Soaking nappies to strip them?

mummyclo · Jun 1st, 2011, 05:18 AM

Can anyone advise me how exactly to do it. Ive forgotten and want to give them a really good strip. My machine doesn't do a very good job

OliveMartini · Jun 1st, 2011, 05:33 AM

I do a 40 wash with a cheapo dishwasher tablet (tesco value) then as many rinse cycles as needed till there aren't any bubbles.

Rachel_C · Jun 1st, 2011, 06:47 AM

I don't think you can just soak them, that would just be to build up absorbency really.

If the machine isn't doing very well, I would do the dishwasher tablet method. Even if you don't have a dishwasher (I don't), I think it's well worth buying just a cheap box of the tablets. I got the Tesco eco ones for £3-£4 I think and they're lasting forever! Then you just need a normal 60 degree wash plus a couple of extra rinses. You could soak them instead of the rinses but I don't think you'd need to.

If you prefer to use the 'full dose of detergent' method, you could use soaking instead of some of the rinses. Wash them on 60 degrees with the detergent, then do a few rinses. After that, soak them in a bath of water (no need for warm water, cold is fine) and swirl them around whenever you go near. Change the water every couple of hours and keep swirling until there is no scum/bubbley stuff on top of the water. Then rinse a few more times in the machine.

c.m.c · Jun 1st, 2011, 07:03 AM

can i bump in here and ask- how often do you recommend a strip wash?

Rachel_C · Jun 1st, 2011, 07:16 AM

I do the dishwasher tablet method every 6 weeks or so, if I remember, as prevention. It's so quick and easy that I think it's worth doing cos the detergent method takes ages! If you want to use the detergent method, you could do it whenever you want really but I'd only do it when I thought problems might be starting. If you sniff the nappies while they're still wet (and when they're warm too is a good idea, like if you tumbe dry them for 10 mins) and they smell a bit musty, that's when I'd strip them.

Jo1984 · Jun 1st, 2011, 10:25 AM

Do you put the covers & liners in to strip or just the liners??xx

Rachel_C · Jun 1st, 2011, 10:47 AM

With the dishwasher tablet method, I put everything in as it's ok for PUL and elastic and I do it straight after a wash so I don't bother to sort the load out. You would always want to put inserts in, plus liners and any fleece covers. PUL can go in but probably doesn't need to. Basically, anything that is vaguely absorbent or has wee passing through it (like liners) should be stripped.

LittlePants · Jun 1st, 2011, 16:43 PM

It may be worth doing a service wash on your machine as well from the sound of things. I use dishwasher cleaner fluid for that - the bottles of liquid, where you put the whole bottle in the machine. Just put the bottle in your washing machine instead of the dishwasher, and use the hottest programme you have. That will clean out all the pipes as well. And wipe around the door seal with an anti-grease spray, and clean out the filters. It may give your machine a new lease of life!

mummyclo · Jun 2nd, 2011, 01:11 AM

I always clean my machine out and every 2 weeks i do a 95 deg wash with soda crystals. Could i soak them instead of the extra rinses?

Rachel_C · Jun 2nd, 2011, 02:39 AM

You could do but I would still do at least a couple of machine rinses straight after the wash, then soak and keep swirling the water and changing it every hour or so, then another couple of machine rinses so you probably won't be any better off! Why not try a dishwasher tablet one instead?

Jun 1st, 2011, 05:18 AM	#1
mummyclo Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,351	Soaking nappies to strip them? Can anyone advise me how exactly to do it. Ive forgotten and want to give them a really good strip. My machine doesn't do a very good job

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Jun 1st, 2011, 05:33 AM	#2
OliveMartini Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: The North Pole Posts: 2,915	I do a 40 wash with a cheapo dishwasher tablet (tesco value) then as many rinse cycles as needed till there aren't any bubbles.

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Jun 1st, 2011, 06:47 AM	#3
Rachel_C Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11,839	I don't think you can just soak them, that would just be to build up absorbency really. If the machine isn't doing very well, I would do the dishwasher tablet method. Even if you don't have a dishwasher (I don't), I think it's well worth buying just a cheap box of the tablets. I got the Tesco eco ones for £3-£4 I think and they're lasting forever! Then you just need a normal 60 degree wash plus a couple of extra rinses. You could soak them instead of the rinses but I don't think you'd need to. If you prefer to use the 'full dose of detergent' method, you could use soaking instead of some of the rinses. Wash them on 60 degrees with the detergent, then do a few rinses. After that, soak them in a bath of water (no need for warm water, cold is fine) and swirl them around whenever you go near. Change the water every couple of hours and keep swirling until there is no scum/bubbley stuff on top of the water. Then rinse a few more times in the machine.

Status: Online

Jun 1st, 2011, 07:03 AM	#4
c.m.c Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: N. Ireland Posts: 1,338	can i bump in here and ask- how often do you recommend a strip wash?

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Jun 1st, 2011, 07:16 AM	#5
Rachel_C Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11,839	I do the dishwasher tablet method every 6 weeks or so, if I remember, as prevention. It's so quick and easy that I think it's worth doing cos the detergent method takes ages! If you want to use the detergent method, you could do it whenever you want really but I'd only do it when I thought problems might be starting. If you sniff the nappies while they're still wet (and when they're warm too is a good idea, like if you tumbe dry them for 10 mins) and they smell a bit musty, that's when I'd strip them.

Status: Online

Jun 1st, 2011, 10:25 AM	#6
Jo1984 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Washington (UK - Near Newcastle) Posts: 1,622	Do you put the covers & liners in to strip or just the liners??xx

Status: Offline

Jun 1st, 2011, 10:47 AM	#7
Rachel_C Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11,839	With the dishwasher tablet method, I put everything in as it's ok for PUL and elastic and I do it straight after a wash so I don't bother to sort the load out. You would always want to put inserts in, plus liners and any fleece covers. PUL can go in but probably doesn't need to. Basically, anything that is vaguely absorbent or has wee passing through it (like liners) should be stripped.

Status: Online

Jun 1st, 2011, 16:43 PM	#8
LittlePants Other Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South Lakes, Cumbria Posts: 1,938	It may be worth doing a service wash on your machine as well from the sound of things. I use dishwasher cleaner fluid for that - the bottles of liquid, where you put the whole bottle in the machine. Just put the bottle in your washing machine instead of the dishwasher, and use the hottest programme you have. That will clean out all the pipes as well. And wipe around the door seal with an anti-grease spray, and clean out the filters. It may give your machine a new lease of life!

Status: Offline

Jun 2nd, 2011, 01:11 AM	#9
mummyclo Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,351	I always clean my machine out and every 2 weeks i do a 95 deg wash with soda crystals. Could i soak them instead of the extra rinses?

Status: Offline

Jun 2nd, 2011, 02:39 AM	#10
Rachel_C Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11,839	You could do but I would still do at least a couple of machine rinses straight after the wash, then soak and keep swirling the water and changing it every hour or so, then another couple of machine rinses so you probably won't be any better off! Why not try a dishwasher tablet one instead?

Status: Online

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