Got my 1st CDs-washing?

[ellairiesmom]

Just got a box of Flip CDs & have never CD before. I have only tried G Dipes. So it says I need to wash them 3-5 times in hot before use. We don't use water softeners or anything besides detergent. We do have hard water. We currently use 7th Generation Baby on the kids clothes & 7th Gen Natural/Free on our clothing.

Can I use 7th Gen Baby or do I need to get something special?

[jeminijad]

I don't have hard water, but I hear a lot about Calgon + detergent for people who do.

I think you can also boil the organic inserts rather than wash a million times to prep them. Honestly, I only washed mine 2x and they absorbed fine. Just don't put LO to bed in it right away.

[Katie T]

As long as there are no fabric softeners in the 7th generation baby (I have no idea) then I think it would be just fine. I agree with boiling if there are no snaps (also have no idea with the flip diapers are like lol).

I have noticed if they are bleached I can boil for 10 to 15 minutes and then throw them through 2 hot washes (I just throw mine in with other laundry so not to waste water) and dry and they are good enough for during the day. Then as you use them they will just increase in absorbency.

[ellairiesmom]

i am totally fascinated by the idea that washing them several times "preps" them & that they will become more absorbent over time. I need to understand the science behind it...off to google...

thx!

i am going to look into the calgon +. Our hard water situation is causing some other issues with our laundry. ggggrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[blumooned]

I just started CDing with Flips, too. I started with the cotton inserts (our stay dry ones arrive tomorrow so I don't know about those yet )

I washed them ~3-4 times before we used them. I just put them in the washer & kept restarting it. I don't think I added soap every time though. We use Tide Free, which I know isn't highly recommended.

This site - pinstripesandpolkadots.com - has lots of info about CDing, including some great info about detergents.

[Katie T]

The natural oils in the cotton come out as you wash them, so the more oil you pull out with washing the more absorbent they become.

[ellairiesmom]

Thx Ladies. So cool!

[ellairiesmom]

Oh wow Erin-that site is awesome! I am especially loving that they mention a few that are good & work well with hard water.