My nappies have all gone stiff!

If your organic cotton or bamboo nappies stiffen over time it’s probably due to one of two reasons, both are easily cured.

You may live in a hard water area and your nappies are suffering from a limescale build-up. To restore your nappies you need to dissolve the limescale so on the next nappy wash add a teaspoon of white wine vinegar at the start of the rinse cycle (via the conditioner draw).

Alternatively, it might be a build-up of detergent. Which? Magazines survey in 2008 on washing machines found only 3 out of 140 washing machines available in the UK used enough water to rinse clothes properly. The problem has arisen as they all are competing to make the most eco-efficient machines to get the highest eco-star rating. To remove the detergent build-up run the nappies through on a water only cycle, until all signs of detergent bubbles disappear. To stop a repeat of the build-up every so often do an extra rinse.

Top tip: Each time you remove the nappies from the washer give them a quick flick. This will separate the individual fibres and it will give you a nappy that not only feels softer but dries quicker too.