uneven wetness after wash thru front loader

[atlantafemme]

Hello wise mamas,

So, I've only had my fuzzibunz for 2 months and I'm battling the stink. I've tried everything I can think of or have read about on here:

soaking, rinsing, borax, charlies, rockin green, oxyclean, cold water, hot water, more detergent, less detergent, you name it! (And I only dry outside.)

I've noticed recently that the inserts that stink the most after washing almost feel dry to the touch. I have a front loader. Is my machine not agitating them well enough?

I have been able to get the stink out after 5-6 washes but the water and time waste is driving me mad. Thoughts?

(other pertinent info--we use a dry pail, wash every 2 days, soft water.)

THANKS!

[Mom2M]

I had this problem too and we have soft water and a front loader!
Here's what works for us now.
I use a quick wash cycle in cold first. Then a hot quick wash cycle with Arm & Hammer Free, about a half of the amt. they say for a load. And in that one I use about a half cup of vinegar in the fabric softener section.
Last one is a hot water quick wash cycle to make sure it is all rinsed out.
No problems since then. The only one that smells now when it's wet is the overnight.
I dry outside too and then fluff the inserts/prefolds in the dryer (not the covers or pockets)

[mntnmom]

could you be overloading? Try a smaller load and see if it helps. I have a front loader and found my stink issues to be worst if I tried to wash too many dipes at once.

[atlantafemme]

Thanks, Mom2M! I'll try your routine next wash.

And, mntnmom, I usually wash about 11-12 dipes and their inserts plus the wet bag at the same time. Could that be considered too much?

[Katie T]

Originally Posted by atlantafemme

Thanks, Mom2M! I'll try your routine next wash.

And, mntnmom, I usually wash about 11-12 dipes and their inserts plus the wet bag at the same time. Could that be considered too much?

Unless you have a VERY small washer I don't think that is too large of a load.

[finnegansmom]

Your load size sounds fine to me. I bet your washer is just doing a really awesome job spinning them dry like it's supposed to.
I would never use borax on diapers, it destroys elastic (I know this first hand).
Have you used RLR on them? It's a stripper and removes buildup. Those microfiber inserts are stink magnets. I'll through in CLEAN diapers and wash with a packet of RLR and in my front loader, there'll be FOAM and SUDS all over the place, just detergent buildup. As long as I do this every one in a while, I don't seem to get the stinks like I used to. Even at night. Although some of diapers with hemp always seem to smell weird to me when wet with urine.

I also like the vinegar rinse idea....I used to always use vinegar in a downey ball when I had soft water...

[atlantafemme]

Thanks! Now what to do with the giant box of Borax I just bought...

What kind of vinegar are y'all using? Does it matter?