If you've just received your Bare Cub cloth nappies, congratulations! You're about to enjoy a more sustainable, cost-effective, and baby-friendly nappying journey. Before your little one wears their new cloth nappies for the first time, there's one important step you shouldn't skip—preparing your cloth nappies before first use.
This simple preparation process helps remove any manufacturing residues and allows your bamboo fleece inserts to begin reaching their full absorbency potential.
Why Do Cloth Nappies Need Washing Before First Use?
Like most textile products, cloth nappies are manufactured, handled, and packaged before arriving at your home. Giving them a thorough first wash helps remove any residual manufacturing oils or dust, ensuring they're fresh, clean, and ready for your baby.
For bamboo fleece inserts, the preparation process is even more important. Bamboo fibres naturally become more absorbent after several washes, so preparing them correctly gives you the best performance right from the start.
How to Prepare Your Bare Cub Cloth Nappies
We recommend following these simple steps before using your nappies for the first time.
1. Soak the Bamboo Inserts Overnight
Place both bamboo fleece inserts into a laundry tub or bucket filled with hot tap water.
Allow them to soak overnight. This helps open the bamboo fibres and encourages faster absorbency development.
2. Wash Your Nappies
The following morning:
- Place the soaked bamboo inserts and the nappy covers into your washing machine.
- Run a normal wash cycle with an additional rinse.
- Wash at 30–40°C.
- If required, the bamboo inserts only can be washed at up to 60°C.
Always use a full dose of detergent according to the detergent manufacturer's instructions to ensure your nappies are thoroughly cleaned.
3. Dry Thoroughly
Once washed, hang your nappies outside in direct sunlight where possible.
Allow both the covers and inserts to dry completely before your baby's first wear. Sunshine also helps naturally freshen fabrics.
What If You Skip the Overnight Soak?
Don't worry—your Bare Cub cloth nappies will still be perfectly safe and ready to use after their first wash.
The only difference is that the bamboo inserts may take a few extra wash cycles to achieve their maximum absorbency. During the first few wears, you may notice:
- Slightly shorter wear times between changes.
- The inserts absorb a little less than they will once fully conditioned.
This is completely normal and improves naturally with regular washing and use.
When Will My Bamboo Inserts Reach Full Absorbency?
Bamboo fabrics continue to improve over the first several washes. Every wash helps the fibres become more absorbent, meaning your nappies will perform even better over time.
Many parents notice a significant improvement after the first few washes, with maximum absorbency developing as the inserts are used and laundered regularly.
Top Tips for the Best Cloth Nappy Performance
To get the most from your Bare Cub cloth nappies:
- Wash all nappies before first use.
- Soak bamboo inserts overnight for faster absorbency (recommended but optional).
- Use the correct amount of detergent.
- Wash covers at 30–40°C and inserts at up to 60°C if needed.
- Dry thoroughly before use.
- Remember that absorbency improves naturally over the first few washes.
Ready for Your Cloth Nappy Journey
Preparing your cloth nappies takes very little time but makes a noticeable difference to their performance. By following these simple first-use steps, you'll help your Bare Cub bamboo inserts absorb more efficiently from the very beginning, giving your baby a comfortable, reliable, and leak-resistant fit.
With every wash, your Bare Cub cloth nappies will continue to improve—making them an investment that keeps getting better with every use.