thread: About to pre-wash my MCN... HELP!!!

  1. #1
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2007
    Ever so slowly going crazy...
    2,268

    About to pre-wash my MCN... HELP!!!

    OK, I have 5 different types of MCN to pre wash, all are AI2's and all my liners and boosters so far are just microfibre.... no bamboo ones yet, still waiting....

    They all have different instructions!!!

    I have the machine doing a warm empty wash at the moment, to clean it.

    So do I just do a normal wash, with a small amount of powder, and rinse twice??

    Do I use cold, warm or hot??

    Do I rinse in vinegar?? Some say yes, others say definatly dont...

    I have folded all the velcro back, so it doesn't fluff.

    Its raining here, so will be drying in the dryer this time, but will line dry when they are dirty and need the sun!!


    Help please!!!!

  2. #2
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2004
    Cairns QLD
    5,471

    No Vinegar.

    Just do a normal cold wash (or warm if you like) with half the amount of powder you would use on a load of similar size.

    eta - Don't tumble dry your PUL covers. They will dry fast enough inside.

    You need to watch what temps you expose PUL too also elastic in the nappy so its not a great idea to use the drier to often on those. Only if your desperate & on warm. Just wack the boosters in & hang the outer in front of the drier.

  3. #3
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2007
    Ever so slowly going crazy...
    2,268

    Thankyou!!!

    Ill throw the liners in, and hang the covers over the clothes horse!!

  4. #4
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2007
    Ever so slowly going crazy...
    2,268

    Okay, while I'm here, what about when they are dirty??

    I'll be washing off the "dirties" and dry pailing, as all my nappies say to.

    Should I use warm or hot water then?
    Rinse twice??
    Put them on the long soak cycle?

    They will be line dried whenever possible...

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Add Sair on Facebook

    Dec 2006
    Rural Vic
    1,343

    I use a 60 wash usually and once a month or so a 90 wash when dirty. Definitly rince twice and only use 1/4 detergent. I don't use the cold wash on dirty nappies because I just don't think they would get clean enough.

  6. #6
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2004
    Cairns QLD
    5,471

    I don't have hot water at my machine so its always a cold wash, I don't rinse twice either as I am on tank water. I do the longest cycle on my machine though.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Oct 2004
    Sydney
    2,614

    I also dont have hot water for my machine, so its always a cold wash. I also just use about half the amount powder for the nappies. I wash all the nappies together. i dont bother with seperate loads for differnt types of nappies. I've never had a problem with them not coming out clean after a cold wash (except for my bumgenius... dont know why but its just harder to get clean than the others). I dont usualy rinse twice. Only if theyre super dirty, but I always found newborn poo was pretty easy to get off and never needed a second rinse.

    When theyre dirty I roll the dirtiness into the loo and dry pail it. Drying in the sun is really good for them as it bleaches them and they look cleaner. I try to line dry them but sometimes its just not possible and I have to put them in the dryer on the warm cycle (not the hot - it wrecks the pul.. still trying to get DH to understand this concept.)

  8. #8
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2007
    Ever so slowly going crazy...
    2,268

    You seriously wouldn't read about it.....


    I'd put on an empty cycle, to clean the machine in case it done something to my new nappies... and it conked out!!!

    The darn thing wont drain....
    Adam has been outside, in the rain, trying to fix it.

    He just called me out, and he'd found 1 sock and 5 bra underwires clogged in the draining pipe!!!!

    So he's putting it back together for me now.... poor Ad....

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Nov 2007
    886

    so it's true, Washing Machines DO eat socks!!

  10. #10
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2007
    Ever so slowly going crazy...
    2,268

    True, they do!!!

    I understand how the wires got through the tiny holes into the drain, but a whole long sock??????

    Off to do another clean cycle, THEN I will wash my nappies...

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    6,979

    Found this thread thought I'd use it to ask my question rather than starting a new thread as it does relate!!

    I'm about to prewash my MCNs - they are BBH fitteds and AIO's. I've taken the bamboo inserts out of them, can i wash them all together? Or wash inserts separately?
    It's probably a silly question but i'd rather ask than stuff up my stash of MCNs as they aren't cheap!!

    I'm going to use warm wash with 1/2 detergent. Then 2nd and 3rd washes I'll use no detergent and just cold wash. Was reading BBH website and it didnt say anything about washing the boosters/inserts differently?? So do the same??

    * I'll wash the PUL covers with the nappies but the wool covers separately as per the website states (lanolise them)

    Just hoping someone can just confirm the above as being correct?? cheers ears!
    Last edited by Shanti; January 1st, 2009 at 12:13 PM.

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Sep 2005
    In the middle of nowhere
    9,362

    Yep Ren, chuck em all in together. (except the wool like you were going to).

  13. #13
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2004
    Cairns QLD
    5,471

    Just make sure you don't run the wash too hot with your PUL in there.

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    6,979

    ok thank you girls. appreciate it.

    ALSO..... can i put bamboo fitteds (natural colour) in with the coloured fitteds i have? the colours wont run will they onto the natural colour nappies??

    I have made sure the minkee AIO red is washed separately as it states on the sticker i got with it.

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Jan 2007
    Sydney
    908

    ALSO..... can i put bamboo fitteds (natural colour) in with the coloured fitteds i have? the colours wont run will they onto the natural colour nappies??
    I always wash my BBH coloured bamboos in with my BBH hemp naturals & have had no trouble with colour running (now, or during pre-wash).

    HTH.

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Sep 2005
    In the middle of nowhere
    9,362

    Yep what Ezz said....I never actually thought about it before....

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    6,979

    Thanks girls! Yep they didnt' run..... all good! I tell ya with this awful rainy weather they are taking forreeeever to dry! i picked the wrong week i think......

  18. #18
    Registered User

    Apr 2007
    Somewhere here and there.....
    483

    If it helps I dry pail mine (BBH (Bamboo,Magic AIO), PeaPods, Natures Child & home made) but I do soak liners if they are 'dirty'. All get washed together with no probs on a short warm wash with an extra rinse and then hung in the sun. I have found direct sunlight really does help to keep them bright.

    I also add a bit of baking soda and lavender oil (just a few drops)in the bottom of the bucket to help with smell...when I feel motivated.