Fluffy Ducks, modern cloth nappies
Caring for your nappies

Washing Instructions

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6 Oct 2026

Washing Instructions

Prepping your new nappies

  • We know how exciting it is to receive fluff mail and wanting to use them immediately but for better performance soak your new nappy inserts overnight in cold water to increase absorbency. Change more frequently until maximum absorbency is reached, around 8 washes. Note that if you're using from birth, soaking isn't necessary.

  • Wash all parts of your nappy once before use in warm water.

Basic washing routine

Dealing with Dirty Nappies/Dry Pail

  • Use a dry pail with holes for aeration, the more holes the better. The open-air flow helps reduce ammonia smells and pro-long the life of your nappies.

  • Pee nappies can be placed straight into your dry pail.

  • Remove solids in the toilet, most simply shake/roll off or you can use a dedicated poo brush. Rinse under hot water. You can pre-treat stains if desired. Then dry pail.

  • Night nappies (or nappies that have been in use for longer than 5 hours) require a separate, thorough hand-rinse in hot water with detergent as soon as you possibly can, due to the increased ammonia concentration and volume. Then dry pail as normal.

Wash

  • Prewash your nappies - a short warm rinse cycle with half the detergent recommended to remove heavy soil or excess urine prior to main wash. This allows the main wash to be done in clean water. Prewash should be done every day where possible and returned to the dry pail until the main wash.

  • Main Wash - use the longest cycle on your machine at 40°C - 60°C (MAX 60°C) with the full dose of detergent for a heavily soiled load, do not spin covers over 1000RPM, inserts however can be spun at your highest spin (1200RPM) DO NOT use bleach/vinegar or fabric softeners.

Dry

  • We recommend Line drying as its economical and environmentally friendly. 

  • Always hang your nappy shells sideways, pegging the front and back to ensure the elastics are not being stretched during drying.

  • Hang covers/shells in the shade, or indoors. 

  • If line drying isn’t possible, use the dryer for the inserts only, no need to tumble dry the shells as they dry so quickly.

  • Extensive dryer use will make the nappies a little thinner over time in the same way it does your clothes. 

 Detergent

  • We recommend Persil at Fluffy Ducks, its readily available, personally tested and always good results. But any good mainstream detergent should be sufficient.

  • Please note eco detergents require boosting with vanish or something similar.

 

Preparing for storage

If you intent to store your Fluffy Ducks for a length of time, we recommend a minimum of a bleach sanitise before they are stored, and recommend ensuring they are stored in a dry environment. Incorrect storage preparation can lead to residual ammonia which can degrade materials, especially elastics. We highly recommend checking out CCN to ensure you have suitable preparation. Please reach out for some guidance on either CCN or the group Facebook page for this specialised cleaning.

 

A last note, your nappies will thank you for being treated with a little TLC, remember they are re-usable not indestructible.

Good to know

Common cloth nappy questions

Quick, expert answers to the questions parents ask most about using, washing and caring for reusable cloth nappies.

How often should I wash cloth nappies?

Most families wash every one to three days. Don't let dirty nappies sit longer than about two to three days before washing, to avoid staining and odour. Store used nappies in a dry, breathable pail or bag until wash day.

What is the best wash routine for cloth nappies?

A reliable routine is a cold rinse or short pre-wash to clear the bulk, followed by a warm main wash with a full dose of detergent. Load the machine well but not so tightly that nappies can't agitate, and flick solids into the toilet first.

Can I tumble dry cloth nappies?

Absorbent inserts like bamboo can usually be tumble dried on low, but waterproof covers and PUL outers last longer line dried or air dried. Sun drying also helps lift stains naturally. Check each product's care label.

How do I deep clean or strip cloth nappies?

If clean nappies start to smell or lose absorbency, they may need an occasional deep clean to remove detergent or mineral build-up. This is maintenance, not part of the regular routine, use a recognised strip-wash method suited to your water type.