What detergent do you use and why?

[bluebirdiemama]

I am having trouble with our diapers, they caused a horrible rash on my dd. I have tried stripping them, used bleach and borax and nothing helped. I use Arm and Hammer Free. She is now in disposables and I HAVE to get her out of those so please help!

What is your washing routine, what detergent do you use? What would you do if your dipies were causing a rash on your baby?

Thank you

[Bokonon]

I use Country Save. Both Charlie's Soap and Planet detergent gave my baby rashes.

[CallMeMommy]

I use Purex Free and Clear. I thought I remembered reading somewhere that the Arm and Hammer wasn't a great choice. I'd definitely try switching detergents.

[starrmama]

I've used Charlie's, Nellie's and Allen's and like them all just fine. I also tried soap nuts for awhile... wasn't a huge fan, but I know some people really like them, and with a child with VERY sensitive skin, they could be worth a shot since they are completely natural and actually do grow on a tree! What kind of diapers are you using? I prefer cotton flats and wool covers - seems the most breathable to me, and flats get really clean easily...

[bluebirdiemama]

Our most used were bumgenius, and they were they first to be taken out of use. We then used cotton prefolds. Ive never wanted to spend the money to buy wool covers. But I dont think breathability is the problem.

I think it's some kind of build up, maybe even a bacterial buildup, although I dont know how that could be, since we wash in hot water with Bac out, detergent and all the rinses, sometimes with vinegar.

But the rash was moist looking with little circular... redness, that quickly, some of them, became open sores. It was really horrible. Does this sound like a typical rash from cloth dipes?

[Katie T]

We use Charlies dd has a sensitive butt! When she does get a rash I either boil the dipes or if I dont have time I use a cap full of bleach. Its not much but does the job.

[starrmama]

From What I've heard, it could be the Bac-Out that she's reacting to. Some babies don't seem to tolerate any enzyme cleaners, even "natural ones"

Yes, I do think its possible for it to be a reaction to cloth diapers, if there is indeed some type of residue in the diapers that she is allergic/sensitive to.

Good luck - this is such a bummer when it happens. You might try reading this article for more ideas: http://www.bummis.com/ca/en/detergent-residue.php

[DevaMajka]

I have no idea if this could be related- did you strip with Dawn? I've wondered if there was a relationship between using Dawn and my son's rash.

Is the rash in the creases or on smooth skin?

If it's in the creases, could it be this?

Intertrigo - this is a specific rash that occurs within the skin folds and creases around the diaper area where the skin rubs together.
Appearance - Heat and moisture mixed with urine cause a red, burn-like appearance.
Treatment - regular white petroleum diaper ointment.

from http://www.askdrsears.com/html/11/T081400.asp

If so, I've found that corn starch helps keep the creases dry.

[Lineymom]

soap nuts... Use them for all the laundry. Only complaint... don't remove stains very well. I love that they are natural and actually priced the same as the all f&c I use to use.

[DevaMajka]

Originally Posted by bluebirdiemama

What would you do if your dipies were causing a rash on your baby?

Ds got a diaper rash recently in cloth. We'd never had problems with sposies in the past, so I tried them, and if anything, they made it worse.

I washed twice with fragrance free, enzyme free detergent, and did 2 full cycles to rinse (until there were no suds). I figured that would help if the problem was caused by diapers not getting clean enough, a reaction to enzymes, or residue. In my case, it didn't help. But it seems like a good thing to try.

I did find that using gerber flats under cotton pants made the rash go away. It was (is) a lot of laundry, but I was desperate to get it gone, and I had a strong feeling that it would help. I changed immediately after each pee (it's actually what I'm doing today, because the rash came back when I tried some fitteds and sposies yesterday). His rash was dx'ed as eczema, but that doesn't really tell me what caused it, kwim?

Basically, what I'm doing is getting the rash cleared up, then I'm going to try one thing that I think might fix it. If he gets a rash, then I'm back to the drawing board. If not, then good! Either way, I get a clue as to what could be causing the rash.

[justmama]

we use all flats and covers and use tide for them. i used to use sun and then purex but that was several years ago befor ethe formula changed to add optical brighteners.And they worked okay but I wasn't shocked at the effectiveness. Then for a long time is was dawn and that was okay as well, just not great. we started using tide out of sheer desperation(it was a free sample pack thankfully)about 6 months ago and haven't looked back. i was completely floored with how clean they smelled and how bright they looked. we had lingering stink and rash issues that nothing cured. nothing like vinegar soaks and baking soda and stripping with dawn and changing detergents and adding extra rinses and washes and then bleaching. it would disappear for like a day or two and then be back. we have not had a single issue with the diapers since beginning to use tide. i shudder to think what chemicals are in it but i have to tell myself that it is better than 3 years of disposables or three years of constant ammonia stink and bleeding rashes.

[junipervt]

We use Allens Naturally liquid. We have been using it for almost 2yrs w/o any problems. I still have to strip our mf inserts every 4-6m, but I hear you have to do that w/ almost any det.

We use it b/c...
-it was the 1st thing we tried & it worked
-you only have to use a tiny bit so it lasts a long time & doesn't cost much $
-one bottle lasted us over 6m
-we just bought a gallon, so we never have to buy it again


We use pfs (cotton/hemp), fitteds (cotton/hemp/bamboo), aios (mf) & pockets both fleece & suede cloth inner (mf/cotton/hemp inserts).

We also have a very simple wash routine (used to wash 1x a week at laundromat now wash 2x a week at home)
-washer set on large setting
-start washer w/ a tiny bit of Allens
-fill at most 2/3 full w/ dirty diapers
-wash hot / cold rinse
-extra cold rinse (used to not do this extra rinse when I washed at the laundromat & had no problems).

[Juliacat]

We use Sportwash, because it's additive-free, available locally, and I like the, uh, non-scent.

My kids don't have particularly sensitive skin, and almost our entire stash consists of cotton diapers, so I don't worry too much about detergent. I worry a little more about our HE washer.

[4JMJ]

We use All Free & Clear. We had tried Tide Free (which we use for our regular laundry), but DS would get really red (think it was because of the enzymes, which All F&C doesn't have). The All gets them really clean and we haven't had any stink issues.
My wash routine: (we have a FL)
cold pre wash w/detergent
sanitize cycle (long cycle, extra hot wash/cold rinse) plus extra rinse
and I use extra water option on both cycles

HTH!

[SubliminalDarkness]

Original Tide liquid. It's worked far better than any number of things we've tried.

[bluebirdiemama]

thanks for sharing all your experiences
I guess Im back to where I was 2 years ago, trying to find some of these detergents....(for whatever reason, the stores around here dont carry ANY of these!, besides charlie's, Im certain Ive seen that one)

OH! and to she who suggested the soap nuts; (sorry I forgot your user name ) I dont know how they compare to Maggies, but at mountainroseherbs.com you can get a whole pound for $6. I bought them once and they looked about the same as maggies, but i gave them to a friend, so dont if they work as well

[sunshynbaby]

I use Kirkland brand liquid because it's what we can afford, and we haven't had any problems with it so far.

Washing routine:
Cold rinse
Hot wash with a downy ball of vinegar for the rinse
Tumble dry on hot

If we started to have problems with rashes, I would switch to sposies and diaper rash ointment (I heard it messes up CDs) until it cleared up. If I thought it was detergent related I would try an extra rinse before switching detergents.

[myfairbabies]

My dd has sensitive skin and eczema and I alternate between making my own (equal parts borax, washing soda, and oxy-free) and tiny bubbles. Before that, I was using Purex free and clear and when I switched to tiny bubbles I suddenly noticed how soft my diapers were! I think the purex just wasn't rinsing out very well and made my prefolds crunchy. The tb works great but it's expensive. So I use homemade for a few weeks, and then tb for a few weeks. Switching is another thing that I've heard is good. DD also got rashes with tide.

[CookAMH]

I chose Purex Free & Clear since it had good ratings on the detergent site. Never had problems. I washed in Tide when at my parents' and that caused a contact rash. I think I have it solved by 1) wearing a fleece liner 2) wash on hot, added boiling water, and did no detergent but added vinegar. I did a couple rinses. I think that did it.

I plan to buy Charlie's Soap once I use up what Tide I have (for our clothes) and the Purex for DS clothes and dipes.

[Lilly Milly]

We use Charlies + OXO-brite. Our load is usually small to medium, so we use around a half scoop Charlies and about a quarter scoop Oxo. For a large load, I use a full scoop Charlies and about a half scoop Oxo. It seemed like we had more rash when I used more detergent.

Our wash routine: Cold rinse no detergent, Hot/Cold wash with detergent as above, dry.

If we have a rash we just use cream during the day (with bamboo motherease fitteds) with no problem. We wash off the cream at night because we use FuzziBunz. If the rash was terrible, we would use a sposie at night until it's gone so we could use cream, but the FB's actually seem to do well, rashes improve even without cream at night.

If diapers were the cause of the rash, I would try using less detergent (you can check for suds in the rinse and make sure there aren't any) or adding a rinse cycle. Try different detergents in case it is the specific detergent your LO is reacting to.

We had a yeast/fungal rash once. Athletes foot cream (can't remember the real name of it) took care of that one and nothing else did. There were red dots sprinkled around the edges of the genital and bum area and red patches on genitals that looked like they were peeling, but I don't remember it actually being open sores...I do remember reading that it is harder to get rid of and you have to continue treatment even after it is cleared up for a few days or it can come back...