Please help me figure out how to wash! Major rash issues.

382 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by 2+twins, Jun 3, 2005

2+twins

Discussion Starter · Jun 2, 2005

My poor dd has such sensitive skin. She poops all the time (she's 19 months) - like maybe all but 2 dipes a day, and when I wipe her I'll frequently wipe away some skin too - like little pin pricks that bleed. If she has a particularly nasty poop (like acidic or something) then she'll get large open sores. I swear I'm on top of her changes! Thankfully lanolin heals them up relatively fast, but wearing cloth always aggravates the condition (I stopped cd'ing my first dd b/c of this same condition when she was only a couple months old). She rarely gets rashy if she's wearing a sposie. So we went from full-time cd'ing to cd during the day only, to cd next to never b/c she's always trying to recover from a new rash (like after 3 or 4 days cd'ing again, kwim?). I *know* there's build-up on the dipes b/c when I rinse them my hands always feel slick afterwards. But I can't figure out how to get rid of it. I've tried vinegar, baking soda, and RLR. I don't have a front loader but I do have a HE machine so it's all funky. I use Tide Free & Clear (not HE b/c I can't stand scented) and here's how I wash:

Throw everything in together and do an Express Wash cycle, cold water wash & rinse, with an extra rinse.
Add 1/2 tspn Tide then do a Heavy Duty cycle with stain treat setting (I have no clue what this actually does), hot water with cold rinse, extra rinse.
Then I throw it all into the dryer on the hottest setting for 80 minutes (this dries EVERYTHING).

She only has a couple AIO's at this point so it's almost exclusively fitteds & prefolds. HELP!!!!! I *really* don't want to use sposies!

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LizaBear

· #2 · Jun 2, 2005

Try to strip your diapers first.

Use NO detergent or additives at all - you want to get rid of all of that.

Lower your water level as much as you can, and repeatedly run HOT wash cycles until you have absolutely NO suds. Then run one more for good measure.

It could be the Tide itself though - that's a fairly harsh detergent, but it's unlikely that that is the cause if her clothing isn't bothering her at all.

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kavamamakava

· #3 · Jun 2, 2005

I don't know what HE is but my skin is very Tide intolerant. You've said that you use baking and soda and vinegar but didn't say how. I found that when i was putting it in the rinse cycle, it made my daughter rashy. What I do now is put laundry soap in the pre-wash, then baking soda in the wash, then vinegar in the rinse and then a clean rinse. Maybe I don't need to do all that, but I'm experimenting since I dropped the vinegar and she was still rashy. I'm thinking it's detergent residue. Fitteds hold a lot of detergent in them. They can be hard to strip.

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pilesoflaundry

· #4 · Jun 2, 2005

If she is pooping that frequently and it's sometimes acidid it might be something she is eating, have you tried eliminating anything in her diet?

As for the diapers, stop using the free and clear if you can, those type of detergents leave a film behind on everything. My dd with eczema actually can't even use those detegents because they leave residue in her clothing and they make my towels stinky!

Use very, very little detegent, maybe 1/2 teaspoon if you aren't using HE and have an HE machine, you can use regular stuff just use a lot less of it. Put a few less diapers in the load, since it uses less water you can't stuff it as much and try just baking soda, it will neutralize the urine and also strips the dipes, sometimes a drop of dish soap works too. Good luck, the rash sounds awful

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siennaflower

· #5 · Jun 2, 2005

Have you checked the rinse cycle to see if you have suds? If so I would do several hot washes (no detergent) until you don't see suds and try a different detergent. Do scented detergents bother your dd or is it just that you don't like the smell? If your dd isn't bothered by it I would try the HE Tide for a bit to see if it makes a difference, as far as the slimy feeling is concerned.

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2+twins

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 2, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlutterBee
Have you checked the rinse cycle to see if you have suds? If so I would do several hot washes (no detergent) until you don't see suds and try a different detergent. Do scented detergents bother your dd or is it just that you don't like the smell? If your dd isn't bothered by it I would try the HE Tide for a bit to see if it makes a difference, as far as the slimy feeling is concerned.

I get migranes - I can smell it through her clothes, etc.

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siennaflower

· #7 · Jun 2, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by love_homebirthing
I get migranes - I can smell it through her clothes, etc.

Ahhh, ok. Maybe try another brand of Free and Clear then?

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Finnzoo

· #8 · Jun 2, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by love_homebirthing
So we went from full-time cd'ing to cd during the day only, to cd next to never b/c she's always trying to recover from a new rash (like after 3 or 4 days cd'ing again, kwim?). I *know* there's build-up on the dipes b/c when I rinse them my hands always feel slick afterwards. But I can't figure out how to get rid of it. I've tried vinegar, baking soda, and RLR. I don't have a front loader but I do have a HE machine so it's all funky. I use Tide Free & Clear (not HE b/c I can't stand scented) and here's how I wash:

Tide has enzymes in it which stays in the fabric. When they urinate it reactivates the enzymes and can cause a rash. SOme people dont have a problem with this, many do.
http://www.borntolove.com/column6.html
http://www.orangestarfish.com/caretips.html
Note: Watch out for detergents which list enzymes or whitening enzymes in their ingredients. Such as; Fabricare: Arm and Hammer Advanced Detergent Action. This product can produce a really awful rash. The enzymes(remains in cotton fibers even after washing) reactivate in the fabric when your baby wets their diaper.

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siennaflower

· #9 · Jun 2, 2005

Also, a lot of people have good results with Sportwash, its odorless and doesn't usually leave residue (IE build up). You can get it at WalMart (in the sports/hunting section) or online its sold as Sensiclean.

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