How Much Does it Cost Too Wash Cloth Nappies? The Facts and Figures.

“Okay, so buying cloth nappies is going to save me money in the long run, but won’t I end up spending a ton on washing and drying the things? Is it even worth it?” Said every sceptic of cloth nappies ever. Actually, thanks to modern technology the cost and carbon footprint of washing your cloth nappies is surprisingly low.

Washing cloth nappies costs a family an average of £1.50 a week. This takes into account the electricity and water usage costs of washing 2-3 times a week, but does not include tumble dying nappies.

This average is also based on washing 60 degrees which is the highest and most effective temperature of wash nappies. Washing at 40 degrees will cut the cost more. Costs may vary depending on your choice on washing detergent, how much detergent you choose to use (I use the FULL amount recommend) and the size of to your washing machine. This assessment is therefore the MAXIMUM you will spend on washing a week.

the cost of running your washing machine.

According to Npower the average washing machine uses 1 unit of electricity which equates to about 16p per use for a 1 hour wash. Older style top loaders use more but the majority of our modern front loaders are highly efficient.

When it come to cloth nappies, they are probably the dirtiest thing your ever going to wash, I recommend opting for your longest most intensive wash which is closer to three hours so the average a wash of cloth nappies is 40 pence.

Reduce the cost by washing at 40 degrees some of the time.

Personally I wash our nappies most of the time at 60 degrees. Many wash at 40 degrees and get on absolutely fine. However I have found long periods of time washing at 40 degrees has caused me problems with nappies not getting clean enough.

You’ll find many nappy companies recommend washing at 40 degrees or even 30. I personally feel they do this to guarantee the life of a nappy for a longer period of time. I have a few problems with this reasoning but mainly I would prefer my nappies to be properly clean and last a few months less. Having said that I’ve been washing my nappies at 60 degrees for over two years and all are still in great condition.

It is true that washing at 40 degree can save you up to half the cost than washing at 60 degrees. The most energy in a washing machine is used by the heating of the water and not the actual running of the machine.

So what’s the solution? Mixing it up is a good idea. Washing at 40 degrees every 2-3 washes and putting a 60 degree wash on for an extra clean in between. Or just pay the extra 20 pence a week and except that you are already massively reducing your carbon footprint by choosing to use cloth nappies. Much of the eco-friendly lifestyle is about compromise and washing at 60 degrees is one of mine. I wash all other laundry at 30 degrees which it perfectly adequate. Nappies however I want clean clean.

Line dry your cloth nappies.

By line drying your nappies over tumble drying you will not only reduce your carbon footprint and save money on electricity, you’ll extend the life of your nappies.

Plain cotton nappies are safe to tumble dry, such as cotton inserts, terries or muslins, however tumble drying bamboo can cause a balding effect. Meaning they will become less absorbant over time. The same applies for putting bamboo nappies on the radiator. Direct heat is best avoided.

It is also not recommend to tumble dry any nappies with PUL (the waterproof outer of your nappies) as heat can melt the waterproof layer and ruin your nappies.

The cost of detergent.

Based on the average washing machine with a 6kg drum, plus adding the extra detergent recommended for heavy soiling your detergent is going to cost you about 15p per wash.

Many nappy washing guidelines suggest using less detergent but I really recommend using the full amount recommended for your area based upon the type of water in your area and the size of your drum. Follow the guidelines in the size of your detergent box. You can find my full wash routine here.

When can I tumble dry my nappies?

If you have a tumble drier there will of course be times you really want to use it. Like in winter when nappies take longer to dry, there’s always a moment when we get low and nappies aren’t dry yet. In these cases tumble drying for a short amount of time on low is fine. If possible I would still avoid drying anything with PUL.

Tumble drying every now and then can also help to soften nappies. Especially in winter when the heating in the house is on some nappies like fitted nappies can become a bit stiff. Tumble drying with fix this. If you don’t have one like me simply rubbing the nappies together can help, as can leaving them out in the rain. Rain water is soft, acting as a strip and will soften them up a treat.

The cost of disposable nappies to your local authority.

We send 3 billion nappies to landfill every year! That’s 8 MILLION a DAY!!! A number that cost’s the taxpayer to dispose of. £80 million a year to be exact. By choosing reusables your not only saving yourself money, your saving your local authority a ton too. Which is actually why many local councils offer incentives to help get you started. Have a look at Fill Your Pants website to see your eligible to vouchers.

The cost of reusable nappies vs disposables.

So now you know how much it’s going to cost you to wash your nappies and you feel save in the knowledge that your utility bills aren’t going to go through the roof because you’ve chosen reusables. Its all good information to throw are your partner/husband/mother-in-law when they doubt you or tell you cloth nappies are just not worth it. But are you going to save money when actually buying your nappies?

The answer to that is HELL YES!

I’ve analyzed this in my full post “The Cost of Cloth Nappies” . Disposables costing an average of £800-£1100 over 2.5 years compared to cloth costing around £300. Now you know you’ll also need to add around £150 over those 2.5 for your washing and detergent cost.

The cost is a bonus.

For many the cost was never why we came to this. For low income households that see the initial outlay of reusable nappies just more than they can afford at the time, budget disposable nappies are just the only way for them. But it is definitely something to think about if you want to live in the knowledge that you didn’t hand over you hard earned cash to a huge company and that your nappies will not be sitting in a landfill for the next 500 years.

Plus like I said before it’s always nice to have some seriously low figures to throw at a doubtful relative at the Christmas table when they roll their eyes at your beautiful cloth nappies.

Hannah xxx