Liners: Reusable vs. Disposable

Liners can be a helpful addition to your cloth nappy system, making cleanup easier. Liners are placed on top of the absorbent part of the cloth nappy, directly against the baby’s skin. They are designed to catch poo, allowing liquids (wee) to pass through to the absorbent layers below.

When it’s time for a change, simply lift out the liner and tip any solid waste into the toilet.

Let’s explore the two main types:

Microfleece liners (reusable)

Microfleece liners are a fantastic reusable option. You can buy the fabric at most fabric stores, and because it doesn’t fray, there’s no need for hemming – just cut to your desired size!

If there’s a significant amount of poo on a reusable liner, a quick rinse will do the trick. Rinsing a microfleece liner is much easier than rinsing a whole nappy!

Store the dirty liner with dirty nappies and wipes until it is time to wash.

Washing Tip: If you have a front loader washing machine, we recommend washing microfleece liners in a medium-sized wash bag with large holes. This helps prevent them from getting stuck in your machine’s filter. This isn’t usually an issue with top loaders, as their filters are often in the central agitator.

Disposable Liners

Disposable liners are designed for single use. When using them, always remove as much poo as possible into the toilet.

Do not flush disposable liners down the toilet. Despite what some packaging might imply, they do cause blockages in plumbing. This is especially true in drains with root systems, and it can lead to very expensive plumbing bills. Even if they don’t block your property’s pipes, they contribute to blockages further down the sewer system.

Disposable liners are made from various materials, including polyester and bamboo. You can often wash and reuse polyester disposable liners until they develop holes. While bamboo disposable liners do decompose, this won’t happen before they reach the wastewater treatment plant, meaning they can still build up and clog plumbing. Regardless of biodegradability, do not flush them.

A good rule of thumb: If a liner (or wipe) doesn’t disintegrate in your washing machine like a forgotten tissue, it shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. Disposable liners and wipes tend to clump, which is exactly what happens in the sewer system.

One final note: disposable liners can sometimes cause irritation, redness, or rashes because they tend to retain moisture. Microfleece liners, on the other hand, don’t hold onto as much moisture, which can be gentler on your baby’s skin.