[Lynski]

The soap is driving me up a wall! Last week I stripped all our diapers. The soap buildup was getting bad again. So after 47,000 rinses they were finally suds free.

The smelled GREAT coming out of the dryer, and usually if there's a problem they smell bad when hot.

Fast forward 2 washes, and it's back again! The TTO helps keep the smell managable, but I did 2 cold prerinses, used 1/8 cup of Tide, and did 3 cold rinses again last night. On the 3rd rinse there were STILL suds, and I gave up and went to bed. What is the deal!?! I am sure part of it is our water, and part our partially broken washing machine.

Here comes the crazy/stupid part. Can I just NOT use soap? :LOL Okay, maybe not stop altogether but is there any alterantive that will work? I'm so frustrated. The microfiber is the only thing we really have a problem with, the hemp doesn't seem to mind and the fleece and PUL are fine. Maybe I should just get rid of my microfiber?

 

[jenaniah]

I see your problem...cold rinses unfortunately don't do anything to get rid of the soap (at least in my experience) The only way I could get rid of build-up was to turn the water heater all the way up and do a warm/warm wash after my hot/cold wash (turning the heater up makes the warm/warm much hotter then it would normally be) Another thing I had to do was strip my machine (I filled the detergent dispenser with vinegar and ran a hot/cold wash with nothing in the machine...I do this every 6 months) and switch to using Dawn dishwashing liquid

 

[WickidaWitch]

Some mama's use baking soda in place of detergant. Maybe that would help your microfiber??

 

[Carolinamidwife]

For a while there were a few mamas doing baking soda and TTO very successfully... you might want to do a search for TTO or baking soda and see what comes up...

 

[NicknJulesMom]

I wash only with baking soda and vinegar. Vinegar doesn't work for everyone though. I also agree with the pp you need a hot rinse

1/2 cup baking soda in the prewash and 1/2 cup in the full wash. I really just sprinkle and don't measure though

 

[anotherKatrina]

I don't use detergent. I use this: http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product....t%5Fid=10-0013

It does a great job on diapers, but I don't use the "Tsunami Wave Concentrate" that comes with it because of the enzymes. I've been washing diapers this way for over a year.

But in reading your post, it sounds as though you need to strip your washer. Run a hot empty wash with some vinegar to get the buildup off the inside of your washer.

Good luck!

 

[Lynski]

Thanks ladies, I think I'll try stripping my machine.

anotherKatrina your link doesn't work, which product is it supposed to go to?

 

[anotherKatrina]

Hmmm...it works for me...

Go to www.gaiam.com and search for "cleaning capsules".

 

[USAmma]

I use Sportswash/Sensiclean now (they are the same thing sold under different names). We have very hard water, which leads to the problem of build up if you use enough detergent to get them all clean. Sportswash/Sensiclean does not leave any build up at all. It's great stuff!

I also make sure to do a long soak with Sportswash and hot, hot water before I let the cycle finish.

 

[Sailmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by USAmma I use Sportswash/Sensiclean now (they are the same thing sold under different names).

We do too - and I also have a washer that will only do a cold rinse (go figure...) So I do two washes - the first with Sensiclean and TTO, the second with nothing, then lavender EO in the rinse and never a stink issue. I will occasionally do a downy ball filled with vinegar to help out. My water is relatively soft, however. HTH!

 

[Mollyred]

Do you have soft or hard water? I have soft water and probably would only use one teaspoon of tide. I use Allen's Naturally and love it. I only use 1/2 teaspoon and have no problems. Try using a lot less detergent.

 

[Kari_mom]

I have hard water and switch a few months ago from Tide to Ultra Dawn. I add two quick squirts in a cold prewash, then run a full hot/cold cycle. Dawn rinses much, much better for me than Tide or any other detergent I've used. Then about once a month, I turn the water heater way up and add an extra cycle with nothing but water.

So far, everything smells great (OC, hemp inserts, pockets, AIOs) and I can't find any buildup.

 

[CrazyRED]

I only use 1/4 the reccommended amount of detergent every other wash. So far it has worked.

 

[Selissa]

I have hard water and use baking soda and tto in one ful hot wash and then vinegar in a second. it is the ONLY way i don't have stink. if i get lazy and switch back to any detergent i start getting stink again...though i am tempted to try this dawn thing

 

[MTBto5]

I

Sportwash, it has always worked great for us! I do a cold pre~soak with baking soda and then hot wash with 1/2 capfull of Sportwash. HTH

 

[kir]

what is TTO?
(Sorry)
K

 

[mnkygrl79]

TTO = tea tree oil

known for it's antibacterial properties...you can pick some up pretty cheap at wal-mart, if you shop there....