I've always just assumed that after a wash and dry, stiff nappies were normal. I rub them to try to soften them up before putting them on, but they are still not soft like when you first buy them. My Bubblebubs are the worst - I have to scrunch and twist the booster part before I can put it on as I can hold it horizontal and it doesn't move.

I received some second hand Bubblebubs yesterday and could not believe how soft they were. OMG they were so soft you wanted to rub them up against your face! Soft enough to sleep on! I emailed the lady I bought them off to ask how she washed them so I could do the same, but she just said:

I don't do anything special with them. I dry pail them, then wash with a small amount of powder on gentle cycle, then hang on the line to dry.
No different to me, but they are so soft it's amazing. I don't want to wash them because I know they'll stiffen up with me.

I use a Front Loader and spin on 700, although I've just dropped it to 500 in the hopes it helps today. I'm wondering if it's the water and/or detergent though - I've heard that hard water can make them like this and tank/rain water is better. I just use Cold Power detergent, although about to get the Eco 7 stuff once this runs out. Unfortunately we don't have a tank here, although we will in our new place, so it's tap water only at the moment.

I've been googling the net all morning and have read that drying out of the sun can help, drying them over night or 10 minutes in a dryer. I don't own a dryer, and I don't trust Melbourne weather to dry over night, although I don't think that will make a difference as I have dried them inside before and they still end up stiff.

I'd give anything for my nappies to feel like these ones that just arrived. Are there any tricks?