Nappies being destroyed by washing machine

[vona]

Our old top loading washing machine died last week and since we do lots of washing thought we would buy a front-loader to save water. Now, my nappies are self-destructing. The press-studs are pulling out of some, the layers being pulled apart on another and the bamboo inner in another is about to tear. These nappies are all different brands and about 8 months old, used and washed every other day.
Help.
Has anyone else had these problems?
Does it matter that the machine is not very full when I wash the nappies?
I really don't think the machine has been used often enough to cause all these problems and some nappies were showing wear before, but maybe it has sped up the process.
How long do nappies last?

[vona]

I forgot to mention, I have always washed in cold water. Another different thing is I have been using the dryer lately because of the crappy weather, but I hang them to dry on a clothes horse for 24 hrs, then just finish them off in the dryer so they are not in there for long.

[Amie]

Which cycle are you using? And are you making sure you set the water temperature? (ours automatically sets to warm on most cycles!)

[~*Niadalla*~]

If its a newer front loader, you can slow down the cycle Speed. Ours goes up to 1000, and shakes the poor machine to peices. Try it at a lower speed if you can

[vona]

It is on the cotton cycle, and I have to change the setting to cold which I always have. I leave the spin at 1000, so maybe I need to drop that.

[~Saram~]

I don't have a front loader but our nappies have been going strong for over 15mths and unfortunately spend a lot of time in the dryers. Some manufactures will replace if they are damaged in the first year. Hope you find a solution

[~*Niadalla*~]

I'd try and change the speed down. I wash mine on 800 no probs so far

[Olive]

i use a front loader on 30-40 degrees and on 1000 spin and there fine! i dont use the dryer very often though

[vona]

Alright, so next question.
I am going to have to replace the nappies that have destructed, plus I have been thinking for a while I need a few more.
My DD is a big wetter. During the day I use pea pods, with a booster and another cover, green kids or itti bitti's with a cover. They need changing every 2 to 2.5 hrs or we have leaks (even then we could have some). When the washing machine was out of action we used huggies and she managed to leak through one of those within 3 hours.
So, I need an absorbent nappy, without press studs. Was thinking maybe a fitted cloth. Something along the line of Mandy Mac maybe? Are there any other suggestions of robust nappies?
Thanks

[~Saram~]

Hmmmm I'm not the best with fitted nappies as my DD is not a very heavy wetter but one of my demonstrators has a super wee-er (he is our out wet it tester) and her favs are the Happy Heiny one size with both boosters and Bumgenius.

I'm racking my brains, I know a few ladies use Baby beehinds and love them but they are snaps, velcro fitteds for heavy wetters.... happy hempy pocket fitteds is the only one I can think of. Will get back to you if I think of some others

[Liz]

OMG - how do you girls get your nappies dry only spinning at 800?? I spin mine at 1400 LOL. They're fine. The only thing that's gone is the elastic.. and I blame the couple of vinegar strip washes I've done in the past, plus using the drier occasionally.

Front loaders are generally gentler on clothes, so i'm not sure it would be the machine? I don't think temperature would cause any of those problems either, except perhaps affecting elastic.

Can I ask why you don't like snaps? It's just that I've found they're the best for the age where they start taking their own nappy off. Velcro is just waaaaaay too easy LOL.

[vona]

I actually love my nappies with snaps, so easy and they don't get caught in the washing machine, but, I have now had the snaps pull through the material on two different brands of nappies. Not the one at the front that do up the nappies, but the snaps on the inside that attach the boosters and bits, it is like the absorbent material isn't heavy enough to hold them. I have always pulled the nappies apart before washing so I am not sure why it has happened. It must sound like I am very rough with them, but I think I treat them with care. Who knows what I am doing wrong.

[*charmalea*]

vona , try baby bee hinds , the nappies last ages , i have a blue one that 20mths old and no joke looks like its only 3 mths old ... all my bbh will be used with both my toddler and newborn .....

every other fitted i have used has not come close , pockets dont do it for me , im for fitteds all the way , i used to love pockets , but now for some reason i am not liking a microfleece liner ... i guess it makes ds bum a bit red ... so natural fibres against his bum are best !!

[Celsie]

Lea - did you use your BBH on DS as a newborn? I'm still trying to figure out what I'll use on the next baby (no, no annoucements yet) and was told my a friend that her one size BBH weren't so good on a newborn. I'm looking into size 0 Kissaluvs, as I've been told they're very good, but I hate the thought of having to buy larger sizes.

[vona]

Lea, is there any sign of the material tearing around the press studs on the snap ins? This is where I am having troubles.
I am also going away from the microfleece. I am wondering if it is making our leaking problem worse. My DD has chicken legs and I think the wee could be escaping before it can be absorbed.

[~Saram~]

VOna - what kinds of nappies do you have? If you are having so many problems and they aren't that old I'm sure the maker would help you out if you have followed their washing instructions! Nappies shouldn't be falling apart like that. We have all snaps except for one Bumgenius and have never had a problem with snaps fraying material, maybe you got a bad batch from somewhere?

With your leaking, have you tried a strip wash in case there is a build up (hot wash with double rinse with a squirt of good quality dish washing liquid) another choice for thinner babies is side snapping nappies, they give an excellent leg and waist fit (SB (lined with organic cotton velour) AIO, Pockets, Berry PLush covers/AI2, Sugarpeas covers/AI2)

[vona]

I think I have found the answer, and it has nothing to do with washing machines. It is my DD's toxic wee.
Apparently in some kids it can degrade the bamboo, and checking all my nappies, the hemp ones are fine, the bamboo ones trashed, or getting there.
I am going to start a new thread, with a new title but has anyone else had this happen?