I'm having trouble with my wash routine and could use some advice. I'm struggling with finding a routine with enough detergent to clean well, but not so much it requires multiple washes to rinse clean.
I have an LG HE front loader. I use Tide Original powder, line 1. Typically 2 days of diapers. I tried less, but there was a faint unpleasant odor left behind. I set my machine for prewash (cold), hot wash, heavy soil level (for extra agitation time), water plus to add extra water in each cycle. I can't choose both water plus and extra rinses, so I run a short water only cycle after to rinse.
I'm still getting soapy water drops that are visible on the pul of the wet bags, so tonight I ran a full 2nd water wash instead of the short wash. Sadly that didn't do the trick, so I'm now running 2 additional rinse only cycles. That's 3 hours of washing!
I don't know what to do beyond continuing with crazy numbers of rinses. Like I mentioned, I tried less detergent and the load definitely did not pass for clean. What else can I try?
Does your prewash drain and spin? I know my prewash does not. It just adds extra time onto the wash. If your diapers are not getting an initial rinse/drain/spin or light wash (without detergent) you are washing your diapers in pee and poo water.
Also check to make sure that adding extra water to the wash cycle isn't adding too much water. You could also try removing the wet bags and making sure they emptied between the main wash and a second wash/rinse. I know mine are notorious for holding water so I remove them after the main wash.
Y
I'm a fan of The Cloth Diaper Tech Support group on Facebook
Stop using the programmed prewash. My LG has a "speed wash" setting. I use that for my initial rinse (warm) and have no issues. I think you may not be getting the pee/poo out effectively with that programmed pre-wash cycle.
FWIW I decreased to 2 tbsp of Tide and don't get the soapy water in my wet bags anymore and things still get clean. It may not be enough for you depending on your water, but perhaps the prewash is the problem rather than the amount of detergent.
Ok, I did the warm speed wash for a prewash, then hot wash with line 1 Tide for 3 days wash. It took 3 rinses (preprogrammed) to rinse to no suds. Total wash time down to about 2 hours, so moving in the right direction. This weekend I'm going to try the same, but with less detergent to see if I can cut down the rinses.
Re: Help! My wash routine sucks
So you're saying the warm prewash may be more effective, then I could get away with less detergent?
BFP 11.8.12 * EDD 7.17.13 * MC 12.20.12
@abby8279 I assumed that it drains fully after the prewash, because that just made sense to me, but I'll look into it
BFP 11.8.12 * EDD 7.17.13 * MC 12.20.12
Y
I'm a fan of The Cloth Diaper Tech Support group on Facebook
BFP 11.8.12 * EDD 7.17.13 * MC 12.20.12
BFP 11.8.12 * EDD 7.17.13 * MC 12.20.12