What am I doing wrong?

[boomer78]

I'm at my wit's end. My prefolds are very pilly (more with every wash) and rough and scratchy.

They are unbleached organic GMD prefolds and some bleached Osocozys. All were purchased new just about a month ago. They were all a little pilly after prepping, and definitely a lot softer.

I tried: less/more water/diapers/detergent in different combinations, doing another (or two) rinses, etc. It seems like the more rinses I do the rougher the diapers get(?). I use Planets powder that's supposed to be good for washing diapers.

Is there something else I can try? The only thing I can think of is that our washer (shared, I live in an apartment building) doesn't really wash in hot water on hot, it's a mixture of hot and warm. But that probably doesn't matter. I also almost always try and wash some of our other laundry right before, to get rid of at least some build up or left over detergent/fabric softener.

I didn't use vinegar yet.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Maine Mama Doula]

Do you have access to a dryer? Even if you just pop them in for a few after they've air dried, it makes all the difference.

[boomer78]

I do dry them in the drier. (

[cristeen]

I would try the vinegar. It really can make a big difference, although since you're using shared facilities, it may always be a bit of a problem.

[ArcticRose]

I second the vinegar suggestion. It's the only fabric softener I use.

[Adaline'sMama]

Are you washing them with the covers? If you dont make sure the laundry tabs are folded in all the way, it could cause them to be pilly. I also think vinegar might help.

[boomer78]

Nope, just prefolds. Well, Gerber washcloths as well which we use as wipes. Once I somehow managed to get them sort of soft but IMO didn't do anything different? I tried vinegar in the last wash, it helped maybe a teeny bit, but they're still pretty crunchy. I'll probably try to up the detergent. Absolutely no suds when I do an extra hot rinse so I don't think I'm using too much. I wonder what's causing all the piling? It's worse and worse! It doesn't seem like there are too many prefolds in the washer. I even tried less or more but it made no difference. Either way, more pills.

[Katie T]

IME prefolds are not as soft as what I thought they should be/how soft my moms were. They will get slightly softer with time and I remember mine piled and that got better with time. I think with more time you will be happier with them but they won't be soft like flannel or something similar at least in my experience.

[kriket]

pics pics pics!!

I have to see this, it sounds like you are doing the best you can. Maybe if we see it we will be like "oh yeah, that's your muffler bearings" or whatever

My only suggestion is something in your W/D that is pulling at them? Try washing at the laundry mat and see if you notice a difference? Seems like the only constant is the machine.

[luv-my-boys]

Originally Posted by kriket

Seems like the only constant is the machine.

See thats the thing that stuck out to me as well. Have you physically checked the machines/dryers? Like literally run your hand along the agitator? I had a problem a few yrs back with mystery holes until I figured out our agitator blade had a small nick in it and it was snagging/tearing clothes. Might help to try another laundry mat it just might be your apt water/machines.

[boomer78]

Yes, I have inspected the washers - we have 3. All different, too. Nothing broken inside on either of them. The more I wash them the more pilly and rough they get, now even vinegar won't do anything. I just don't get it. DD also started having rashes (could be her teething as well though). There should be no build up on them, if washed on hot w/o detergent, no suds come out. I'm a little ashamed to say I'm almost ready to go back to disposables. Easier, a lot cheaper in our case and most of all, no rashes. Oh and it almost seems like the more I rinse the crunchier they become.

[boomer78]

I'm just really sad...

[Mosaic]

How often do you wash, and how many are you washing at once? Try smaller loads... with more room to move around, there shouldn't be as much friction and it shouldn't pill as much. Also, if the washclothes are fuzzy or linting a lot, maybe wash those separately? It might be worth shaving off the pills with those little fuzz-buster things, because pills beget more pills.

Also, try tennis balls or those dryer balls in the dryer to help with the crunchiness.

[Noelia430]

Do you know if you have hard water?

[heatherr30]

I second PP's comment-- I had to use extra water softener with my CDs. Vinegar in the final rinse and dryer helped too.

[Naturally organic]

Try adding a cup of baking soda to the wash (you can still use vinegar to rinse). If your water is hard, the baking soda will soften it and should also help the detergent to suds. I've found baking soda helps soften my mama cloth when I wash them.

[kriket]

Maybe check if anyone else is having issues with the unbleached organics? Maybe because they are unbleached the are rougher? We only have the bleached and haven't had problems. I am going to take a pic of my GMDs, the well well well loved and the newer ones, so you can compare.
The one on the right is forever loved, and still doesn't look pilly to me
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...s/DSCF2092.jpg

[mum4vr]

I agree--

a cup or more of baking soda in the wash, and at least 1/2 cup of vinegar in the final rinse (in each rinse?).

My guess is you have VERY hard water.

[Katie T]

Originally Posted by kriket

Maybe check if anyone else is having issues with the unbleached organics? Maybe because they are unbleached the are rougher? We only have the bleached and haven't had problems. I am going to take a pic of my GMDs, the well well well loved and the newer ones, so you can compare.
The one on the right is forever loved, and still doesn't look pilly to me
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...s/DSCF2092.jpg

I have diapers that are only a yr old in a huge stash and they look worse than you well loved diaper on the right! What in the world? Luckily my girl is almost potty trained and we are not planning any more kids but I am kinda bummed.

[LionessMom]

i have the GMD unbleached and they look like the well loved ones from a pp pic. no pilling. i use baking soda or borax in my wash with my detergent. i use most of a cup os vinegar in a downy ball for the rinse cycle. i use a cold rinse. then hot wash with borax and detergent. then cold rinse with vinegar. i add a second rinse to get the vinegar out. then i hang to dry in the sun or dry in the dryer. the sun dried ones are a little rough but the dryer dried ones are soft and squishy.