They went crunchy after one wash

[NaeNae]

skybie - No unfortunately - I have an old upright dryer and so does MIL no one on the farm really uses them either because we have the undercover clothes lines on our verandahs and clothes horses coming out our behinds

[briggsy's girl]

maybe try drying them outside so they get the fresh air and the movement (not today obviously!) - and only leave them out til they're almost dry - then move them inside away from the heater

[Shades]

Just a note in case you were considering it, I think it'd be fine for the clothes but fabric softener is apparently a no-no for nappies - it lowers the absorbency or something??

[LionsandBears]

Try white vinegar in the "fabric softener" bit. It doesn't lower absorbancy, helps keep clothes soft and doesn't damage washing machines like normal fabric softeners. Also, it's cheap and environmentally friendly.

[briggsy's girl]

vinegar isn't recommended too much with nappies i don't think - it can impact the life of the elastic and pul

i almost always dry nappy inners on the clothes airer - and they aren't crunchy at all - i just put them in the rumpus room which is warm from natural sun through the bay window, but doesn't get flooded with direct heat. it takes a day or two to dry, but our stash allows us to have enough to last 3 days if needed. i wash every second day and haven't really run out - i do have some extra flat nappies just in case.

i have also dried all her clothes in the same spot (poor DH lost his bar when the baby arrived lol) - and never had any real problems with cloths not being soft. we only have one actual wondersuit, only have target cheapies - but they all came out the same

[HollyC]

I know that you can soften things in the dryer by putting dry stuff in there with a damp face washer.

I'm not sure how you could get the same effect without a dryer... Maybe spray a bit of water on crunchy items and let them dry again?

[NaeNae]

I completely forgot about this thread

I just have to say thank you to you all for your wonderful suggestions and advice I have worked it out OK I think hehehehhee I rewashed those clothes in the old top loader that we use just for wool washes (the other cycles don't work) and I washed the crunchy clothes in some softly and I hung them on the clothes horse AWAY from the heater and they were nice and soft again so it looks like bubs clothes will be washed in the softly in the old machine. I can throw towels etc in with them so thats not too bad, the machine just uses more water than the front loader.

As for the nappies, I only wash them in the Eco/Aware stuff because I know normal detergents etc are not good for the MCN's.

Ohhh I have also brought some Lux flakes and some Lectric Soda to trial in the top loader, I think the lectric soda should be ok in the front loader provided its dissolved first.

Vinigar works wonders in our water too but I am out of that and keep forgetting to buy it when I go shopping.

Thanks again everyone - we'll get there ........ eventually I am sure there will be lots of dumb questions coming up over the coming months

Nae x x x x