High-efficiency (HE) top loader wash routine
High-Efficiency Top Loaders use less water and have longer wash cycles compared to traditional Top Loaders.
These modern top loaders use less water and have longer wash cycles compared to traditional top loaders. They can have short agitators, no agitators and the option of the water being automatically added by the machine to match the amount of laundry. However, they aren’t as effective in cleaning, in comparison to front loaders.
Nappies are heavily soiled items. Getting them clean means maximising the Cleaning Factors of time, temperature, chemicals, and mechanical action (agitation).
To make sure your wash loads come out smell and stain-free every time, make sure you use enough detergent, wash in warm (40ºC) to hot (60ºC), and do not overload your washing machine.
An overview of the Clean Cloth Nappies wash routine
Nappies are some of the dirtiest items you will ever wash. Modern cloth nappy inserts often consist of multilayered fibres. They are absorbent and require thorough washing to remove soiling and urine.
We recommend a two-step wash routine. A first wash with detergent, followed by a longer wash with a heavily soiled dose of detergent. All washes should be done in warm (40°C) or hot (60°C) water.
Ensuring your nappies are washed thoroughly prevents ammonia from forming and prolongs the life of the fabric.
Choose a detergent
Choose a detergent that suits your family.
Our favourite detergents and dosage recommendations are available to everyone. Our full list of 224 different detergents is available exclusively to our patrons. Learn more.
Remove soiling
Remove the majority of soiling (poo) once children are eating solid food and flush down the toilet.
This does not need to be done immediately, nappies can be treated together at the end of the day.
Do not rinse wee only nappies.
Store in an airy basket
Keep cloth nappies as dry as possible until it is time to wash, ideally in an airy basket without a lid.
Do not soak your cloth nappies. Soaking nappies degrades their elastics prematurely, forms a bacterial breeding ground and is a drowning hazard.
First wash to remove bulk of soiling
Run the first wash cycle, with detergent, every 24 to 48 hours. We sometimes call this the ‘prewash’ cycle. This cycle removes excess soiling and means the main wash is done in clean water.
Loading does not matter for this cycle, only for the main wash cycle. Many people run this cycle daily.
Place the washed nappies in your airy basket until there are enough nappies to run a main wash. Each nappy needs one first wash.
Second wash to get the nappies clean
Run a second wash cycle, with detergent, when there are enough items to fill the machine. We call this the ‘main wash’.
Many members add family laundry (such as baby, children and small to medium adult clothing) to this wash cycle. Avoid large items such as sheets and adult bath towels as these wrap around nappies and reduce agitation.
For optimal (and economical) results load the washing machine properly for main wash. Cycle length and machine loading recommendations vary based on your machine. Learn more.
Dry all items thoroughly
Dry outdoors on a washing line, indoors on an airer, or in the dryer.
Avoid hanging polyurethane laminate (PUL) shells, covers and wet bags in direct sun. Use low heat if drying PUL items in the dryer.
Cycle choices for a HE top loader
High-efficiency (HE) top loaders have short or no agitators. They are able to automatically add the correct amount of water to match the amount of laundry. They use less water and have longer wash cycles compared to traditional top loaders.
Top loaders do not heat their own water, and the wash temperature is dependent on your hot water system. The warm setting on a top loader is unlikely to reach 40°C. Most top loaders require ‘hot’ cycles to ensure water is above 40°C. Test the machine’s water temperature using a meat or candy thermometer after the machine has finished filling to check the water is above 40°C.
An HE top loader first wash cycle needs to run for at least 45 minutes. Loading does not matter for the first wash.
The main wash cycle should last at least an hour. Choose the longest cycle the machine has (usually Cottons or Heavy Duty) and extend the cycle if possible (Intensive option).
Loading a high-efficiency (HE) top loader
Load the main wash cycle to achieve a ‘stew’ consistency. Make sure the items agitate against each other and are periodically pulled down. Add small items as needed to bulk the load.
HE top loaders automatically add water to match the amount of laundry. Most machines need to be at least half full of laundry to do this. Some machines do so accurately; however, it is important to test this function. You might need to cover the lid sensor (to mimic the lid being shut) to view the agitation during the wash cycle.
Having too much or too little water (a ‘soup’ or ‘chilli’ consistency) reduces friction and prevents items from getting clean.
A note about loading
An appropriately loaded main wash helps make your wash routine as economical as possible, in terms of energy, water and detergent. It can also reduce the amount of other laundry you run each week.
With a full-time cloth nappy routine, we encourage people to optimise their machine loading. While good loading helps remove soiling it is not necessary to remove urine. With the right combination of cleaning factors (time, temperature, chemicals and the mechanical action provided by your washing machine) your nappies will get clean in an underloaded cycle.
As a general rule stick to items that are no bigger than 60cm x 60cm. Avoid large items like fitted cot sheets as these can wrap around smaller items and reduce agitation.
Reducing energy consumption
Cost of living pressures are hitting many families and the cloth nappies community is not immune. Many of our members are affected by rising energy costs, and some are finding it less economical to continue with cloth nappies. For top loaders we recommend adding bleach to your nappy first wash for improved cleaning power.
Adding bleach to the first wash (prewash) is my number one tip for reliably clean nappies each and every time. It is the easiest, cheapest and most sustainable way to prevent stains, smells and ammonia. This simple addition solves the vast majority of issues that CCN members come to us with.
~ Anastasia, Environmental Scientist and founding Facebook group admin
Using bleach allows you to use a lower water temperature, which reduces energy costs, and saves money on your power bill. It is also less expensive and more effective than oxygen-based laundry boosters. Our bleach dilution is safe to use on nappies and does not cause premature degradation to PUL nappy covers or inserts. While using bleach is not an essential part of a Clean Cloth Nappies routine, it does make nappy washing easier and more affordable.
Downloads
We have refreshed our entire suite of help graphics to be more friendly for phones, printers and strained eyes. You can now have our most important information with you right in your pocket, and share them with others whenever you want.
- Clean Cloth Nappies guide – cloth nappy care (wash routine overview) (992.52 KB)
- Clean Cloth Nappies guide – soiled nappy storage (222.46 KB)
- Clean Cloth Nappies guide – the first wash (formerly prewash) (919.01 KB)
- Clean Cloth Nappies guide – the main wash (308.83 KB)
- Clean Cloth Nappies guide – optimal loading (942.61 KB)
Need help with your cloth nappy wash routine?
Join the Clean Cloth Nappies Facebook group, tell us about the issue, and one of our dedicated volunteers will try to help you find the solution.
Information to include with your post
- The issue you are having
- How often you run your first wash
- How often you run your main wash
- What detergent you use
- How much detergent you use for each wash