressure you!
• I'm in plymouth!
• You can buy bamboo liners and booster on ebay new. I bought some from a company on there and they are very good quality, listed under sellers name of "yellowbloom".
• I think its about getting into a routine, and having enough nappies. I try to wash mine in the evening so they can dry on the airer in the living room over night and just finish them off in the tumble dryer if need be. I rarely use liners. I do rinse (35 mins) then do a wash at 40 (just over an hour) i wash at 60 every 2 - 3 months and then spin to get rid of excess water (12mins)
• I never use liners even if she has runny poos. I rinse than wash at 40 on a short cycle (1hr). I wash them on 60 once every month. I have 25 nappies and I wash every 3rd day. It def saved me a lot, I never bought nappy wipes for example, have tons of muslin clothes cut into pieces. I can recommend the same seller mentioned above on ebay, i'm very satisfied with him.
• Check with your local council - some do a rebate for cloth nappies (Ј30 in Leeds) as they save more than that in landfill.
  We used disposables to about 6 weeks with our first then reusable until he was too big for them. We had ones with reusable bamboo liners - and they just went in a sealed bucket until we had enough to make it worth doing a 60 (or occasional 90) wash, and then in the tumble dryer. Life is too short to mess about presoaking etc!
  Don't use fabric softener, as it reduces the absorbency.
• I used cloth nappies for my DD as there wasn't an alternative! NO 1 son lets say 'disposables' were in their 'infancy' and No2 son they got better!
  hun - I absolutely hated cloth nappies! scraping the S*** off and soaking them and then boiling them - then drying them - and poor DD got nappy rash if you didn't use Vaseline or Barrier Cream! and they leaked (especially if OH had applied them).
  Modern disposables to me are a 'no-brainer'.
  anyone who thinks Terry Nappies save the earth - are you nuts?
• Modern cloth nappies are nothing like the terrys my mum used on me, they're easy to use, definitely no boiling or soaking.
  Just take them off, shake liner down the toilet, pop into bucket or wet bag and straight in the machine. They dry quickly on an airer or on the line outside. Simple.