So far, I have found cloth diapers with cotton, hemp, bamboo... Ok, I think I know what these are! But what is PUL? What is the consistency of microfiber? Who knows anything about jersey?
This is it! I am writing and explaining everything about them:
Waterproofing materials:
PUL: Polyester (the most familiar form is the PET, ie the plastic bottles of water!) coated with a polyurethane film after a special chemical process which removes all the toxic gases used for the production of the cloth.
TPU: Polyester that has been laminated with a thermoplastic polyurethane using a heat bonding process, not chemicals. This process is low in toxicity. Both the TPU laminate and the polyester fabric the laminate is applied to are biodegradable. When composted they will biodegrade in 4-5 years. (Information from Rumparooz which is using this material).
This is it! I am writing and explaining everything about them:
Waterproofing materials:
PUL: Polyester (the most familiar form is the PET, ie the plastic bottles of water!) coated with a polyurethane film after a special chemical process which removes all the toxic gases used for the production of the cloth.
TPU: Polyester that has been laminated with a thermoplastic polyurethane using a heat bonding process, not chemicals. This process is low in toxicity. Both the TPU laminate and the polyester fabric the laminate is applied to are biodegradable. When composted they will biodegrade in 4-5 years. (Information from Rumparooz which is using this material).
Fabric of the absorbent diaper
COTTON VELOUR:
A super soft absorbent and stretchy fabric which feels like velvet. It stays lovely and soft, wash after wash.
MINKEE: 100% polyester.
This is the softest, cuddliest fabric we have ever touched. 100% Polyester and best washed cold and line dried or dried on low in the dryer. This fabric is not bulky, it is like the softest velvet but with a flat pile, it washes beautifully.
CUDDLESOFT: 100% polyester and VERY similar to Minkee.
(I have chosen this photo so that you can understand that the same fabric is used in many-many different products)
MICRO-FLEECE: 100% polyester fleece, when used as an inner for a nappy fleece acts as a stay dry layer, letting moisture though to the absorbent layers underneath, but keeping your babies skin lovely and dry. Micro-fleece is thinner than regular fleece making it better suited for nappy inners.
Differences between Minkee, Cuddlesoft and Micro-Fleece:
HEMP FLEECE:
55% hemp and 45% cotton. Will need several washes to reach full absorbency, it is natural fabric, highly absorbent, slim and environmentally friendly but the fabric may stiffen if it is not tumble dried occasionally. (like mine...after one day in the sun it comes out like cardboard). This is why companies that use this material, (like HAMAC) are using 3 layers of hemp and one layer of microfleece, that is touching your baby and is very soft.
MICROFIBER: It is made from 80% πολυεστέρα και 20% polyamide (these are the natural Fibers of wool and silk, that are also made artificially). A Man made fabric which is absorbent, slim, and quick drying. Microfiber does not need to be washed to reach full absorbency. It stays lovely and soft wash after wash.
FLEECE: 100% polyester. When used as an inner for a nappy fleece acts as a stay dry layer, letting moisture though to the absorbent layers underneath, but keeping your babies skin lovely and dry.
LYCRA: Lycra binding is used on our nappies to keep the outer fabric from touching your babys skin and adding extra funkiness.
SUEDE CLOTH:
It feels like suede leather but is 100% polyester. It is thiner than microfleece but with the same capacity to axclude moisture from the baby's skin.
COTTON JERSEY: Of'course, 100% cotton.
"Jersey" is the typical knitting type. This fabric is very soft, absorbent and stretchy, making it an ideal fabric for washable nappies, eco sanitary pads, clothes, bedding, the list goes on.
ORGANIC COTTON JERSEY: Same as above but this fabric is also organic. Organic fabrics are produced without the use of hazardous chemicals which can be harmful to the environment and the health of the people involved in the manufacturing process.
BAMBOO TOWELLING: 90% bamboo and 10% polyester. I have to make something clear hear:
1) Pure bamboo is an environmentally friendly material, completely biodegradable. On the contrary of cotton, it can be cultivated without pesticides.
2) The bamboo fabrics are made after the chemical treatment of the bamboo, so that the big fibers will cut down and it will be possible to make them thread (many thanks wiki!). In Canada and the USA, since 2009, it is obligatory to use the term "rayon from bamboo", instead of "bamboo". Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber that is produced after the chemical treatment of the wool and other plant fibers.
3) Studies are being made regarding the antimicrobial action of the bamboo fabric. There are two different opinions, regarding this claim. Some diaper (and other clothing) manufacturers say (Green Earth Bamboo) that it is antimicrobial. They even appear evidence about this action staying vivid even after 100 wash-cycles. At the same time, other researchers (Federal Trade Commission) claim the exact oposite, because the chemical treatment of the bamboo-particles, is destroying its antimicrobial property ...
4) It has a much higher absorbency than cotton, more than 60%, and it dryes 20% faster (I have not found the proper bibliography for these two...).
LUXURIOUS BAMBOO TOWELLING: 65% bamboo 28% cotton and 7% polyester backing for durability. This fabric has all the great qualities of our regular bamboo towelling, and is lovely and soft to the touch. It looks like normal looped towelling on one side and on the other side (the right side) it looks more like Minkee, in that it has a straight cut pile.
ORGANIC BAMBOO VELOUR: It comes from 70% bamboo, 28% cotton and 2% polyester backing for durability. A super soft absorbent and stretchy fabric which feels like velvet. It stays lovely and soft, wash after wash.
I think this is it...
I wrote about everyhting.
If I forget anything, I will be back...
(NOTICE: Most of the evidence come from Weenotions, a small family business making cloth nappies at request!
(I haven't been able to get one yet...)
COTTON VELOUR:
A super soft absorbent and stretchy fabric which feels like velvet. It stays lovely and soft, wash after wash. MINKEE: 100% polyester.
This is the softest, cuddliest fabric we have ever touched. 100% Polyester and best washed cold and line dried or dried on low in the dryer. This fabric is not bulky, it is like the softest velvet but with a flat pile, it washes beautifully.CUDDLESOFT: 100% polyester and VERY similar to Minkee.(I have chosen this photo so that you can understand that the same fabric is used in many-many different products)
MICRO-FLEECE: 100% polyester fleece, when used as an inner for a nappy fleece acts as a stay dry layer, letting moisture though to the absorbent layers underneath, but keeping your babies skin lovely and dry. Micro-fleece is thinner than regular fleece making it better suited for nappy inners.
Differences between Minkee, Cuddlesoft and Micro-Fleece:
Minkee and Cuddlesoft are very similar (They are sourced from different companies, the Cuddlesoft is slightly cheaper but with less colour options. They are both 100% polyester and are beautifully soft to the touch). All 3 options act as a stay dry inner (i.e. the wetness travels through the fabric into the absorbent layers underneath) to keep your little one dry. Some people say that Minkee/Cuddlesoft does not keep their little one as dry as micro-fleece, and is more likely to wick/leak moisture to the outside of the nappy. Minkee/Cuddlesoft is super soft against your little ones skin, it washes well and stays newer looking over time (whereas micro-fleece will bobble a bit in the wash). Notice that, for Cuddlesoft and Minkee inners they may have residues from the finishing agents used on the fabrics, and therefore it is very important for the first washing to be at 60 degrees, using the full quantity of washing powder recommended by the manufacturer. You can wash it and wash it, and rinse it and rinse it, but if you don't use the full recommended amount of detergent in your wash, you will not remove any oily residues that may be on the fabric. These fabrics are very good to reduce your baby's irriation, since it does not stay in all that moisture... Trust me, I have a personal experience about it!
55% hemp and 45% cotton. Will need several washes to reach full absorbency, it is natural fabric, highly absorbent, slim and environmentally friendly but the fabric may stiffen if it is not tumble dried occasionally. (like mine...after one day in the sun it comes out like cardboard). This is why companies that use this material, (like HAMAC) are using 3 layers of hemp and one layer of microfleece, that is touching your baby and is very soft.
MICROFIBER: It is made from 80% πολυεστέρα και 20% polyamide (these are the natural Fibers of wool and silk, that are also made artificially). A Man made fabric which is absorbent, slim, and quick drying. Microfiber does not need to be washed to reach full absorbency. It stays lovely and soft wash after wash.
 |
| Lycra binding |
 |
| Fleece |
FLEECE: 100% polyester. When used as an inner for a nappy fleece acts as a stay dry layer, letting moisture though to the absorbent layers underneath, but keeping your babies skin lovely and dry.
LYCRA: Lycra binding is used on our nappies to keep the outer fabric from touching your babys skin and adding extra funkiness.
SUEDE CLOTH:
It feels like suede leather but is 100% polyester. It is thiner than microfleece but with the same capacity to axclude moisture from the baby's skin.
COTTON JERSEY: Of'course, 100% cotton.
"Jersey" is the typical knitting type. This fabric is very soft, absorbent and stretchy, making it an ideal fabric for washable nappies, eco sanitary pads, clothes, bedding, the list goes on.
ORGANIC COTTON JERSEY: Same as above but this fabric is also organic. Organic fabrics are produced without the use of hazardous chemicals which can be harmful to the environment and the health of the people involved in the manufacturing process.
TERRY:
100% cotton. The fabric that is used for towels. Very absorbent and very cheap (of'course not organic!)
BAMBOO TOWELLING: 90% bamboo and 10% polyester. I have to make something clear hear:1) Pure bamboo is an environmentally friendly material, completely biodegradable. On the contrary of cotton, it can be cultivated without pesticides.
2) The bamboo fabrics are made after the chemical treatment of the bamboo, so that the big fibers will cut down and it will be possible to make them thread (many thanks wiki!). In Canada and the USA, since 2009, it is obligatory to use the term "rayon from bamboo", instead of "bamboo". Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber that is produced after the chemical treatment of the wool and other plant fibers.
3) Studies are being made regarding the antimicrobial action of the bamboo fabric. There are two different opinions, regarding this claim. Some diaper (and other clothing) manufacturers say (Green Earth Bamboo) that it is antimicrobial. They even appear evidence about this action staying vivid even after 100 wash-cycles. At the same time, other researchers (Federal Trade Commission) claim the exact oposite, because the chemical treatment of the bamboo-particles, is destroying its antimicrobial property ...
4) It has a much higher absorbency than cotton, more than 60%, and it dryes 20% faster (I have not found the proper bibliography for these two...).
LUXURIOUS BAMBOO TOWELLING: 65% bamboo 28% cotton and 7% polyester backing for durability. This fabric has all the great qualities of our regular bamboo towelling, and is lovely and soft to the touch. It looks like normal looped towelling on one side and on the other side (the right side) it looks more like Minkee, in that it has a straight cut pile.
ORGANIC BAMBOO VELOUR: It comes from 70% bamboo, 28% cotton and 2% polyester backing for durability. A super soft absorbent and stretchy fabric which feels like velvet. It stays lovely and soft, wash after wash.
I think this is it...
I wrote about everyhting.
If I forget anything, I will be back...
(NOTICE: Most of the evidence come from Weenotions, a small family business making cloth nappies at request!
(I haven't been able to get one yet...)
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