[USAmma]

I just wanted to post an observation. Today I line-dried Nitara's prefolds for the first time since I bought them about 3 weeks ago.

They have never been washed in regular detergent, just Sportwash/Sensiclean. I was converted to the stuff because of our hard water and the balance between using enough detergent to clean diapers but then having to do a million rinses or regular stip washes to get the detergent out. Sportswash has made a huge difference. No more need to strip because they all come clean!

Well . . I was expecting them to be crunchy, like shingles, the way prefolds always are after being dried rapidly in our AZ sun. But the were *soft*! I mean, like really, really soft. Hardly any difference between them and the machine-dried ones in my stash except that they were not quilted.

I wonder if the detergent is causing line-dried diapers to be stiffer than they need to be?

 

[425lisamarie]

You know I noticed that even when drying in the dryer and with different detergents. I wondered the same thing because ever since I started using biokleen powder it leaves nothing behind and my diapers smell so good and are softer. When I was using Allen's, everything came out stiff because I could never get the suds out. I remeber washing a blanket once and it came out of the dryer about ready to crack in pieces :LOL. I wish I could line dry sometimes...but in Seattle we don't get enough sun

 

[PatchyMama]

hmm interesting... i would love to find something that leaves my diapers soft after line drying. Gosh knows I shoudl take advantage of the hot desert sun, LOL. I have sportwash but it never seemed to really get my diapers clean with kyla. Maybe I will try it again the next wash cycle

Do you only use sportwash, or anything else in the wash with it?

 

[JasonsMom]

I have wondered this too. So now if they come off the line crunchy, I know I need to do some strip washes. My dryer broke down several weeks ago, and thank heavens we were having an unual hot spell so I could put all my laundry out on the line. Now that I am using Calgon in all my washes b/c of the hard water, and even washing really dirty stuff twice (like dh's work clothes) to be sure all dirt and detergent is out as I have a front loader, everything has come off the line super soft.

 

[USAmma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mama2kyla hmm interesting... i would love to find something that leaves my diapers soft after line drying. Gosh knows I shoudl take advantage of the hot desert sun, LOL. I have sportwash but it never seemed to really get my diapers clean with kyla. Maybe I will try it again the next wash cycle Do you only use sportwash, or anything else in the wash with it?

Only Sportswash, a whole capful. Cold rinse, HOT soak with Sportwash (preferably overnight), let the cycle finish the next morning, extra rinse. Dry.

 

[3 Little Monkeys]

I have to find a new sportswash distributer - the walmart here in town did a remodel and they no longer carry it

 

[horsesjapan]

LOL Sounds like a ploy by the detergent people to get people to buy fabric softener.

:LOL

 

[AngelBee]

Hmmmm....

 

[ZeldasMom]

Besides looking 4 suds, I always smell the diapers before drying them to make sure they smell clean. If it seems like the SW isn't getting your dipes clean, I wonder if you need to use a bit more? Also, I agree with USAmma that it's best to use hot water. I believe it says warm on the SW bottle--just ignore that.

 

[anotherKatrina]

Quote:

Originally Posted by horsesjapan LOL Sounds like a ploy by the detergent people to get people to buy fabric softener.

ITA with this statement!

 

[jessgydesen]

Yep I was only using a half a cap of SW and it didn't seem like they were getting all the way clean so I started using a full cap.

Works great now!

Also have you noticed when you line dry that they also smell better than if you dry them in the dryer? Almost kind of fresher? The other thing is they seem more absorbent. Is it just me?

 

[PatchyMama]

ok... i just did a cold rinse, then a hot wash on my "whitest whites" cycle with a full capful of sport wash. Then I did another hot rinse to make sure all of the suds were gone (I have a front loader.... couldnt let it soak really).... and then i put most in the dryer on medium but hung about 5 diapers on the line so I can compare

I'll update on my success after everything is dry :LOL

 

[PatchyMama]

Ok the stuff on the line is dry but completely NOT soft.. not even close :LOL Not stiff, but definately scratchy. My velour is like sandpaper, ROFL. I just threw them in the dryer with on a touch up cycle with the other diapers. oh well, i had hope!

 

[USAmma]

It took a few washes with Sportswash before my older diapers (which had build up on them) got squeaky clean. The prefolds are detergent "virgins" so I never had to worry about them getting stripped. Great feeling too!

Another plus is they seem to be great with stains on the prefolds. So far *no* stains on them after washing even though I wait several days between wash cycles (I have a super capacity washer and I make sure it's a full load). My FB get stained because they are synthetic but the cotton remains stain-free. My dd has nasty poops too, with her pediatric formula diet and GI issues.

You can buy Sensiclean from a few WAHM's. I hope to do that after I use up my Sportswash, although it's going to take awhile-- I bough 6 bottles on clearance. :LOL

 

[USAmma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mama2kyla Ok the stuff on the line is dry but completely NOT soft.. not even close :LOL Not stiff, but definately scratchy. My velour is like sandpaper, ROFL. I just threw them in the dryer with on a touch up cycle with the other diapers. oh well, i had hope!

I agree. I wish I could afford to wash all my laundry with the stuff. Right now I have a CostCo sized box of detergent to use up, and because I don't use a lot per load it's going to take like, a year.

 

[Attila the Honey]

I wash my dd's diapers in baking soda and hot water. No detergent, no sportswash, nothing like that. We line dry because we don't have a dryer. The diapers are clean, white, fresh smelling, don't cause that build up diaper rash (dd got that all the time before I switched), and soft. Very soft! No more roofing shingles for dd's butt.

Try it! We washed a load in baking soda because we ran out of detergent and it was snowy outside and we've never gone back.

 

[PatchyMama]

I think I will keep trying the sportswash for now as the diapers from the dryer definately feel a bit softer.... but i think maybe its just too hot here for line drying LOL But I will use it for a couple of weeks and keep drying a few on the line to see fi there is a difference over time. The sportwash did absolutely nothing for my stains.. they arent even faded, but again maybe they need a few more cycles or something :LOL

 

[MamaDaednu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 425lisamarie You know I noticed that even when drying in the dryer and with different detergents. I wondered the same thing because ever since I started using biokleen powder it leaves nothing behind and my diapers smell so good and are softer. When I was using Allen's, everything came out stiff because I could never get the suds out. I remeber washing a blanket once and it came out of the dryer about ready to crack in pieces :LOL. I wish I could line dry sometimes...but in Seattle we don't get enough sun

i line dry all my stash! Sun is great for stains but you don't need it for drying.
I put everything out on a moveable rack on the iffy days.

~Daednu