HE detergent

[maptome]

I have a Bosch HE front loading washer. We switched from prefolds to FB about a month ago. We can't seem to get the new dipes clean. They come out of the dryer smelling funky. (Not smelling fine and then awful when wet)

Here is my routine:
Dry pail with lots of baking soda
Quick Wash w/no spin
Drain
High Temperature wash with detergent, vinegar rinse, and extra rinse.

This was working great with the prefolds. I've experimented some with soaking and extra spinning and rinsing, but nothing seems to work.

Anyone recommend their favorite HE compliant detergent? Also, any tips on changing up my routine?

[MettaSutta]

What HE detergent are you using? You may be getting build up from that.

We use Charlies soap powder or Country Save powder, about 1TBSP per load.

We dry pail with no baking soda, then a cold wash/rinse, then a hot wash, cold rinse. We don't use vinegar as we have soft water. About once every 3 months I soak everything in bac-out and wash them without detergent. I've been using pocket diapers for 2.5 years and this seems to work for us!

If you do have build up on the fleece, you may need to strip your diapers.

I hope this helps a little!

[chase_mommy]

Don't know much about front loading washers, I am still rocken the old school kind. However, I used soap nuts in my brothers when we visit and have had great sucess... we are a prefold and flat family though.

I also wanted to add that a lot of people have issues with stink in FB. My cousin actually gave up on CDing because she couldn't get rid of the stink with FB. From what I understand they are not all natural fibers so its harder to clean them and they hold onto the ammonia in urine. I have also read that detergent build up will make this worse. Perhaps strip them and change up your wash routine? Maybe add a third rinse with some vinegar just to make sure?

[Katie T]

I would ditch the micro fiber and stuff the diapers with prefolds. It is hard to wash microfiber in a FL IME. It could be a build up of either detergent or bacteria from not being able to get all the way to the core of the microfiber (a very common problem)

I use Charlies Soap as well and do love it. I would run a hot wash with no soap and see what happens, that will tell you if you have buildup. (if you get suds)

If you have no suds I would try adding a little more detergent and see if you can get them clean, some people are so afraid of adding to much then accidentally add too little.

Let us know how it goes and maybe we can assist further.

[maptome]

Originally Posted by Katie T

... I would run a hot wash with no soap and see what happens, that will tell you if you have buildup. (if you get suds)...

Good idea! I'll try this out.

Originally Posted by Katie T

...
If you have no suds I would try adding a little more detergent and see if you can get them clean, some people are so afraid of adding to much then accidentally add too little.
...

I think I tend to err on the side of too little.