Cloth Diaper Wash Routines

[Beauchamp]

I've been searching through the forum trying to find one thread of just washing routines. (If there is one, please point me!)

What is your washing routine? Just the down and dirty basics, please, about your detergent, cycles, machines, water type, any additives, etc. I am going to be new to cloth with my LO in June. I just read the GMD care booklet and, although it's a great source of info, I am really overwhelmed! Some "sample" routines from real mamas might help me.

(A note about me: I have the Whirlpool Cabrio washer/dryer set. It's a top loader, but still an HE machine. We have notoriously hard water, and we currently use Tide HE with an occasional addition of fabric softener for sheets, etc. I am planning to switch, but haven't decided to what yet.)

[Michigan Mama]

My routine is:

Cold rinse, hot wash with 1 T Biokleen liquid detergent (just started using this - we'll see how it goes), extra hot rinse.

Then depending on weather and time, I hang it all to dry on the line or throw it all in the dryer on medium heat. If I'm motivated I take out my PUL covers and pocket diapers to hang separately. Especially the velcro stuff.

The only thing that has to be washed separately/differently is wool.

Good luck! There can be a learning curve at first, as each family has to find what works for them...but you'll be a pro before you know it!

[brietta]

We have an HE washer and hard water. Here's what I do:

cold rinse
hot "heavy duty" wash/cold rinse cycle w/ 1 scoop (=1T) Charlie's Soap & 1/4 capfull of liquid Calgon
warm/warm rinse

I always air dry/line dry at least everything with PUL. In the summertime I line dry it all.

For what it's worth, we used Tide HE originally and it ended up leaving tons of terrible residue on our diapers. I think lots of mamas can get away with Tide, but maybe it just doesn't rinse well at all because of my hard water? Anyway, you're definitely wise to switch!

[chely7425]

We have a normal top loader and crazy hard water... here is our wash routine:

cold rinse with nothing added
hot wash w/ 2 tbsp country save and a capful of calgon water softener
hot wash w/ nothing added

I would just do a hot rinse but our machine doesn't have that option!! I found the Calgon was really key in keeping our diapers clean and unsmelly!

[brietta]

Originally Posted by chely7425

We have a normal top loader and crazy hard water... here is our wash routine:

cold rinse with nothing added
hot wash w/ 2 tbsp country save and a capful of calgon water softener
hot wash w/ nothing added

I would just do a hot rinse but our machine doesn't have that option!! I found the Calgon was really key in keeping our diapers clean and unsmelly!

Just make sure to use less Calgon in an HE washer. I contacted the manufacturer and they were REALLY emphatic about that. I guess it can cause problems otherwise. And the 1/4 cap full has done the trick, so I guess it's true that an HE washer doesn't need as much.

[Beauchamp]

brietta & chely,

You are using powdered detergent with Calgon in your HE machine? Do you put both into the dispenser? I am wondering about adding liquid Calgon to the powder detergent, if this is okay?

[chely7425]

I don't put anything in the dispenser... I just put it straight in the machine. I keep a small plastic container in the laundry area and predissolve the country save in before I add it to the washer, same with the calgon.

[brietta]

Originally Posted by Beauchamp

brietta & chely,

You are using powdered detergent with Calgon in your HE machine? Do you put both into the dispenser? I am wondering about adding liquid Calgon to the powder detergent, if this is okay?

I stopped using the dispenser and started putting the detergent right in the machine when I switched to powder detergent. (I'd heard it was better and since it's no harder, I figured why not?)

Now I just put the powder & liquid Calgon both directly in just before I start the hot wash "heavy duty" cycle. It works great.

[rightkindofme]

I do a cold/cold cycle with a scoop of Nellie's All Natural. I also put vinegar in the bleach/fabric softener dispensers. This cycle I also hit extra rinse, stain cycle. Then I do a hot wash/warm rinse with a scoop of Nellie's and sometimes more vinegar; I have an extra rinse this cycle too.

I line dry when it's not raining (most of the time).

I didn't used to have to wash so intensely. I'm a lazy/part-time ECer and we use family cloth. Our diapers and wipes sit in the pail for up to seven days and they smell really bad at the end. This routine gets rid of all the smell and allows me to only do really full loads.