Soiled nappy storage (dry pailing)

Learn how to store dirty cloth nappies before washing them.

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Keep cloth nappies as dry as possible until it is time to wash, ideally in an airy basket without a lid. Many members are surprised how little this smells, often the basket does not smell at all.

The ideal storage for dirty cloth nappies and wipes is an airy basket without a lid. Plastic baskets have the advantage of being easy to wash and do not rust. Sometimes people refer to these as ‘dry pails’.

Storing nappies in this way allows water to evaporate. Water is one of the reactants in the formation of ammonia. Reducing the amount of water slows down the formation of ammonia.

An airy basket limits the reaction (formation of ammonia) by reducing one of the reactants (water) needed for it to form.

Ammonia formation

Urea (CO(NH2)2) and water (H2O) are two of the largest components of human urine. When they come in contact with the enzyme urease, which is found in the body, they react to form ammonia (NH3), and carbon dioxide gas (CO2).

Several species of enteric bacteria belonging to the human gut microbiome are abundant in poo. Bacteria such as Klebsiella spp. and Proteus spp. produce active urease, which catalyses the formation of ammonia from urea.

Storing nappies before the first wash

Store items in a basket, bucket, wet bag (water-resistant bag made of polyurethane laminate (PUL)) or what suits you.

Run the first wash within 24 – 48 hours. Most members run their first wash either first thing in the morning or during the evening. Others run it during the day to take advantage of solar power. You can vary the time depending on what suits your family.

Storing nappies after the first wash

Store washes items where they can receive air flow. For example, an airy basket, open bucket or laundry tub.

Store the items awaiting their first wash in the same receptacle or use a marker such as a nappy shell or cloth to separate washed and unwashed items.

There is no need to hang these nappies to dry before the main wash.

Storing nappies in wet bags

Many early learning and childcare centres require dirty nappies to be stored in a closed bucket or wet bag during the day. This is short-term storage and will not harm your nappies.

Run the first wash daily (either at 60°C or any temperature with chlorine bleach) if storing dirty nappies in a closed container. It is usually easiest to run this at the end of the day.

Wet bags are also extremely useful for storing both clean and dirty cloth nappies and wipes while out or during the day.

Wet pailing

Decades ago it was common to soak dirty nappies in a mix of Napisan and water. This is called wet pailing. Many modern cloth users have an ‘aha moment’ when they realise the term dry pailing is used to distinguish from wet pailing.

Some members ask why we recommend a two-step wash routine instead of a Napisan soak. The main differences from 1980s style ‘soak’ routines is that terry cloth nappies were single-layer, and Napisan’s ingredients were drastically different.

Napisan no longer contains chlorine bleach. We do not recommend soaking nappies in Napisan or equivalent laundry boosters. Soaking nappies forms a bacterial breeding ground and is a drowning hazard.

In the 1970s and ’80s, the active ingredient in Napisan was potassium monopersulfate (KHSO5) which oxidises sodium chloride to sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach). The formulation has since changed, with sodium hypochlorite replaced with sodium percarbonate (oxygen bleach).

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