NAPPIES AND SANITARY TOWELS

Cloth nappies and sanitary towels involve a use of resources during the years we use them. We should save energy and water when washing them.

How we can do it

We should throw the poo down the toilet and not in the rubbish bin. For younger children, whose poo is more liquid, we can use a liner (ask your supplier). Any stuck to the nappy can be rinsed off with some water and, if necessary, a brush (an old toothbrush, for example).
To keep dirty nappies until we wash them, some people soak them in cold water and vinegar (or borax or bicarbonate) and some keep them dry in a covered bucket...
Use a washing machine with good energy efficiency, which regulates the water flow depending on the load.
We should mix nappies with other clothes. If they have velcro, do it up so as not to damage the other clothes.
Softening the water will leave the material cleaner and softer and preserve the washing machine better.
We should try washing at different temperatures and choose the coldest possible one. As well as saving energy, the material will last longer.
We should not put more soap than necessary in the washing machine. We should use green or phosphate-free soaps. We should not use fabric softeners: they damage the material and reduce its absorption capacity. They can be replaced with borax or white vinegar. We should not use bleach.
We should dry the nappies by hanging them out (the dryer damages the fabric).
To remove stains, put wet soap on them and leave them in the sun, keeping the nappy damp for one or two days.
We should look at the instructions given to us by all nappy manufacturers.

Anyone who has used superabsorbent disposable nappies may not have changed a nappy for as long as eight hours. With cloth ones, we have to remember that they do not absorb so much. We should change nappies whenever necessary.

How we can do it

The average for changes is 10 a day in the first few weeks, 8 until 12-18 months and 6 until the end. Some children pee more than others; everyone has to find out what works for them.
At night, which is when we want the nappy to last longer, we can add sanitary towels or use specially absorbent nappies (some manufacturers have night-time models).
Children usually pee a while after breastfeeding or drinking liquids. We should wait until they have done it to change them.
If the child pees while we are out, we can put a clean sanitary towel between the nappy and the skin and change the whole nappy when we get home.

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Data d'actualització: 04/01/2012 - 13:08