Washing on Warm only. An experiment.

[MEcatlady17]

I am currently doing an experiment and washing all my diapers on warm rather than hot.  I decided to give it a try because I use some Grovia products and they advise to wash warm as hot kills elastics and aplix over time.  I had recently started rinsing warm or hot rather than cold after reading that some people found it was better at stain removal and stink.  So far I have washed 1 full load and my second is drying now.  My new routine is Warm wash without detergant (essentially to rinse, but since i have an HE frontloader I am doing a full wash cycle rather than a skimpy rinse that wouldn't be as much water).  Then prewash, warm wash, warm rinse, skin care rinse.  If I do this in the AM and get home from work to diapers that have been sitting then I do an additional cold rinse cycle (quick rinse only).

Initial observations:  Definitely seems like less staining from the poops.  I almost think the fleece on my pockets is softer as well.  So far my diapers are coming out of the dryer (or drying rack) smelling clean- like nothing at all.  Now I am starting to use those diapers and will know in the next day or so if there is any smell after being peed in.  I had recently started to get some ammonia issues as my baby is becoming a toddler and eating lots of table foods.  So I guess time will tell. 

Anyone else do all their washing on warm and not use any hot water?  How is it working for you and what is your wash routine?  I would love to have this work for me and have my diapers elastic and aplix last longer.  I also don't want to have to separate out my GroVia stuff in order to not void the warranty (I was washing AI2 covers in DD's regular laundry, but did not feel like I wanted dirty diapers in with her clothes).

[DeerMother]

subbing

[aphel]

subbing!

[cristeen]

I only wash on hot when i'm dealing w a yeast rash. The rest of the time i do a cold cycle then a warm cycle.

[MEcatlady17]

So here we are a 2 weeks later.  I find that I need the extra wash without detergent after my warm wash.  I am wondering what would be the difference between a warm wash/cold rinse rather than warm wash/ warm rinse. 

PROS:

Definitely less staining. No doubt about it.  Especially now that I am using the new Tiny Bubbles formula, but even beforehand.

My diapers seem softer, the inside of my PUL is less sticky. Diapers smell nice and fresh out of the wash/dryer.

CONS:

We are developing another rash (battled one a couple of months ago).  Same wet zone area, first solid red hot looking (not rashy or spotted or blotchy at all), looks like it could blister on her vulva again. Ugh.   So...makes me wonder if the diapers aren't really getting clean enough.  DD is teething and was teething back when the last rash happened-  coincidence or related?  I don't know.  Right now her first molar is starting to poke through and another molar is close behind.

We have had some 'stink' but it is weird, because it is not every diapers and it is that same hempy stink that I was getting when I used hemp inserts.  I stopped using them because I felt my FL wasn't getting them clean and all of the diapers smelled after DD peed. 

My new game plan-  I don't want to give up on washing without hot water quite yet. I am thinking of adding some detergent to the prewash (after the initial warm rinse) followed by a second rinse as usual.  And seeing if that takes away the need for the extra wash or rinse at the end.  My organic cotton diapers are so thirsty they might need the extra wash.  I have been rinsing night diapers before putting in the pail and that has helped keep the stinky ammonia from building up. 

I really want to get back to having the wash part be easy and without all the extra starts of the machine.  I might be able to add hot water to the detergent cup or even dissolve my tiny bubbles in hot water and pouring it in the cup as I have read that some people think liquid detergents are better for cloth.

We'll see how it goes...:)

[Monkey Keeper]

#1--My girls both got red welted rashes with major teething, and they were in 'sposies.  So don't make a determination yet!

#2--I just experimented with a cold wash/rise cycle first in my HE washer (on handwash--isn't that supposed to have more water?), and it seems to help a LOT.  I only have prefolds, though.  I rinse my covers and then wash with clothes.