Diapers not soft/too stiff...

[Monkey Toes]

I've been puzzling over this for months and have read some from the archives but wondered if anyone had any helpful advice. I use basic prefolds (unbleached cotton), and I just don't feel like the diapers are very soft. In fact, they're pretty stiff, much stiffer than when I bought them. It's frustrating because of course one of the reasons I wanted to use cloth was how nice and soft it would be against my baby's skin. She's now 11 months, so you'd think I would have figured something out by now! Anyway... we have a front loader washing machine, I've used different detergents but now am using the Costco "environmentally friendly" one. I put just a very small amount of detergent in, wash it with some baking soda (maybe 1/4 cup) on the "sanitary" cycle (the only way to have the machine use the hottest water--it takes 2+ hours), and then another rinse cycle with 1/4-1/2 cup of vinegar. I've tried different things and figured it was probably a buildup of detergent, hence using the hottest water possible. I don't think we have particularly soft or hard water. It seems pretty average.

This isn't a crucial issue because they do come out clean with no scent at all, but it sure would be nice to have something softer against her skin. I guess I was envisioning diapers I've seen from a diaper service that were super soft, like you'd want to snuggle against them. I know they use some pretty harsh chemicals, though, and they're of course bleached cotton, so maybe that's the difference. I've assumed that it was our washer, and while I like the idea of a front loader we're planning on buying a top loader when we move because it's just been so frustrating.

Any ideas? Thanks!!

[Erinjvrn]

dryer drying makes them much softer, not sure if you dryer dry or line dry.
I also find that the cheaper pfs are not soft. I learned that after buying 3 dz of course!!!

[My3guys]

Are you sure all the detergent is out? Just super hot water isn't a guarantee that all the detergent is out of the fabric. Do another rinse and make sure there are no suds in the water. Suds means there is still detergent.

I also might try the dryer if you are line drying. We line dry pretty much everything in this house and I hate the stiffness. Even if you do line dry, maybe a little bit of time in the dryer at the end to fluff things up might help.

Good luck

[Carhootel]

honestly, I feel the same way. my prefolds were really soft at first, then got scratchier. It's like they are too dried out from the dryer or something. My oldest ones/hand me downs are MUCH softer. I know I get all my detergent out because I have stripped them and rinsed like crazy, it doesn't bother me too much because I think of it sort of like jeans, they are REALLY stiff feeling as a fabric, but once they are on and warmed up against your skin they 'break in' very quickly and feel soft and form fitting, I assume it's sort of the same on the baby's butt right?

One thing that helped our prefolds substantially (but still wouldn't call them soft) was using a dryer ball. Ours is a wool/felt ball but I know there are other kinds out there. That and and a vinegar rinse made me stop worrying about it

[Monkey Toes]

Thanks! I do dry them in the dryer (we live in Seattle...) but maybe they are simply cheap diapers? I have many dozens in two sizes as well. I did try washing a load yesterday with only baking soda, no detergent at all, and they came out smelling just fine, so I might try that for a little while and see if it helps. Thanks again.

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by Monkey Toes

I have many dozens in two sizes as well. I did try washing a load yesterday with only baking soda, no detergent at all, and they came out smelling just fine, so I might try that for a little while and see if it helps. Thanks again.

I don't recommend it. They start smelling very strongly when they pee... they smell clean right out of the wash, but when pee hits it, I could smell it from 2 feet away.

It took a while to get all the detergent out of my clothes though, and until i did, some of those were really stiff too. With my FL my wash routine is 1/2 scoop country save in the prewash cup, a scoop of bs in the detergent cup and white vinegar in the fabric softener cup. Prewash, Wash, Extra Rinse, Extended Spin on Hot/Cold. And I haven't had to strip or even deal with stink since.

How are you washing the rest of your laundry? Is it different than how you wash your dipes?

[Erinjvrn]

I would try a better quality pf. Many people love GMD pfs and they are a little pricier, but not much. I agree, my pfs are scratchy and not very soft. I have a variety of OBV pfs that I bought for this reason, but they run about $8 per pf preowned.

[Adsullata]

My prefolds have never really softened up like I thought they would and I think it's because they're Indian cotton, not Chinese (mine are also unbleached). I bought them before I knew much, and was told they were more absorbent (they are super, super absorbent), but I suspect it's the Chinese that's softer.

I went thru all kinds of tinkering with my wash routine too and have concluded simplest is best. Just detergent, nothing else, and make sure it rinses completely. About once a month or two I will, after the dipes are done, remove all PUL covers, etc. and run an extra vinegar rinse with the non-PUL products/dipes. Do not use baking soda or vinegar with your PUL- it will ruin it. I learned this the hard way.

[DocsNemesis]

Try using some Ecover. It's safe for CD's and you can get it at Whole Foods and probably Trader Joe's. I think QFC even carries it. I've been using it for a few months now and absolutely no problems-and its made all my CD's so soft! There are others out there too but this is the one I've used personally

[noobmom]

I thought that Indian PFs were softer, Chinese were sturdier. But I don't know for sure.

My PFs got rough over time. I think what happens is that the softest cotton gets worn away over time, leaving the tougher fiber behind. Then, as more time passes it seems like they start to soften up again, as if all those tough fibers are breaking down a bit.

It could also be detergent build-up, as someone else said.

For this baby I have a new batch of GMD organic PFs, so I'll be interested to see how they do compared to the generic PFs I used with #1.

[justmama]

ecover fabric softener. one cap in the final rinse of the washing machine. works great. no build-up. and it smells great too. i've been cloth diapering for 5 years straight now and we use ecover whenever the flats need a pick-me-up and it's awesome. no stripping at all.