Washing Bum Genius Cloth Diapers

[chilaski]

I must be doing something (or multiple things) wrong because my CDs just don't seem to get clean! Especially in the winter when I don't have the benefit of the sun. And, now that my LO is eating solids, they're getting STINKY!!!! Please HELP!

I have all Bum Genius 3.0 diapers. Currently, I rinse once in hot water, once in cold water. Then wash once in hot and once in cold with Purex Free and Clear. I was using Charlie's Soap but didn't see a noticable difference. I actually plan to switch to Planet when I can get to Costco again since that has NO "bad" stuff according to the detergent charts. But, anyway...I used to also use Fens Naptha and Borax - both of which got rave reviews by everyone else, but didn't seem to make a noticeable difference for mine. I have a top loading washer that's nothing to boast about and can't afford to buy a new one.

I use Tide for my other clothes - which, from reading other posts, I'm thinking could be contributing to the problem? If so, how do I get the residue out of my washer to switch over completely to Purex F&C or Planet (or anything else you might suggest). I also seem to remember reading stuff about using white vinegar once in a while? Or baking soda? It's all a jumble in my head at this point.

Please, ANY insight for what I need to do differently would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Cassie

[Michigan Mama]

I find hot rinses are a lot more effective at getting detergent and other residues out, so here's what I do.

cold rinse. Hot wash with detergent. Usually use should use about 1/4 the amount of normal. I use Charlie's so I use 1 T (the normal amount). Then I do an extra hot rinse.

If I start to notice a little more stink, I turn up the hot water heater and run like 3-5 extra rinses on super super hot. That usually works for us.

Some people strip their diapers with Dawn, or even in the dishwasher!

[friendlymamma]

Is there a reason that you are rinsing in hot first? I would rinse on cold first, and then wash on hot, that's what I do. How long has it been since you stripped them? Mine did still smell a little bit when I used Planet, now I use Mountain Green and they never smell.

So, I would rinse on cold first, wash on hot, and try stripping with blue Dawn (1 tsp), see if that helps. Good luck!

[Mom2SammyJoe]

I removed the solids from my BG before they go in the dry pail. I run one wash cycle (hot wash/cold rinse) with 2T concentrated detergent. I then run another wash cycle (warm/cold) without detergent.
I was having stink problems too, as soon as DS would wet. I contacted the company, and they actually recommend using bleach. Per their instructions, I add 1/4 cup with my detergent once per month. This makes a huge difference. I can tell when a month goes by by the smell of wet diapers.
My inserts still look a little dingy, but at least the bleach takes care of the smell. I guess that is the difference in using synthetic vs. natural fibers.

[Galatea]

Prewash on cold - hot could set the stains in. I like to prewash with vinegar to get rid of ammonia.

Wash hot with safe detergent - Purex Free has optical brighteners which can cause buildup on pocket diapers. That may be your problem.

Rinse cold.

I don't have warm or hot rinses, so I just do another hot wash.

bumGenius! are meant to be bleached once a month. This will really get rid of the smells.

[melissa.sm]

I follow the instructions that cottonbabies e-mailed when I ordered my BG3.0s: cold wash, hot wash, extra rinse on any temperature. I also ordered Allen's Naturally from the same website and use 2 tsp of detergent in each wash, as directed by the receipt that came with the detergent. Have been doing this for several months, never used bleach or stripped the diapers, and they are sparkling clean and very absorbent.

[Ifluffedthree]

Originally Posted by melissa.sm

I follow the instructions that cottonbabies e-mailed when I ordered my BG3.0s: cold wash, hot wash, extra rinse on any temperature. I also ordered Allen's Naturally from the same website and use 2 tsp of detergent in each wash, as directed by the receipt that came with the detergent. Have been doing this for several months, never used bleach or stripped the diapers, and they are sparkling clean and very absorbent.

this was about the same routine I had followed for years.

I prefer a top loader for my laundry and in choosing my new HE washer I chose a top loader -- imo it cleans better.

[MoOnFiReGlOw]

Originally Posted by melissa.sm

I follow the instructions that cottonbabies e-mailed when I ordered my BG3.0s: cold wash, hot wash, extra rinse on any temperature. I also ordered Allen's Naturally from the same website and use 2 tsp of detergent in each wash, as directed by the receipt that came with the detergent. Have been doing this for several months, never used bleach or stripped the diapers, and they are sparkling clean and very absorbent.

that: