12 Truths about Hemp & Extra Hemp Washing Tips

1) Hemp is a close cousin to marijuana, but it isn’t the same!

Both come from the plant Cannabis Sativa L. but industrial hemp contains only about 0.3%-1.5% Tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) – the compounds responsible for the ‘high’. Marijuana contains between 5-10%.

2) Hemp is more sustainable than many other crops!

The World Commission on Environment and Development articulated what it means to be ‘sustainable,’ and it has now become a widely accepted definition of sustainability: “[to meet] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

3) Each cannabis plant grown can end up saving 12 trees!

And cuts chemicals used in paper manufacturing by 1/7. Approximately1 acre of hemp can also replace 2-3 acres of cotton, often grown with heavy pesticides and commercial fertilizers which hemp does not require. About 93% of our paper currently comes from trees, often from old-growth forests, which must be clear-cut. About 40% of our trees are destroyed for timber.

4) Hemp has been grown forever!

The plant is so old, so useful, and so reliable. Hemp cloth found in Iran and Iraq has been dated to 8000 B.C.“Hemp is also believed to be the oldest example of human industry. In the Lu Shi, a Chinese work of the Sung dynasty (500 AD), we find reference to the Emperor Shen Nung (28th century BC) who taught his people to cultivate hemp for cloth. It is believed that hemp made it to Europe in approximately 1,200 BC. From there, it spread throughout the ancient world.”

5) Hemp is one of the most durable fibers on the planet!

Hemp fibers are so strong they can replace metal and glass. Hemp fiber also has incredible tensile strength. Compared to cotton denim, 100% hemp fabric had 62% greater tear strength and 102% greater tensile strength. Henry Ford's first car was meant to run on hemp, and was made of hemp plastics.

6) Hemp can be used as a fuel!

Hemp fuel is also better for the environment, since growing hemp is cleaner than growing the highly subsidized GMO corn which is in our ethanol gas. In the US today, about 95 percent of our ethanol is derived from corn kernels, and most of this corn is genetically modified. “Hemp can be made into fuel in two ways: the oil from the pressed hempseed can be turned into biodiesel, or the fermented stalk can be made into ethanol and methanol. Biodiesel is completely biodegradable and a much cleaner fuel for the air. Even the exhaust produced from burning hempseed biodiesel has a pleasant smell.”

7) Hemp fabric is better than many others!

Hemp fibers are hollow, so when fabric is made from the plant, the fabric provides warmth in the winter and helps to keep you cool in the summer. Since it is also extremely durable, clothing made with hemp lasts longer, and will not show signs of wear and tear as easily. Hemp can produce 250% more fiber than cotton and 600% more fiber than flax using the same amount of land. The amount of land needed for obtaining equal yields of fiber place hemp at an advantage over other fibers. Our fertile lands are running out in this country thanks to big Agricultural and Livestock practices.

8) Hemp seeds are a nutritious food source!

Instead of investing in GMOs, companies should be investing in hemp! The hemp plant offers incredible nutrition. It is a great protein source, and is a vegetable-based source of all nine essential amino acids. Hemp seed protein is 65% globulin edistin, and also includes quantities of albumin. What’s more, its protein is readily available in a form quite similar to that found in blood plasma. It also contains important fatty acids, vitamin E, many trace minerals, and has the perfect Omega 3 to 6 ratio of 3 to 1, which can help keep your fatty acid balance on target. Hemp is highly digestible, unlike soy, and can help heal people from immunity disorders.

9) Hemp grows fast!

It takes hemp about 3-4 months to grow to full, harvestable size, and the same acre of trees years to grow back before they can be used for the same things as the hemp plants would have been. Interestingly, our forests are being cut down 3 times faster than they can grow back.

10) Hemp can be grown without pesticides, herbicides or fungicides!

The use of these agrochemicals is epidemic. Just glyphosate use alone is up to over 383 millions pounds annually and growing. Hemp cultivation can help to restore nature’s balance by stopping the use of these poisons.

11) Hemp is medicine!

The Medical College of Virginia had been funded by the National Institutes of Health to find evidence that marijuana damaged the human immune system. Imagine their surprise when the results came back indicating the opposite: Instead of causing the death of mice implanted with brain cancer, marijuana considerably slowed the growth of their tumors and extended their lives, but even hemp, the non THC-full counterpart to Cannabis, harnesses healing properties. Hemp/Cannabis juice is rich in CBD. Many people juice with hemp and see some amazing benefits.

12) Hemp is still illegal to cultivate in many countries!

And you gotta wonder why?! Because let’s face it, huge industries would suffer if Hemp started taking over!

(Info Sourced: http://naturalsociety.com/10-great-things-hemp-really-need-know/)

 

WASHING & DRYING:

Because of the tightening of fibres when wet, Hemp also has the tendency to retain more than other fibres. So washing and drying them can mean trialing a few different methods to best suit your needs and situation.

there are various factors involved in getting a good wash for you, such as:

your water hardness, your choice of detergent, your water temperature, cycle length, drying time, etc.

I have mentioned my ultra basic wash routine (Cold Water rinse dirty inserts only, then extended wash cycle with soapnuts and Essential Oils, then a rinse cycle to finish, followed by Line-drying outside in sunlight. I also used Oxygen Bleach for a good soaking every now and then for both inserts & shells). and I used this routine the entire time I used cloth nappies and had no issues.

but there are many factors as mentioned above as to why each family may need to tailor their washing routine to their situation.

EVERYDAY BASIC WASHING TIPS:

-Hemp Inserts can be used after just one wash. However, because of the natural oils in hemp, multiple washings are recommended before they reach maximum absorbency to strip the oils.

-Wash on warm (Ideal 40-60 degrees)

-Tumble Dry on lowest Heat option.

-Over-drying or Over-washing on high heat can cause extreme shrinkage in hemp/cotton fabric. Although some shrinkage of the fabric and around the edges is common of hemp/cotton fabric, over-drying or hot washing/drying can cause the fabric to become misshapen.

-No bleach (apart from occasional oxygen Bleach), enzymes, or additives recommended to be used on hemp.

HEMP INSERTS SMELLING:

Organic Hemp fibers are slow to release moisture in the dry cycle of your washing Machine or dryer, they take about twice the drying energy of synthetic, cotton or bamboo (viscose) fibers.

If hemp is not completely dried, the moisture trapped deep in the fibers causes common bacteria to activate - this can give off a strong smell or ammonia (especially strong as soon as baby urinates).

If this is the case, your child may be a heavy wetter or have slightly acidic urine, and so following our washing guide extra recommended tip can help: Once used and before placing the insert in the dry pail to await washing, give the insert a rinse under the laundry tap and wring out excess water. Then place in dry pail.

This will avoid the urine sitting in the insert too long and potentially causing damage and smell.

You can also potentially cure this with a dose of oxygen bleach added to your washing machine followed by extended drying. even it they are dry to the touch, hemp can be deceiving, and so ensuring they are dry through is important to avoid retention of moisture./p>

another reason causing smell on your inserts, could be due to the use of too much detergent when washing, resulting in a build up. A possible solution is Trialing cutting back on detergent when washing the Inserts, opting instead for a longer water wash or rinse cycle on the machine.

Another idea to cleanse the inserts is every now and then washing the Hemp Inserts only, on a very hot wash (60 degrees)- allowing them to run through and strip the fibres. Hemp is very durable so won't be affected, but please no PUL products such as our Nappy Shells to be washed in hot water (above 60 degrees).

Hard water and bore water also can cause issues.

DRYING & STIFFNESS:

Sun drying or Air-drying is ideal always, however this is not always an option depending where you live. When drying best is out of intense sunlight, as the sunlight will make them more stiff to touch. but otherwise if you have a dryer you can finish off the drying time in the dryer. This will also aid them in softening up!

giving them a good scrunch and stretch to soften up before putting on Hunter was great.

After the inserts have dried and if they feel stiff, stretching both ends and the gussets out, or giving them a hit against your machine, or scrunching them up before use makes them more pliable. Once the inserts are on your baby, they will naturally soften and shape to baby's bottom.

SHRINKING WHEN WET:

Hemp is the strongest natural fiber on the planet. It was used for centuries by seamen as the primary rope for mooring ships and tying anchors. Hemp is made to become stronger in water because the individual fibers bind together very tightly.

So once you have washed them and whilst they are still wet, give them a tug on each end of the insert, as well as the gussets, to stretch out so that they dry in the extended shape desired. This May be a bit of a pain, but this is just the nature of using natural fibres and in my case, was definitely worth it!

Please feel free anytime to contact us directly via email/FB if you have any further questions!

Hemp is an amazing fabric to use, but it is also probably the most complex of fibres. that is the nature of opting for a completely natural product! It Works a bit differently than synthetic options, but in the long run, is great for earth and baby.