Real-life cloth nappy wash routines

If you are new to cloth nappies, you might wonder how to fit a wash routine into your life. When is the best time to run a first wash? How often should you main wash? And what does everyone else do?

We asked our Facebook members to share their wash routines and helpful advice for new cloth users. Read over real-life cloth nappy routines from members around the world. This is the nitty-gritty detail, the wash cycles people use, the detergent, and the timing of each wash.

Example front loader wash routines

First Wash – I run my first wash every other day. I use a 1h “sports” cycle and 40ºC. I use Ariel powder and bleach. I add period pads, stained white clothes from nursery and my husband’s white socks.

Main Wash – I run this wash every 3-4 days. I use Ariel powder and wash at 60ºC. I pretreat any poo or food stains with a bar of soap. I add socks, white baby T-shirts and period pants, same as the first wash.

~ Paula, United Kingdom, 12-36months of cloth, 8kg Front Loader

First wash is done every day in the morning, using Mixed Cycles at 60ºC and 1000 spin. Detergent is Biozet. I usually rinse out poo nappies and treat any potentially troublesome stains with a bar of soap. Any stained baby clothes or wipes or kitchen towels go in too.

Main Wash-Every 3 to 4 days on Cottons at 40ºC and 1000 spin. Detergent is Biozet. Any baby clothes, small items like wipes, kitchen towels goes in to bulk up.

~ Simone, Australia, 6-12 months of cloth, 9kg Front Loader

I run a first wash most days, and aim for it to run in the morning (though sometimes that turns into evening!), but if I know the following day is going to be hectic I sometimes use a disposable overnight and then skip the next day’s first wash. I use a Daily/Quick cycle on 60ºC with Biozet and usually bleach. If I’m adding any stained/soiled clothes to the wash then I swap out the bleach for laundry booster.

I run the main wash whenever I have enough to fill the machine, which is usually every 3-4 days depending on childcare days (no cloth at childcare). I use the Cottons cycle on 60ºC with Biozet, and sometimes add in some kid clothes.

~ Alison, Australia, 6-12months of cloth, 7-7.5kg Front Loader

We are just down to night nappies (which aren’t always wet) and family cloth wipes. 

I run first wash daily (if night nappy wet) or on alternate days if no wet night nappy. Use QuickPowerWash which is 48 mins (PowerWash function off if night nappy wet 1hr 14), 40ºC, Daz added straight to drum on top of load. Usually add bleach as per calculator after water flushed through the drawer. Add wipes, wet bags, extra dirty white clothes or cleaning cloths.

Usually main wash every 3-4 days, but sometimes push to day 5 if night nappies not wet. Use cotton wash setting, 40ºC, 2hr38. If suspect loading might be a little under I select intensive setting, 2hr 56 (if machine senses lower weight it will adjust down, but will still be over 2 hours). We have soft water and I add Daz to the drawer (depending on how much of load had first wash/how dirty load is). No additional booster, bleach or stain pre-treatment. Bulk with other light household laundry.

~ Tricia, United Kingdom 3-5years of cloth, 9kg Front Loader

First wash evening of day 2. OMO powder and Woolworths brand laundry booster. Cycle is 60ºC Cottons speed perfect on, 1 hour 6 minutes.

Main Wash straight after first on day 2, machine on delay start so they’re ready to be hung in the morning. Cottons speed perfect off on 60ºC with Omo powder, This cycle is 2 hours 56 minutes.

~ Nay, Australia, 3-5years of cloth. 8kg Front Loader

First wash daily due to night nappies. Daily cycle 60°C using Omo Ultimate or Fab. Bleach added for stain removal. Adding in wipes and especially stained clothing. Only light-coloured clothing if adding bleach

Main wash every 2-3 days. Usually day 2 as we use up to 12 nappies a day (1 child in cloth). Cottons cycle 40°C, 2 scoops Omo Ultimate or Fab. No added stain removal. Bulked with kids clothes.

~ Ange, Australia 3-5yrs of cloth. 7kg Front Loader

I run a first wash daily- cotton eco, 60°C with OMO Ultimate. Sometimes will add laundry booster, don’t bother pretreating. Have EBF nappies and cloth wipes in there, plus any heavily soiled items like school socks and white polos.

Main Wash – as often as needed for a family of four- usually every second day, sometimes every day depending on amount of washing hanging around. Will have anything including baby/primary school aged child clothes, smaller adult clothes like shorts, t shirts, underwear etc. We never run out of washing g with a 6.5yo and a newborn! Cottons cycle, 40°C, with Omo ultimate and booster.

~ Katy, Australia, over 5yrs of cloth, 7kg front loader

First wash everyday, cottons speed perfect on,60°C, Biozet powder, sometimes booster. I add nappies, tea towels, terries, grubby clothes, face washers, wet bags, and cloth wipes.

Main Wash-Every 3-4 days. Cottons speed perfect off. 60° Biozet powder or OMO ultimate liquid. No stain removal between first and main. If something is still gross after first wash it goes back in for another round. I add nappies, tea towels, terries, grubby clothes, face washers, wetbags, cloth wipes.

~ Amy, Australia, 3-5 yrs of cloth 8kg front loader

First wash daily, quick/mix programme, 60°C, Persil powder, sometimes Vanish if there’s a lot of yucky breastfed poo. Occasionally use chlorine bleach, but generally, I don’t as I throw in very dirty clothes into this wash.

Main wash every 3rd day, cottons 40°C, Persil powder, if extra stain removal is required it goes back into the first wash basket. I mostly add baby clothes and other baby cloth, sometimes I add stuff like underwear or t-shirts.

~ Yara, the Netherlands,6-12months of cloth 9kg front loader

Example top loader wash routines

First wash daily (in the evening after last day nappy has come off). Heavy cycle, eco active off, temp selection hot, soil level heavy, water level generally auto, but will manually set if it is a particularly large load, stain treatment option on. My hot cycles are ~60 when machine has filled. Persil Professional+Vanish, All toddler clothing, bibs and kitchen cloths go through first wash with nappies, wipes and change mat liner (old flat nappies). Doing both day and night nappies.

Main wash, currently main wash every third day, but was doing every second day when we went through more nappies each day. Heavy cycle, with eco active off, hot water selected, heavy soiling, water level manually set – often med-high, stain treatment and soak options on. Persil Professional + Vanish. Will occasionally pre-treat some microfiber inserts with sunlight soap if they still have marks after first wash. If someone other than me is doing washing they might add bleach in instead of the soak setting but I can’t use bleach. Just nappies and wipes in main wash. Other things from first wash go through with normal laundry.

~ Amelia, New Zealand, 12-36months of cloth 8.5kg top loader

First wash daily using allergy cycle (1 hour), cold power + vanish, also add baby clothes and white cloths we use for general spills to the wash load. I do this at night. 

Main wash every 2-3 days with cold power +/-vanish. Use allergy with a soak (3 hour cycle). I spray any remaining stains with vanish before this wash. Also add in any tea towels, baby clothes, socks, small items. I run this overnight, straight after the final first wash load (we just add the other previously washed nappies to the machine and press go).

~ Australia 12-36month of cloth, 8.5kg top loader