Strip wash question about baking soda

[MelZ]

Ok this is probably a very dumb question.....

Is there a difference between baking soda and bicarb soda? Im not much of a cook but I have some bicarb soda... Ive just looked at the box and it says Bicarb soda with baking soda underneath, I just wanted to double check.

How much would I put in there for my strip washing? Im strip washing all my inserts Ive never done it before, but they really needed doing before I use my brand new pull ups!

[kirrily]

Not sure how much you should use, but yep pretty sure that baking soda and bicarb are the same. The one that is different and that you shouldn't use is baking powder.

[Theresa]

yup - its the same stuff

I can't help with the quanitites though!

Whenever I wanted to give the nappies a really good clean I used to just wash in as hot as I could with a dash of detergent....

[MelZ]

Yep I have put in a drop of detergent, but I think I will do this twice, as I used some of these for around 12 months with no strip wash!! I did a a few hot washes, but its only the smell, they never really got bum cream on them or anything (but this is only the inserts Im doing)

So If I do it with a dash of dishwashing detergent twice that should be enough? In the hot wash? Then extra rinses?

Maybe I'll skip the baking soda this time...

[pip]

sorry to high jack your post Mel, but should I be strip washing? I have never done this with my nappies.

[MelZ]

Id never done it either, but I think its meant to be done about once a month or so (correct me if Im wrong) or if they get smelly. Which mine did get smelly. They only had to be wet and you could smell it through her clothes etc.

[Theresa]

well I think I only did it once or twice a year if that!

I used to just really focus on the rinsing and rerinsing to try and get as much out as possible...

[Wems]

I have been using some of my nappies for over 2 years and I have NEVER done a strip wash

[Turtles]

I dont strip wash (no hot water connected to the machine) but I do a quick wash with detol rinse and that gets rid of the smell really well for me. Then I wash in a normal cycle with washing powder and extra rinse cycle.