If you use cloth diapers, do you have a front or top load washer?

[germin8]

We recently bought an off-grid home and are looking for appliances. (I don't have experience off-grid living...) I learned recently that it's different washing cloth diapers in a front load washer (less water) than in a top load washer. We really want to get a front load washer because it uses less water and fits better... but is this a bad idea? Can I easily wash diapers in a front load washer? Should we get a top loader?

[Farmer'sWife]

I'm not off grid, but I do have a front load washer and wash cloth diapers in it. There's a little bit of a learning curve, but I don't have any problems. Detergent is a big thing, I was using Country Save (still do on the rest of our clothes), but I now use Rockin' Green on the diapers and it seems to work a little better (less stinkies). Rockin' Green's website has a section about tips for using a front loader and specific washing routines for different brands/models. You might also check out the diapering forum here.

[germin8]

Thanks. Sounds like detergent is the key for front loader. I didn't know the clothes would be 'stinkier'.

Yes, I was wondering if I should post this in the diaper section... but, I thought I'd try here (off-grid) first... thought maybe there was something 'more' I needed to know being off-grid.

[thinkingmom]

I am not off grid either, but we just got a front loader a year ago, and it has been horrible. When I was using a top loader, I didn't wash diapers frequently (since I also EC) and I have zero problems at all. I could leave diapers for 2 weeks with pee and no problems. No pre rinsing or anything. But within 2 months of our front loader my diapers stunk horribly and gave my son this big red diaper rash. It took me a while to figure out what was going on and by now I have tried everything, I have boiled my diapers, made my own laundry soap, done the cleaning rinse for my front loader (to make sure it was clean inside) and stripped my diapers and so on. I am very frustrated how much time, money and water I have ended up having to spend on the washer. So here is my conclusion for you: 1- many people have claimed to not have any or many problems with their front loader, particularly after figuring out how to use it (like extra rinse cycle or making their own detergent, etc...) so I would say don't buy the cheapest model, which I did because maybe some front loaders are much more effective than ours. All of my towels stink as well, and they are never washed with diapers, so my washer seems bad at washing.
2- however, I will say that after learning that there is a learning curve and that you do have to do special things with a front loader for diapers, I will never buy a front loader again. (since I will be doing diapers for many years to come). I feel that the extra thought and time and water spent on doing all the extra cycles and so on doesn't make it worth it. And there is no thought involved at all with using a top loader for diapers.

I am for conserving water, but I personally will find other ways, like collecting rain water, using composting toilets and setting up a grey water system. I am about to move to the country, so hopefully I can implement some of these things once we get moved. Additionally, I did mention EC and I highly recommend that as a way to save from having to wash diapers too, and therefore saving some money as well. Anyway that's my opinion and heartache about the front loaders.

[Farmer'sWife]

Originally Posted by germin8

Thanks. Sounds like detergent is the key for front loader. I didn't know the clothes would be 'stinkier'.

Nope, the clothes aren't stinky, just some of the microfiber dipes were.

[limette]

I wash cloth in a front loader and I haven't noticed any difference.

[Erinz]

We used to have a top loader. When it died we replaced it with a front loader and I've been thrilled with it. No stink issues and the spin capacity of it is far superior to the top loader, but that may just be because it's a much newer model. I can line dry our dipes now, with the top loader it took too long.

[diana_of_the_dunes]

I wash my CDs in my front loader and have never had any problems. I even use my homemade detergent made from Fels Naptha, washing soda, and borax. I recently bought some Rockin Green Hard Rock to "rejuvenate" some cloth dipes I bought secondhand that were repelling... But my diapers have always come out just fine, even with our hard water.

FWIW I use a cold rinse, then run a regular hot cycle. No extra rinses or anything. It's the same routine recommended in top loaders, so I think I'm actually using less energy than I would if I had a top load machine...

[germin8]

Various responses. It looks like I need a really good front load washer!

Thanks all.

[AliciaP8]

I have a Kenmore 2T front loader. I've had some stink issues but mostly dealt with them by using rockin green and ditching all my microfibre and going with natural fibres. I did a lot of online reading and I was appalled by the amount of water and energy people are regularily using in their front loaders to keep diapers clean. I have a hard time seeing how that is a good thing for the environment.

I second the idea that EC (even part time) is the way to go. We sit our baby on the toilet every time we change his diaper and he always does something.

[omamasmama]

we have a front load washer with a sanitary cycle on it. we use all cotton or hemp diapers and use charlie's soap. no issues. we do toss some white vinegar into the mix (where the softener would go) if we can't hang them up to dry in the sun. we love our front load.

[justmama]

I have had horrible horrible times doing cloth diapers with a front loader.  I previously had a very very old used top loade rand loved it.  We never had issues with our diapers for 5 years.  And then about 6 months ago we had a flood and had to replace it and since I got the top loader I've had nothing BUT problems.  It's been awful.  I would NEVER EVER EVER recommend a front loader with cloth diapers.  At the very least it requires a lot more work than just dropping in the diapers and starting the cycle.  And at the worst it's almost bad enough that I want to give up.  And I'm hardcore 100% in love with cloth diapers and have been for almost 6 years and 2 kids.

[mamadelbosque]

We have a FL and though it takes a bit of experimentation once you get it down, its great. Our old washer I just washed on hot 2x and then dried (it too was a FL). Our new one is a miele, and I now wash once on normal/cold and then 1-2x on the 'sanitize' cycle which takes like 3 hours. And then throw'm in the drier. I use Planet detergent. I have never, ever had issues with stink, but have twice now had issues with repelling, but multiple sanitize cycles cleared it up this time (like, 3-4 in a row....). FWIW I wash diapers every 3-5 days, and we us bg 2.0s and 3.0s exclusively (ds1 sleeps in a 2.0, cause' I'm uber lazy and have zero desire to occasionally change sheets at 3am... ds2 uses 3.0s exclusively), and inbetween they just get dropped in a big trashcan beside the toilet. :shrug Good luck!!

[I Fly]

Hi All,

I cloth diapered 100% for 7 years straight, using two different economy (but newish) front-loading machines with NO problems.  I totally think diapers were easy.  I used the same set of prefolds for all three kids, occasionally getting new covers through the years, and now use the diapers as rags even though only a couple are frayed significantly.  I noticed that a friend went through two sets of diapers (turned them into tatters), and the main difference was that she always used the sterilize-cycle on her fancier machine.

My method:  Pee diapers directly into plastic trashcan pail lined with mesh laundry bag.  Poop diapers got scraped with plastic spoon (waste into potty), then doused stain with Bac-Out.  Bac-Out eliminates odor (even smells good), and made stains a rare thing.  Usually my pail was full or I needed night covers after 2-3 days, so I washed diapers 2-3x/week.  I would take the mesh laundry bag out of the pail, dump diapers into the washer (hardest part with front-loader) along with mesh bag.  Sometimes did a hot wash/cold rinse right away.  Sometimes did a cold pre-wash first, stopping mid-cycle to leave diapers soaking for a few hours.  Depended on how messy the diapers were and how much time I had.  I used minimal amount of Seventh Generation or similar detergent to make sure soap residue didn't become a problem.  Then, tossed diapers into the dryer and line-dried the covers (in corner of my laundry area).  Meanwhile re-lined pail with other mesh laundry bag (so alternated between 2).  I started with a fancy, expensive water-proof pail liner, but didn't like it as much as the cheap mesh bags.

What will your off-grid laundry be powered by?  I think the harder part would be moving to 100% line-drying.  I am doing pretty well with that now, but it overwhelmed me when my first two were babies.  Good luck!

[lucyem]

I had an Asko front loader for 10+ years and never had a stinky issue with clothing or diapers except maybe in August if I left it closed up for 2 days with wet clothing in it.  Otherwise I never had an issue.  As for diapers I threw them in with whatever detergent I was using and washed in the sanitary rinse.  Newer Asko models are no longer that great.  I know of two appliance stores who stopped carrying them because the new ones had so many problems.  I bought a Bosch and I got the stinky clothing issue a lot.  It will probably last forever because I certainly want to toss the thing and invest in a Miele.  I really should have sucked it up and bought the Miele.  Anyhow it took a while and I finally figured out how to deal with this machine.  I use 1/2 the recommended amount of Biokleen detergent, add a touch of Oxiclean for whites or anything washed in hot water & use an Afresh as needed.  Like once a month in the really humid weather and once a month in the dry winter (Jan-Mar) when I use a fabric softener for static control.  It's like it you use just a hair too much detergent or fabric softener you get stinky clothing.  

[Loves2Bake]

I have a FL and actually like it much better than my TL. Make sure you're using the right amount of soap, add vinegar to your rinse cycle (where you would put fabric softener), and *always* spin the drum once empty and leave the door open.

[Smithie]

Here's the real secret to diapers, IMHO - if you use the dry pail method, you must wash them every night. Front loader, top loader, microfiber, hemp, special hippy soap, regular old detergent, hard water, soft water, WHATEVER... If you want your dipes to get clean then you can't let them stew in their own juices for days on end.

I start a load of about 6 dipes in the FL every night when DD goes to bed. One cold rinse, 45 mins. One hot wash with a small amount of soap, either 45 mins or 75 mins depending on how late it us. One cold rinse, 45 mins. Into the dryer right before I go to bed! These are Fuzzi Bunz with hemp inserts, and the FL is a Kenmore purchased in 2005.

[gmvh]

Originally Posted by lucyem 

 I bought a Bosch and I got the stinky clothing issue a lot.  It will probably last forever because I certainly want to toss the thing and invest in a Miele.  I really should have sucked it up and bought the Miele.

You may be in luck!  Our Bosch Axxis died after four (five?) years.  Boo!

[Altair]

Originally Posted by Smithie 

Here's the real secret to diapers, IMHO - if you use the dry pail method, you must wash them every night. Front loader, top loader, microfiber, hemp, special hippy soap, regular old detergent, hard water, soft water, WHATEVER... If you want your dipes to get clean then you can't let them stew in their own juices for days on end.

I start a load of about 6 dipes in the FL every night when DD goes to bed. One cold rinse, 45 mins. One hot wash with a small amount of soap, either 45 mins or 75 mins depending on how late it us. One cold rinse, 45 mins. Into the dryer right before I go to bed! These are Fuzzi Bunz with hemp inserts, and the FL is a Kenmore purchased in 2005.

Wow, every night?  I never had a problem with washing every 3-4 days.  I did a dry pail with nothing in it, then a hot wash (top loader) with Tide, then another hot wash with nothing.  That was with mostly FB with microfiber and BG organic AIOs.  We only had stink in the beginning using natural soaps.  Tide really got them cleaner!
 

[Momsteader]

Another FL with no problems. With FL, you need to keep your door ajar when it's not in use or there is no air flow in there! This can lead to the washer stinking which can get into your clothes. There are a few different deep cleaners you can buy to wash in the FL. We did this after we moved and it sat in a moving/storage container for 4 mos and was just funky smelling! 

Also with a front loader, you need to be sure you're using enough detergent with your dipes to get them clean, but not too much to set off the suds warning on the machine. (All it will do it just run more rinses to rid the suds..use a little less next time!)