Simplifying Wash Routine?

[chely7425]

So, our electric bill has been insane lately... I have no idea why but I think maybe my diaper wash routine might have something to do with it? We have mostly PFs, cotton fitteds and covers. Occasionally a FB pocket gets used overnight. We have hard water and a regular GE top loader. We use Tide powder and calgon. Our wash routine is this:

1. cold rinse
2. hot wash/cold rinse with calgon and tide
3. hot wash/cold rinse with nothing

Any way I can cut out that second cycle? I am at a loss here... where would be the right place for getting ideas on cutting down our electric bill?

[AKislandgirl]

can you just do a second rinse on your second wash and skip the third wash? That's what I do and have had no problems. I'm not dealing with hard water but just try for a while and see how it goes.

[junipervt]

do you leave the poop on the diapers or do you flush it? I use a diaper spayer, so I don't do a prerinse.

for a year I washed at the laundromat & did 1 hot wash / cold rinse & had no problems. now I have my own washer, so I do a hot wash / cold rinse + an extra cold rinse & have no problems. I do occationally (once every 4-6m) strip or bleach my mf inserts to prevent stink, but I hear no matter what you do you need to do that occationally.

[sunshynbaby]

I do a cold rinse, then a hot wash and cold rinse with a downy ball filled with vinegar. If I were you, I would cut out step three and see how it goes.

[octobermom]

I just did hot wash with extra rinse... Though I'll say our water and electricity bill pretty much stayed the same even after we stopped CD.

Deanna

[SandyBeachBums]

I find top loaders work so much better with dipes. I only use a hot wash with a warm rinse. I use Costco's eco detergent and almost all the dipes are MEOS.

[funkymamajoy]

Originally Posted by AKislandgirl

can you just do a second rinse on your second wash and skip the third wash? That's what I do and have had no problems. I'm not dealing with hard water but just try for a while and see how it goes.

And is line-drying a possibility for you?

[chely7425]

I will try just doing an extra rinse... I have no idea what is up with our electric bill. I wish we could line dry but I don't think we have anywhere to do it.

[Katie T]

I dont really think changing it will help its a very basic routine. That said unplug anything your not using even celll phone cords they draw power even when not used the frugalty & finance gals might have great ideas to help lower ur bill.

[mamadelbosque]

I do cold/cold w/ full amount of planet detergent, and then a hot/cold w/ extra rinse and half amount of planet detergent... seems to be working really well lately We do spray poopy diapers w/ bac-out after rinsing offf the poop...

[Tav Mom]

I don't do #1. I also use charlie's soap and vinagar every other other time. And I've never had to strip my diapers.