Premium Nappies

What is that absorbent stuff inside disposable diapers?

I accidentally threw a[n unused] disposable diaper in with my laundry tonight, and it exploded everywhere, leaving little clear gelatinous globules covering my laundry, my washing machine, and my hands. Just what is this stuff inside diapers, anyway? And do I have to rinse the globules out of everything before I re-wash it? Is this stuff somehow toxic, and are we all going to die!?? (kidding on that one)

Public Comments

1. It's gel like you've now seen consider it being similar but not the same as jello.
2. That happened with me one time, but only with a super absorbant pantiliner. But the pantiliner didn't explode, I just noticed it was all squishy so I opened it. It's basically unflavored jello, and it's non-toxic, and I would think the best way to get it out would be to re-wash everything in hot water, since hot water dissolves jello.
3. I looked it up for you and I learned a lot about diapers too, lol, and even who wears them, besides babies. Anyways, here is what it's called (usually, some are different): "Hydrogel" (See below: They ARE water soluble, which does mean they will dissolve in water.) Hydrogel is a network of polymer chains that are water-soluble, sometimes found as a colloidal gel in which water is the dispersion medium. Hydrogels are superabsorbent (they can contain over 99% water) natural or synthetic polymers. Hydrogels possess also a degree of flexibility very similar to natural tissue, due to their significant water content. Common uses for hydrogel are: In disposable diapers where they "capture" urine, or in sanitary towels Contact lenses (silicone hydrogels, polyacrylamides) medical electrodes using hydrogels composed of cross linked polymers (polyethylene oxide, polyAMPS and polyvinylpyrrolidone) Other, less common uses include: Breast implants Granules for holding soil moisture in arid areas Dressings for healing of burn or other hard-to-heal wounds reservoirs in topical drug delivery; particularly ionic drugs, delivered by iontophoresis (see ion exchange resin) Common ingredients are eg. polyvinyl alcohol, sodium polyacrylate, acrylate polymers and copolymers with an abundance of hydrophilic groups. ...and yes, I noticed the one about the breast implants, but I don't advise saving them up for that, lol... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaper
4. It's a polymer...It is also used in plant containers from the nursery to help plants stay moist after watering them. It is a hydrogel. Try rinsing the blobs out in the bathtub prior to throwing everything back in the washing machine again. They do not disolve.