Please Help! Wash routine/detergent question

nothingbut

I am having ammonia issues! Do I need a new detergent?

When this first started a couple months ago, I researched our town's water and found we have very soft water. I thought maybe the ammonia was caused by build up from the water and the size of the washer (smaller than usual, TL for an apartment) so I first stripped with dawn, which seemed to help. Within a few weeks the smell was back, so I tried adding vinegar, which also helped temporarily. The next time my husband insisted we bleach, so we did and this seemed to help the most and for the longest time. However, I want to figure out our washing routine to hopefully stop the cause.

Currently, I wash EOD warm rinse/ hot wash/ cold rinse x 2 (cold rinse is the only real rinse option on the washer) with 2 tsps of Charlie's Soap. 

So what do I need to do differently? I've read Charlie's can cause problems, should I start here? My husband is extremely sensitive to any scents so Tide is out. Should I try spraying with Bac Out? I've heard this has a smell, how strong is it?

TIA!

TJ1979

Ammonia is usually detergent buildup. I'd do some hot water washes with no detergent, then try a new detergent. Since you have very soft water, you won't need much detergent.

CLLDLL

Wait, when you say ammonia issues, can you describe the smell? Generally you notice ammonia right when baby pees & it's a knock your socks off chemically smell.  Not subtle at all.  And generally baby gets a pretty nasty rash from it.  

If bleaching helped what you are smelling, I'm gonna guess what you really have is more likely a build-up of bacteria from not quite getting clean diapers.  I could be wrong, but just the way you describe it makes me think it's not really ammonia. 

First off -- put away the blue dawn.  The only reason to use it on diapers ever is if you get a non CD-safe cream on them.  

Next -- If you still really think you have ammonia, and not bacteria buildup from not getting clean enough, then follow TJ's advice up above.  She is wise. 

But if you are starting to think maybe you don't have ammonia keep reading - 

Is that a typo or are you really using 2 tsps of detergent. I don't use Charlie's but to me that seems like a really small amount.  1-2 TBSP is more like what I'd expect.  Hopefully a Charlie's user will see this and comment. Also I think it's Charlie's that recommends you use it on all your laundry if you are using it on CDs.  Are you using it on all your laundry?

Personally, I think I'd start with clean diapers.  Run them all through a wash cycle with 1/4 cup of bleach.  Then if you want to stick with Charlie's try using closer to 1 TBSP and start using it on all your laundry.  Watch your diapers closely and if they start getting stink again then try adding more detergent.  If you want to switch detergents pick something in powder form that's easy for you to get a hold of.

Also Bac Out is fine to use, but I don't think you should *need* it for a 5 month old.  Usually older toddlerhood is when the pee starts getting stinky enough you *need* it. 

musicalsilver

CLLDLL said:

Is that a typo or are you really using 2 tsps of detergent. I don't use Charlie's but to me that seems like a really small amount.  1-2 TBSP is more like what I'd expect.  Hopefully a Charlie's user will see this and comment. Also I think it's Charlie's that recommends you use it on all your laundry if you are using it on CDs.  Are you using it on all your laundry?

I use Charlie's and the recommend using one scoop, which I believe is 1 TBS.  I have relatively soft water (not super soft thought) - and it worked just fine in my HE FL.  Switching to an old school TL, I just use a heaping scoop now.

Technically speaking, Charlie's does recommend bleaching once a month if you're using it on cloth diapers, but I've never done that and haven't had any problems.

Are all your diapers ammonia-y?  Or is it just O/N diapers?  If that's the case, maybe try soaking those diapers.  I never got rid of my ammonia problem in my O/N fitteds (I don't think my washer was getting the "fitted" part of the legs clean at all) - so I switched to flats instead of wrestling with it.

oliversmommy32912

I have soft water and after two years, I'm still trying to find a routine that works for us. No real advice here. Just sympathy.

nothingbut

TJ1979 said:

Ammonia is usually detergent buildup. I'd do some hot water washes with no detergent, then try a new detergent. Since you have very soft water, you won't need much detergent.

What detergent would you recommend?

Rrrrrachel

I think Charlies is supposed to work well with soft water.  I use liquid charlies and use 1 ounce, which is two tablespoons.  Charlies is really good about helping you troubleshoot if you contact them.  I use oxyclean with every load with charlies (or a splash of bleach). 

You are supposed to use it on everything, are you switching back and forth between that and something else for your regular laundry?  that can cause problems (but it doesn't for everyone). 

And I second the other questions, like is this something you notice right away or after the diapers get wet, is it all diapers or just over night, etc.

nothingbut

CLLDLL said:

Wait, when you say ammonia issues, can you describe the smell? Generally you notice ammonia right when baby pees & it's a knock your socks off chemically smell.  Not subtle at all.  And generally baby gets a pretty nasty rash from it.  

If bleaching helped what you are smelling, I'm gonna guess what you really have is more likely a build-up of bacteria from not quite getting clean diapers.  I could be wrong, but just the way you describe it makes me think it's not really ammonia. 

First off -- put away the blue dawn.  The only reason to use it on diapers ever is if you get a non CD-safe cream on them.  

Next -- If you still really think you have ammonia, and not bacteria buildup from not getting clean enough, then follow TJ's advice up above.  She is wise. 

But if you are starting to think maybe you don't have ammonia keep reading - 

Is that a typo or are you really using 2 tsps of detergent. I don't use Charlie's but to me that seems like a really small amount.  1-2 TBSP is more like what I'd expect.  Hopefully a Charlie's user will see this and comment. Also I think it's Charlie's that recommends you use it on all your laundry if you are using it on CDs.  Are you using it on all your laundry?

Personally, I think I'd start with clean diapers.  Run them all through a wash cycle with 1/4 cup of bleach.  Then if you want to stick with Charlie's try using closer to 1 TBSP and start using it on all your laundry.  Watch your diapers closely and if they start getting stink again then try adding more detergent.  If you want to switch detergents pick something in powder form that's easy for you to get a hold of.

Also Bac Out is fine to use, but I don't think you should *need* it for a 5 month old.  Usually older toddlerhood is when the pee starts getting stinky enough you *need* it. 

Thanks for the response. I will put down the dawn

Now I am questioning whether it's ammonia or not. The smell from the ON fitteds makes my eyes sting the moment I unsnap the cover but he rarely has a rash.

The daytime AIOs smell like pee but stronger but doesn't have the same sting to it. 

Charlie's recommends 1 TBSP but since our washer is so small I cut it back to 2 tsps. I mean the washer is tiny, 4 pairs of jeans is a huge load, my husband calls it a playskool washer.

I do use Charlie's on all of our laundry.

What would bacteria smell like? Maybe they aren't getting clean enough.

Rrrrrachel

With charlies you don't need to cut back for a smaller washer he vs. none he etc, because it's fully water soluble and rinses away.  You should always use the full dose of charlies.  That might be the issue.

Overnight diapers always made my eyes water.  I think that's just a product of that much pee sitting around over night, regardless of what's going on with the actual diapers.

nothingbut

Rrrrrachel said:

I think Charlies is supposed to work well with soft water.  I use liquid charlies and use 1 ounce, which is two tablespoons.  Charlies is really good about helping you troubleshoot if you contact them.  I use oxyclean with every load with charlies (or a splash of bleach). 

You are supposed to use it on everything, are you switching back and forth between that and something else for your regular laundry?  that can cause problems (but it doesn't for everyone). 

And I second the other questions, like is this something you notice right away or after the diapers get wet, is it all diapers or just over night, etc.

I am using it on everything, I actually love how well it cleans our clothes.

All my diapers smell fresh right out of the dryer. My daytime diapers only smell if he wears one for more than a few hours (which I try to avoid anyway) the ON fitteds stink in the morning but I don't know how long it takes for them to get like this. 

I have Charlie's oxygen bleach maybe I'll try using some of that? I wasn't sure if it was CD safe.

Thanks for the suggestion to call customer service, I hadn't thought of that.

Do you recommend the liquid over the powder? I can get both easily, but amazon has a better deal on the powder. 

Thanks!

Rrrrrachel

I use the liquid because I have an HE machine and I've heard powder isn't recommended with them because it doesn't always dissolve fully.  Charlies isn't a gel like other liquid detergents so I'm assuming it doesn't have the same problems.  IDK if it really matters, though.

It doesn't sound like you have ammonia build up, to me.  Usually if you have ammonia build up the diapers stink as soon as the kid pees in them because there are residual ammonia crystals that get reactivated.  Sounds like you have ammonia forming when the baby pees, which is typical when urine sits around.

I would still use the full dose of charlies, though, or at least a half dose which is around twice what you're using now.

CLLDLL

Build-up from diapers not getting fully clean would be more like a fishy/wetdog smell.  It could be there all the time or just when baby pees.  But IME it's more subtle than ammonia.  

I agree with Rrrrachel's suggestions.  Above as far as how to correct it. 

TJ1979

nothingbut said:

TJ1979 said:

Ammonia is usually detergent buildup. I'd do some hot water washes with no detergent, then try a new detergent. Since you have very soft water, you won't need much detergent.

What detergent would you recommend?

We have hard water, so no I don't have a soft water recommendation.  But @rrrrrachel had good advice, so I'd try following hers and see what happens.
How often do you typically change diapers during the day? 

nothingbut

Thanks, everyone! This is really helpful, I'm going to start with the suggestions here and see what happens.