This can't be right - Laundry Question

RockiesNugget

I feel like I am just asking lots of stupid questions here lately. So after LOs rash, I am looking at all angles. When I did laundry this weekend I made sure that there were no suds during my initial wash (which there weren't) and then I checked my washer during the actual wash with detergent and still no suds. Tonight same thing happened, so I added an extra 1/2 scoop of my BG detergent (usually use 1 scoop) and still no suds. Added another 1/2 scoop and finally saw a few suds. That makes it 2 scoops of detergent and when I checked my rinse cycle, there weren't any suds. I have normal water that may lean slightly hard. I feel like this is a lot of detergent and don't want to cause buildup. Anyone have any experience with BG detergent and having to add a couple scoops? Should I just abandon the BG altogether at this point?

sarenu1

Is this a top loader? HE or regular?

I don't us BG detergent, but I have an old fashioned top loader and yes I use 2 scoops of detergent. That was the case with Tiny Bubbles and now Nellies.

haileyq

How do your diapers smell coming out of the wash?

RockiesNugget

I have a HE Top Load washer. I feel like the diapers smell fine out of the wash.

ElleBeeDub

Hard water can inhibit a detergent's effectiveness, so yes, it may take two scoops. 

freezorburn

Suds are less likely to develop in hard water. And a lot of HE detergents are formulated to not have too many suds. That doesn't mean they aren't working.

If you have hard water then you either need more detergent (2 scoops is probably plenty) or a water softener like Calgon.

Any smells after you have run your laundry? If barnyard, you need more detergent. If you smell detergent, you need less detergent or you need to rinse more.

Mandmeesh

:-B nerd alert! 

in one of my college English Lit courses we actually studied how marketing and advertisements and stuff force us to think a certain way.  suds does not necessarily = clean.  and vice versa.  no suds =/= not clean. 

does that make sense? 

RockiesNugget

I was thinking that they clean then before the rash there was diaper stink which I didn't think was ammonia. Well he peed in a FST before bed last night and hello ammonia smell (not a diaper washed with 2 scoops.)

I would have said that our water is normal, since I grew up with really, really hard water. But based on everyone else in our area, the water is hard.

RockiesNugget

Thanks for all your advice and information.

RockiesNugget

Thanks @Chickypoo2468. Do you just use the sniff test then to tell if the diapers are clean?

RockiesNugget

Additional question, Once I strip my diapers and start over with my wash routine, could I use a little washing soda to help soften the water (I have it on hand) or should I go get Calgon?

RockiesNugget

Chickypoo2468 said:

Thanks @Chickypoo2468. Do you just use the sniff test then to tell if the diapers are clean?

Sure, but I'm a sniffaholic. If they're not getting clean enough you'll know after a couple washes.

When I smell them out of the wash or after they dry, I just smell fabric :-/ . I remember that DH mentioned he thought they didn't smell perfectly clean once, so maybe I will designate him to smell everything