post-wash rinse...is it necessary?

PipSqueak0313

So, I've read opinions that adding the extra rinse after washing just wastes water and contributes to mineral build-up......and so out of curiosity I have not done the extra rinse now that I have a washer that lets me watch it agitate. When I do the pre-wash cycle (also new to me as my old washer didn't have that option) I am not seeing any suds so I'm thinking that the detergent is rinsing out during the normal rinse cycle. If it wasn't, I would see suds in the pre-wash cycle, especially with the warmer water, right? So, is the extra rinse after the wash really necessary or are the opinions that it's just a waste of water and contributing to mineral build-up correct?

freezorburn

Great question and I'm also curious to see how people respond. I added an extra rinse to my routine a couple of months ago to try to cut back on the ammonia buildup that seems to be happening with my TTs. But now I'm wondering if it is helping at all. None of my other diapers seem to be affected, save for one MF insert that I stripped last week. I'm going to give it one more chance and then retire it in favor of a flat.

zaraceligon

I think it depends of what kind of washer you have. I think it's a top loader machine is not nesesary to do an extra rinse, but it is a frond loader you may need to do and extra rinse. The water on front washer are less, and they continuing on dropping water more often, than a top washers. I also think is nesesary only when you are having stink issues. But if you don't have any problems, I don't think is nesesary to add the extra rinse.

Rrrrrachel

I think it depends on all kinds of things. Your washer, detergent, water quality, etc etc. I hit the extra rinse button on my wash cycle but I don't do a separate cycle or anything.

bumpuser5078523

I wouldn't base it off your pre rinse of dirty diapers. Wouldn't the soiled diapers make the bubbles go away because the detergent has trapped the yucky stuff?

If you don't see soap in your last wash, I wouldn't rinse again.

Angela814

I found I actually need to do a total of 4 rinses with my front loader to get all the detergent out. If I use less detergent, they don't get clean. I do:
Warm/warm quick wash
Hot/cold/cold wash with 2-2.5T Tide powder
Hot/cold quick wash (and sometimes an extra rinse on top of that)

I kind of gave up experimenting with the amount of detergent bc going less meant I sometimes had to rewash. I figured the extra rinses used less water.

Angela814

I actually do an extra rinse on all of my laundry.

PipSqueak0313

I do have a top loader and hard water. So far I have not had any indications that not doing the post wash rinse is a problem....but then it's only been a week. Guess I'll just keep an eye on it and see how it goes without the extra rinse.

PipSqueak0313

doeie04 said:

I wouldn't base it off your pre rinse of dirty diapers. Wouldn't the soiled diapers make the bubbles go away because the detergent has trapped the yucky stuff? If you don't see soap in your last wash, I wouldn't rinse again.

This got me to thinking.....so after a bit of searching I came across a reference (but I forgot where) that basically said that if the water was a cloudy grayish color there was still detergent present even if no suds.....so I did an experiment on my towels. I put them in on prewash as if it was a diaper load....no suds but very grey water. Washed with a bit less than recommended amount of detergent as normal....then did a second wash without detergent.....no suds but the water was still as grey as it was for the prewash. Tried it with another load of clothes, but even less detergent, same results. Tried it with a load of clothes but instead of adding detergent to the wash I used my soap nuts, second wash the water was almost clear. I noticed my unpaper towels washed with the load of towels today are not repelling like they were before washing today. So now, with that information.......guess it's time to rethink how to do laundry.