What to do for hard water??

[barnone]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think we have hard water. Our clothes and dipes are getting pilly and worn down very quickly. I'm really annoyed! I bought a super soft Imse Vimse organic cover and it's already rough and pilly after only a few months. Our prefolds aren't even that soft. Do you think the cause could be hard water?? My friend has the exact same washer/dryer and uses the same detergent and her dipes are SO soft!!

Is there a special detergent I should use to save our dipes/clothes? Is there something I need to add to what we're already using (All F&C)? I don't want to get a water softener b/c they're so expensive.

TIA!
Barbara

[mamapixie]

Add Calgon(liquid water softener) to your wash cycles. It helps a lot.

[DeerMother]

Don't use vinegar. Vinegar + hard water = stinky diapers, ime. I use calgon softener once in a while, wool dryer balls, wash w/ biokleen daily and Tide regular powder once a week or less. The longer you have the pfs, the softer they will be. Maybe that's part of your problem?

[barnone]

We've had them for over a year. i'll try adding the Calgon. Can you use that w/ a front-loader??

[Angelorum]

I'm having hard water issues too. How much Calgon do you use? and do you put it in with the detergent, or just for the rinse? I have noticed my pfs getting rougher as time goes on. The ones that were at the bottom of the stack and washed less often are way softer than the well used ones.