When and how to use bs and vinegar for washing cloth?

[anomaly13]

We were having some serious stink problems so I bought some sposies and did a very through stripping of my stash, at least I hope so. I devided it in two, we have mostly prefolds and a half dozen or so pockets. I washed each half, containing prefolds and microfiber inserts, in hot with dish soap and then repeated hot washes, with no soap, until the suds were all gone. After each half was done I put them together and did a hot wash with no soap but bleach, finished with a hot wash with nothing added. Then I dried on high heat. I washed the covers and pockets seperate, with the regualr wash. So now assuming it all worked I would like to keep the stink away with a once a month bleach wash, very small amount. I would also like to start using bs and vinegar with every wash, I just don't know when to add or how much. We have hard water which I bet has something to do with the stink.

Anyway what is your routine? What products do you use?

I use Country Save detergent for diapers and wash 2-3 times a week, and for the stripping I used Kirkland Signature Environmentally Friendly liquid dish soap. For regular wash, everything but diapers, I use Kirkland Signature Environmentally Friendly Laundry Detergent.

[sunshynbaby]

I use regular Kirkland detergent (some people have problems with it but I haven't so far) and vinegar in a Downy ball for the rinse. We do a rinse on cold with nothing, then a wash with detergent and the downy ball with vinegar for the rinse. We always use the next level up for water (i.e. medium for a small load, etc.) than what we think we need so the dipes get a good wash and rinse.

So far so good!

[cristeen]

Are you in a FL or TL?

In my FL, I was getting some stink issues. I just this week found Country Save locally, so now I'm using 1/2 scoop of CS in the prewash, 2 Tbs of BS in the main wash and about 1/4 c of vinegar in the rinse (fabric softener compartment). My machine does a full (hot) prewash, a regular wash (on hot) and an extra rinse (cold). I smelled my diapers when I pulled them out just an hour ago and they smell clean again - I didn't even have to strip them.

[anomaly13]

I have a TL that I can't stand, but we rent so not going to buy a new washer until er buy in a few years or if this one gives out. I don't like it because:

1. you cannot select a water level, large or completely full is the only option.
2. it only has warm or cold for water temp. options. If you choose warm it washes longer, if you choose cold the wash time is shorter. For laundry other then diapers I usually choose cold and once it is full turn it back to get a longer wash. When I wash diapers, I choose warm but I turn off the cold water at the hose so it will fill up with just hot water making for a hot wash, instead of hot+cold to make it warm. But I always forget to turn the cold back on so it sits on rinse until I do, so washing diapers can take awhile if I forget what I am doing.

how do the downy balls work?

[sunshynbaby]

Originally Posted by anomaly13

how do the downy balls work?

It doesn't release the vinegar (or whatever you put in it) until the rinse cycle even though you put it in at the beginning. It's great!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downy_Ball