Grrr....
: I just typed out this long thread of questions, and then something stupid happened and it all went away....
Anyway, I am still waiting on my stash, but I want to get all the washing figured out now...
I borrowed some of my friend's CDs and when I did the no-detergent pre-soak cycle, I was SHOCKED to see so many suds when I peaked in! I guess the detergent was left over in my washer from my clothes load?
So that (and another thread on here I just read) got me thinking... If I have so much detergent in there already, should I just not use detergent in my diaper loads? Is baking soda/TTO suitable for hard water, and would it get them sufficiently clean (along with the little bit of soap residue from my normal clothes loads)? How much baking soda/ TTO do I use? Can I use lavender oil instead? Does it have the same antibacterial properties that TTO has? What would make TTO better than lavender oil? And when would I add the baking soda and TTO or lavender oil -- during the cold presoak or during the hot wash cycle?
Also, I know not to use fabric softener, but I have noticed my dryer kind of smells like fabric softener all the time (from my regular clothes). Is there a residue that might stick on the diapers and decrease absorbency, just from using fabric softener in a previous load? Should I just switch to Downy Advanced for my regular clothes, and then it won't be so bad if there is a little residue that might get on my diapers?
So, what do you think? Advice, please!
Thanks in advance!
Kim


Anyway, I am still waiting on my stash, but I want to get all the washing figured out now...
I borrowed some of my friend's CDs and when I did the no-detergent pre-soak cycle, I was SHOCKED to see so many suds when I peaked in! I guess the detergent was left over in my washer from my clothes load?
So that (and another thread on here I just read) got me thinking... If I have so much detergent in there already, should I just not use detergent in my diaper loads? Is baking soda/TTO suitable for hard water, and would it get them sufficiently clean (along with the little bit of soap residue from my normal clothes loads)? How much baking soda/ TTO do I use? Can I use lavender oil instead? Does it have the same antibacterial properties that TTO has? What would make TTO better than lavender oil? And when would I add the baking soda and TTO or lavender oil -- during the cold presoak or during the hot wash cycle?
Also, I know not to use fabric softener, but I have noticed my dryer kind of smells like fabric softener all the time (from my regular clothes). Is there a residue that might stick on the diapers and decrease absorbency, just from using fabric softener in a previous load? Should I just switch to Downy Advanced for my regular clothes, and then it won't be so bad if there is a little residue that might get on my diapers?
So, what do you think? Advice, please!
Thanks in advance!

Kim