diapers are not getting clean

[Honey693]

We've been using the same diapers and same detergent for 10 or so months. I've noticed the last month or so the diapers seem to not be getting clean after a wash. They seem almost crunchy and the stains aren't coming out like they used to. So I started doing an extra rinse. That worked for all of a week before we were back to the original issue. So I tried keeping the extra rinse and adding an extra wash. They still don't seem clean and that's a total of 5 cycles they're going through. Does any one have any idea what's wrong?

[AKislandgirl]

What detergent and how much? Maybe they have just got a lot of build up after all of these months. You can try stripping.

I've also had lots of success with Rockin' Green detergent. I soaked my diapers in it when I first got it and was totally shocked at all the build up that came out in the water.

[cristeen]

Front loader or top loader?

It took me almost 8 mos to start noticing something similar - that my dipes were not quite as clean as I'd like. I sat and watched a wash cycle and realized that as absorbent as the dipes are, once the machine stops filling, there's almost no water left to "wash" in - they've absorbed it all. I started adding extra water to my front loader at the beginning of the wash cycle, and it's made a big difference.

I do an initial rinse, adding about 2 gallons to get the poopies out. Then I do a heavy duty wash, adding about 2 gallons, with an extra rinse. I've noticed a considerable difference since I started doing that - a couple weeks ago. I just thought at first that the detergent wasn't rinsing clean, but then I realized that nothing was rinsing clean.

[Honey693]

Originally Posted by AKislandgirl

What detergent and how much? Maybe they have just got a lot of build up after all of these months. You can try stripping.

Purex Free and Clear. how do you strip them?

Originally Posted by cristeen

Front loader or top loader?

It's a top loader and I almost always wash on the high level.

[poppan]

How much detergent do you use? If you use only a little, then it sounds to me like the dirt is getting redeposited onto your diapers which is what's causing the stiffness. Try upping the amount of detergent you use and do a soak with a good amount of detergent and hot water the first time to get rid of the built up dirt.

[mojobin]

I swear by a 1/2 c. of borax in each cycle.

Thanks Cristeen for the tip on adding extra water to your front loader. I never would have thought of that.

[Honey693]

The problem is fixed! I wasn't using enough detergent. I feel pretty dumb for not thinking of that, but I always hear about using too much so it never crossed my mind.

[poppan]

Yay!