Figuring out a nappy wash routine with ADHD 🧠

Are you forgetful, messy, and easily paralysed by your overwhelming to-do list? If so, you either have ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) or you’re a sleep-deprived parent with a newborn in your house.

Either way, it’s a challenging time to also be wrapping your head around a consistent wash routine, so here are some tips and ideas from domestic chaos containment manager and long-time admin Aurelia.

Tried and tested strategies 👍

Simplify the decision-making step

Instead of having to keep track and decide when you need to run a first wash or main wash, make the decision once and for all that you will always run a first/main wash on a particular day. One of the easiest changes here is to run a first wash cycle every single day. If you use night nappies, a daily first wash is best practice anyway.

Another perk of this was that my husband easily knew if or when he needed to wash a load of nappies, without having to understand the entire cloth nappy workflow.

Having fixed cycle options for first and main washes is very helpful too, especially if they are written down and on display near the washing machine.

💡 Everyday, Daily60, Cottons + Timesaver, Normal and Mixed programs are typically recommended for the first wash. Cottons, Whites, and Heavy Duty are the go-to for main washes.

Additionally, don’t worry about loading! If you have the opportunity and energy to run a load right now, do it even if it’s half full. If you put it off, the motivation will pass and you may not get it back for a while.

Use visual cues

With ADHD, out of sight usually means out of mind. So having a prominent visual reminder is important.

The basket that holds my already-first-washed nappies lives beside my washing machine. Once that basket is full, I know it’s time to run a main wash. I don’t have to mentally track how many days or loads it has been. The full basket is my visual reminder.

Another tip that may seem obvious to some but not to all, is to place your dry pail where you’ll be reminded to wash the dirty nappies. Ours is in plain sight, in the main bathroom. The dirty nappies almost never smell, and if I’m concerned my guests will be offended by its sight, I move the dry pail to the laundry room.

Stack your habits

My husband and I fell into the rhythm of running the nappy load during our kids’ evening bath time. He would bathe them while I brought the dry pail to the laundry area and ran the daily first wash. Since our children bathe every day, it acts as a trigger event for the nappy wash.

Many families run their first wash in the morning. Perhaps it can happen before you get ready for work or while the coffee is brewing. Think of a habit you already have that you can attach your nappy wash to.

Thank God for bleach!

Of course, we are bound to forget, or perhaps life gets in the way and the procrastination hill becomes too steep to climb. Regardless, even if you leave your dirty nappies unwashed for a tad too long, know that they can still be salvaged. A quick chlorine bleach sanitise will reset the nappies and freshen them up.

Personally, I add chlorine bleach to all my nappy washes, just to cover my bases and give me peace of mind. I’ve done this for years and it hasn’t led to any premature wear and tear of our cloth nappies. You don’t have to use bleach in every wash, but know that it’s a safe and easy option. 🙂