Cleaning Washer before Washing CDs

[fairymom]

If this is not in the right place please move it- sorry.


Awhile back I switched from our regular detergent I'd been using since ds's birth to Purex (someone said it was better to wash in for the dipes, over what I had been using). And bad mama forgot about DH's issues w/Purex and the fact the ds may have the same. He did and developed horrible chemical blisters on his privates- I figured out what it was and switched back, along w/stripping everything I'd washed in the Purex. The blisters cleared up and we didn't have a problem for a little while- but then he started to get them again, not nearly as bad (just one or two at a time) and it's taken me a few days to figure out why.

WHY is because we live in a duplex and the woman downstairs uses Purex for her washing (along with color safe bleach, regular bleach, stain remover, liquid fabric softener and sheets!). DH is going to try and see if she's willing to switch brands (fingers crossed) but if she's not willing, and/or if she is willing I still need to get the Purex residue/build up out of the washer.

Does anyone have any ideas HOW to do this? I was thinking maybe running an empty load first with some Dawn (and if it works, and she won't switch, may have to do this each time before I wash his dipes). Do you think this'll work? Help!

Seriously we if I can't figure it out we will left w/few options- like going to a laundromat, or completely ditching the cloth (which we really can't afford!). I have to get this figured out! We have a lo on the way and are 100%+ s/he will have the same issues.

Help!

[Midwesterner04]

Hi Fairymom,

I'm so sorry to hear about your son's chemical blisters!

I live in a rental and have a washing machine that has had many previous users and had acquired a lot of stubborn detergent buildup. I am soon to be CDing a newborn, so I too needed to scrub the Purex/Tide/All/who knows what away (if my skin was getting irritated, I'm not sure what it would have done to my little baby's...). What I did was to spray straight vinegar directly into the washing machine and let it sit for a while. I then wiped it clean with a dishrag. After that I ran a few hot cycles, alternating 1-2 cups of vinegar and just plain water. I finished by running a hot cycle with clean-rinsing CD-safe detergent, but that step might not have been necessary. My washer is much cleaner now--clothes and linens are softer, and my skin is much happier.

If you will be cleaning your washer regularly, between your neighbor's Purex loads and your loads with another detergent, I wouldn't expect the multiple "strippings" to be necessary. A single vinegar cycle might do the trick.

I hope this will help!

[rlmueller]

Yes to the vinegar cycle. May be able to get away with one rinse cycle with vinegar to do the trick. However, what about using mostly flats and prefolds and hand-washing with a washboard in the sink and hang dry using the $20 fold out rack from IKEA (I've got to get that). For cost effectiveness I love love soapnuts and borax--uber cheap and we have no skin issues with a bit of borax to boost effectiveness due to hard water.