Another CD laundry help question

musicalsilver

Sorry to add another one of these to the board, but I just can't help myself!  Hopefully you ladies can help.

As soon as LO wets his diapers they start smelling kind of barnyard-y.  I keep thinking he's pooped, but it's just a pee diaper.  This is mostly happening with my prefolds, since that's what I primarily use (he does BG4.0 at daycare).  Is this even something I should worry about?  He did have a bit of a diaper rash this weekend as well, but that appears to be clearing up, so I'm thinking it was unrelated to the new washing routine.

We moved three minutes down the road from our old place, and downgraded from a HE FL to an old school top loader.  I've been washing here for a week.  I know the water isn't any different (it's relatively soft here), but obviously my routine is.  

I use Charlie's soap.  I do a warm prewash, then a hot long wash cycle with 1Tbs Charlie's followed by a cold 2nd rinse.  All this with the washer set to the largest load size.  Straight out of the washer I give them a really good sniff and they smell clean, things just get a bit stinky when we add pee to the equation.  Maybe LO is getting stinky pee in his older age?  He's 9 months old and eats solids 2-3 times a day BLW style.

Rrrrrachel

He could be getting stinky pee or it could be some kind of build up. Since you use charlies, did you wash out the new machine (running towels or whatever through a few times) before you started using it? Are you adding oxyclean or anything?

Into+the+Kitty

No that is not normal. Sometimes the largest load setting is too much water for the diapers to agitate properly and get clean. It should be enough water to float your diapers, and not much more. Otherwise, if the diapers are agitating together properly, I would say you need to use more or a different detergent.

musicalsilver

@Rrrrrachelsaid:

He could be getting stinky pee or it could be some kind of build up. Since you use charlies, did you wash out the new machine (running towels or whatever through a few times) before you started using it? Are you adding oxyclean or anything?

I did a couple loads of our clothes (I think it was just 2) before doing diaper laundry, and hoped that would be good enough for getting rid of the residue.  I've done several more since then, so hopefully the old gunk is gone by now!  I don't add anything along with the Charlie's.

ITK - I'll try less water - the diapers do look all sad and small in the bottom of the washer after a cycle.  If that doesn't work I'll give more soap a try - 1Tbs does seem like a small amount for this big old machine, but I've totally forgotten how old top loaders work in my years of HE FL use, so I really don't know.

musicalsilver

Sorry to bump this up to the top ladies, but I always like resolution to threads - and I figured I'd post what worked in case anybody goes searching old threads for answers!

Lowering the water level has made a world of difference.  Large load was waaaaaaay too much water for my dipes.  I'm at just under medium load to just allow the diapers to float, and I think the stinkies are on the way out!

Thanks so much for you help!!