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Care Instructions
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Before Use
Washing
Dry Pailing
Troubleshooting
Strip Washing
Getting the most out of your Green Kids nappies |
Before Use
Wash nappies and inserts in hot water (~60c) at least three times with half the regular amount of washing powder or liquid before use, drying in between washes. Your new Green Kids nappies and inserts will continue to increase in absorbency for the first 10-12 washes. The absorbent inserts may seem a little big at first, but after these initial 3 washes, they will shrink to fit the nappies. It is important that your new nappies and inserts are completely immersed in hot water for these washes. If you have a front loading washing machine that only uses a small amount of water, change the water level to high and add a towell to the machine to provide some weight. Alternatively, soak and wash your new nappies in the laundry trough to ensure they are completely immersed. All Green Kids products should have a care label attached, so please follow the instructions on the label. Bamboo wipes are made from the same fleece as bamboo inserts, so their care is the same as inserts.
Washing
After use:
Empty soiling into toilet (older babies).
Store used nappies in a dry bucket until wash day. We recommend washing nappies at least every second day.
Before washing:
Remove absorbent insert.
Fold back laundry tabs.
Rinse soiled nappies in the trough, or with a Little Squirt (optional).
Washing:
Give the nappies an initial cold rinse only cycle with no washing powder/liquid.
Follow this with a full wash using approximately 1/2 the recommended amount of washing powder/liquid. Do not use soap based powders such as Lux Flakes, or any washing powders containing fabric softeners or oxygen bleach.
Line dry or warm tumble dry.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
PLEASE DO NOT USE BLEACH OR FABRIC SOFTENERS.
PLEASE DO NOT USE BARRIER CREAMS WITH THE NAPPIES as these may cause a water resistant build up on the nappies which may prevent them from working correctly. Barrier creams are those which are oil based, such as paw paw cream, or zinc and castor oil based creams etc. The inner stay dry layer of Green Kids nappies will minimise the chance of nappy rash, so most times you will not need a nappy cream. If your baby experiences nappy rash due to teething or illness, we recommend the use of water based creams such as Savlon, or powders such as Curash.
PLEASE DO NOT USE Whiteners, washing powder with enzymes, vinegar or laundry additives when washing the nappies.
As Funtimes nappies are made from a cotton outer layer, they may show wear or fading over time. To keep your Funtimes nappies looking lovely for as long as possible, please read the advice offered in 'Getting the most out of your Green Kids nappies' below. You may also like to hang them with the print facing down and away from the sun to minimise fading. Funtimes nappies are a special addition to your nappy stash, so make sure you care for them as gently as possible. Many people have Funtimes nappies that still look great after heaps of use, although we can not guarantee this. If you are looking for a long lasting, durable nappy, please choose mostly Anytimes or Minkytimes nappies.
Green Kids recommend the ‘Dry Pailing’ method to care for your nappies.
Dry pailing (the method outlined above) is a method of caring for nappies that does not involve any harsh bleaches or soaking, and is therefore gentle on both your baby and the environment.
The washing powder combined with hanging on the line or tumble drying will sanitise your nappies to ensure all traces of urine and soiling have been removed. Therefore, no bleaching or soaking of nappies is required. Make sure they are rinsed well and no detergent residue remains.
As the materials resist staining, you will find that on the majority of occasions the nappies will be completely stain-free after the hot wash. If on the odd occasion some slight staining is evident, simply hang the nappy on the line outside and let the sun do its work. We have not had a nappy yet where small marks have not been removed after a couple of hours in the sun!
We recommend washing nappies at least every 2 days, to ensure good hygiene in the laundry.
Troubleshooting
Leaks: When used correctly, Green Kids nappies should not leak. If you are experiencing leaking issues, please read the troubleshooting tips below to eliminate the following causes:
1. Do not use barrier creams or lotions with Green Kids nappies, or any product that contains oils, including baby wipes. These items can cause a water repellant layer on the lining of the nappy, preventing it from working correctly.
2. Do not use fabric softeners when washing the nappies, as these may also prevent them from working correctly.
3. Ensure that you only use 1/3 to 1/2 of the recommended amount of washing powder/liquid. Using more than this can also cause a water repellant build up on the nappies.
4. Ensure that the nappy is done up snugly around your baby's legs, so there is no gaping. To do this, stretch the Aplix tabs out firmly when fastening, stretching the back elastic to ensure a snug fit.
5. Make sure the absorbent insert is lying flat inside the nappy. It shouldn't matter if the insert is close to the pocket opening of the nappy, as long as it is not hanging out of the opening.
If you have followed all the tips above and the nappies fit your baby snugly, check the inserts to see if they are soaked through or dry/partially dry when the nappy leaks:
1. If the inserts are soaked through you need more absorbency in your nappy, so add a bamboo or microfibre booster to the pocket.
2. If the inserts are dry or partially dry when the nappy leaks, you have a water repellent barrier in the suede cloth lining of your nappies, and there is a simple test for this – just lay the offending nappies out on your kitchen bench, and slowly pour a small amount of warm water over the white suede-cloth lining, then press your hand onto the lining. The water should soak through quickly, and not pool on top. If the water doesn’t soak through, then your nappies will need a strip wash to remove the chemical build-up in the lining. Instructions for strip washing your nappies are below. Before strip washing, brush the lining with a lint brush in both directions to remove excess lint from the manufacturing process.
Smells: The most important thing to remember to keep the nappies smelling lovely and fresh is to always give them an initial cold pre-rinse before washing. This helps to remove most of the smells before the full wash. Hanging the nappies on the line in full sun is another great way to keep them fresh.
If you find that the nappies do start to smell, it may be due to a build up of washing powder which can lead to retention of smells. In order to fix this, simply give the nappies a 'strip wash' as outlined below.
Some babies do go through stages where their urine will have a stronger smell than usual, and if this occurs, you may need to occasionally add a little antibacterial rinse to the final rinse of the wash, such as Cannesten or Dettol rinse. These are avaliable from the laundry isle of most supermarkets and will help to ensure that the nappies remain lovely and fresh.
Cleaning Aplix Tabs: If the Aplix tabs become clogged with lint or threads, they can be cleaned by using tweezers or a fine comb to carefully remove it. This will ensure the tabs are locking together firmly. Please always separate the tabs carefully to avoid tearing the fabric or stitching, and this will extend the life of your nappies.
'Strip' Washing
If you haven't give your new nappies their initial hot washes, please do that before strip washing your nappies, and they should then work correctly. However, if you have used barrier creams on the nappies, or have a build up of washing powder/liquid which is causing the nappies to repel liquid, you may need to give the nappies a 'strip' wash. This involves washing the nappies in hot water (50-60c) through a whole cycle with no detergent, then washing again with some regular dish washing liquid, followed by several rinses until the water runs clear with no more bubbles. If you have a front loading washing machine, please set the water level to high or add a towell to the wash, as your nappies must be immersed in the water to be washed properly.
If you continue to have leaking issues, keep strip washing until the problem is resolved, but if you are using a washing detergent with fabric softener and/or your washing machine has fabric softener residue in it, you may inadvertently be adding it again every wash without realising it. In this case, you may need to hand wash your nappies in the laundry trough to ensure all chemicals are removed. If you live in a hard water area, you can also try soaking your nappies in hot water with 1/3 cup bi-carb soda (baking soda), then rinse very well in hot water. This neutralises the ph of the water and helps to remove any remaining residue in your nappies. It also helps to rub the lining of the nappies while hand washing to remove any chemical build up before rinsing. If you have any questions about the use or care of your nappies, simply email us: help@greenkids.com.auGetting the most out of your Green Kids nappiesTo help you get the best use out of your new nappies, we have the following tips:
- Front loading machines tend to be a little rougher on nappies than top loading machines, so you may need to wash the nappies on a 'gentle' cycle. Make sure the nappies are immersed in water when you wash them, by setting the water level to high and including a towell in the wash.
- Try washing using warm water (~40-60c) rather than hot as some machines use water that is extremely hot which can speed up the wear on your nappies.
- Many washing powders contain high levels of non soluble particles, which can increase wear on the nappies, particularly in a front loading machine. Try using a laundry liquid instead, or a powder containing no insoluble materials.
- Try to bring the nappies in from the line as soon as they are dry. Leaving the nappies in full sun for days at a time may also speed up the wear on the nappies.
- Only dry the nappies in the dryer on warm or medium setting, rather than hot.
- Wash the nappies regularly, at least every 2 days. Leaving them sitting in the bucket longer than this may reduce the life of the nappies, and it's not a good idea to leave them wet for long periods either, as this encourages the growth of mould. If your baby is teething, rinse the inserts & nappies in cold water before putting in the pail to dilute their strong urine.
- Do not use any of the following when washing your nappies; bleach, fabric softener, washing powders with enzymes, soap based powders (eg. lux), tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, vinegar or whiteners.
Copyright Green Kids. Please do not copy or reproduce this document in any form. You may of course, link to our website, if you would like this information to be made known.
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