With cloth nappies, most poo goes into the toilet before the nappy is washed. If your baby is only having milk, the poo is usually easier to wash out. Once your baby starts solids, tip, scrape, or rinse the poo off before storing the nappy for wash day. Waladi makes this simpler with pocket-style cloth nappies, biodegradable liners, and wet bags for storing used nappies when you are at home or out.
This is one of the biggest worries for new cloth parents, but it becomes normal quickly. You do not wash a nappy full of solid poo. You remove what you can first, then the wash routine does the rest.
Quick answer by baby stage
- Milk-fed baby: poo is usually soft and water-soluble, so it can often go straight into the wash routine.
- Baby starting solids: remove poo into the toilet before washing.
- Firm poo: tip or roll it into the toilet.
- Sticky poo: scrape or rinse it off before storing the nappy.
- Using a liner: lift out the liner, remove the poo, then dispose of or wash the liner depending on the type.
What do you do with newborn poo?
If your baby is only having breastmilk or formula, poo is usually soft and liquid. Many families put these nappies straight into their normal cloth nappy wash routine.
If the poo is thick, sticky, or there is a lot of it, remove what you can before washing.
What do you do once baby starts solids?
Once your baby starts solids, poo changes. It becomes thicker and more like regular poo.
At this stage, remove most of the poo before washing:
- Tip firm poo into the toilet.
- Use toilet paper to scrape off what is left.
- Rinse sticky poo if needed.
- Then store the nappy for the pre-wash.
You do not need to make the nappy spotless before it goes in the machine. Just remove the bulk of the poo first.
Do you need to rinse every poo nappy?
No, not always. Firm poo may tip straight into the toilet without rinsing.
Rinsing is more useful when poo is sticky, soft, or caught around the leg elastics. If you rinse, squeeze or spin out extra water before storage so the nappy is not sitting wet for too long.
Do cloth nappy liners help with poo?
Yes, liners can make poo clean-up easier. A liner sits inside the nappy, against your baby’s skin, and catches poo while letting wee pass through to the insert.
Waladi offers biodegradable nappy liners, which can be useful when your baby starts solids or when you want easier clean-up while out.
Shop biodegradable nappy liners
Can you flush cloth nappy liners?
Be careful with flushing liners. Even when a liner is described as biodegradable, it may still cause plumbing issues depending on your toilet, pipes, and local wastewater system.
The safer option is to remove the poo into the toilet, then dispose of the liner in the bin unless the product packaging and your local plumbing guidance clearly say flushing is suitable.
Where do you put the nappy after removing poo?
After removing the poo, store the nappy in a dry pail, airy basket, or wet bag until wash time.
If you are out, place the used nappy in a wet bag and deal with it properly when you get home.
For the wash routine, read How do you wash cloth nappies?
Simple poo clean-up routine
- Change the nappy as soon as possible after a poo.
- Remove the insert from the pocket if needed.
- Tip, scrape, or rinse poo into the toilet.
- Place the nappy and insert in a dry pail or wet bag.
- Run your pre-wash every 1 to 2 days.
- Run your main wash every 2 to 3 days.
Why Waladi helps keep poo changes simple
Waladi cloth nappies use a pocket-style design, so the insert can be removed before washing. The double gussets help contain mess around the legs, and the adjustable snaps help you get a secure fit as your baby grows.
If you want the simplest starting point, Waladi Everyday Sets include 1 cloth nappy and 1 charcoal bamboo insert for daytime use.
Common questions about poo in cloth nappies
What do you do with poop in cloth nappies?
Remove most of the poo into the toilet before washing. Firm poo can usually be tipped off, while sticky poo may need scraping or rinsing before the nappy goes into the dry pail or wet bag.
Do you put pooey cloth nappies in the washing machine?
Yes, but remove the bulk of the poo first, especially once your baby starts solids. The wash routine then removes the remaining soiling and urine.
Do newborn poo nappies need rinsing?
Not always. Milk-fed newborn poo is usually soft and water-soluble, so many families put those nappies straight into the wash routine. If the poo is thick or heavy, remove what you can first.
Do cloth nappy liners catch poo?
Yes, liners sit inside the nappy and help catch poo, making clean-up easier. Wee passes through the liner into the absorbent insert underneath.
Can I leave poo in a cloth nappy until wash day?
No, remove the bulk of the poo before storing the nappy. This helps reduce smell, staining, and wash problems.