Rough prefolds, what's up?

[ctrygirlatheart]

I have noticed that my beautiful organic GMD prefolds are getting rougher not softer with each wash. Would someone please look at my routine and tell me what my potential problem is?

I rinse each diaper and wash every 2-3 days. On wash day I soak the diapers in cold water in the washer with a little bit of bac-out for about an hour. Then I wash on warm/cold with Country Save and vinegar in the rinse with an extra rinse cycle. I machine dry on medium. Any ideas? It seems like maybe it started after I added the bac-out in BUT my dipes were getting stinky when peed on (not ammonia but just stinky) without it.

Thanks!!

[thefreckledmama]

Hmmmm.

My initial response would be to add vinegar to the rinse, but you're already doing that. Do you have or use dryer balls? I have heard they can do wonders for softening up dipes. I don't have any experience using Bac-Out, so I can't weigh in on if that may be your problem-but I'm sure another mama could.

[ctrygirlatheart]

Maybe I will give the dryer balls a go, it may be worth mentioning that I have hard water.

[Angelorum]

I'm having the same problems (grrr hard water)

[JL83]

I have hard water too.

I throw 2 tennis balls into the dryer. That makes the prefolds soft. I actually hang to dry until they are mostly dry (over night) and then run for 15 minutes or so with the balls.