Share your favorite detergent!

BethanyAnn27

Hi all, I have posted on this board a while ago but mostly just like to read here (well, everywhere now due to a career change and having NO time to post). Brief intro for those who didn't catch my first few posts, I am a FTM due in September. I will be using prefolds and covers and DH is totally on board with CD-ing (yay). We are planning on washing every other day. We rent right now and our washer is pretty old-school...you get one wash option with built in rinse cycles--only thing you control is the water temperature. I am willing to run extra full wash cycles occasionally if we experience soap build up, but it does cost us every time we run a cycle so I would like to avoid the build up problem by selecting an appropriate detergent if possible to save some money. We have not had issues with hard or soft water to my knowledge. Because our wash options are so limited, I am looking for people's favorite laundry detergents--the one wash factor we have 100% control over! What has worked best for your CDs? Please specify liquid or powder and amount used. Thanks in advance. 

km_md

We have an HE FL machine. Started off with Rockin Green and it was terrible. Didn't get the diapers clean. Now I'm using Nellies (powder) and the amount depends on the size of the load but I usually use a scoop and a bit for every other day washing. We also have somewhat hard water, which can have an effect on your detergent choice.

If you want to check the safety of various detergents for CDs the Pinstripes and Polkadots blog has a handy chart. But this doesn't measure effectiveness, which is kind of a trial and error thing.

Rrrrrachel

We use Charlie's.

emmylou78

Tide powdered to just below the 1 line. Only one I've used, and no problems yet.

BethanyAnn27

Thanks for the replies. Great to know about those blogs, I will check them out.  And good to know that Tide works well...I know I can buy that easily in the grocery, so that might be where we start. 

freezorburn

Country Save or Tiny Bubbles

abby8279

Tide powder.  3 Tbsp which equals 3/4 up to the line 1.  Wash EOD in HE FL w/ hard water.  

RedDawnsRevenge

Rockin'Green either classic or hard rock depending on our water level. Damn drought

ComeMai

3/4 scoop or about 2 Tbsp. of Country Save. We've also tried Rockin' Green (major stink issues) & Tide (irritated DD's bum). It really depends on your washer & water.

BethanyAnn27

ovenrack said:

I have non-hard, non-soft water. Regular water? Anyway, I have a top loader old machine (20 years old!). I wash prefolds, flats, and fitteds every other day. I do a warm rinse and then a regular hot wash with an extra rinse. I agree that the first rinse is key, either by machine or by hand.

I was planning on getting a diaper sprayer...if I use that could that take place of a machine rinse? I understand this is going to be a lot of trial & error, so I am just looking for some success stories so I have a place to start! Thanks for all the detergent tips so far!!

BicycleBride10

I just don't know that a sprayer is really going to work for you for that, although I think using prefolds makes it more likely. I would consider flats or try something like a (clean) plunger agitated bucket prerinse.

BethanyAnn27

Ok good to know. Looks like we might just be paying a little more for laundry for the next few years to run a separate rinse cycle. Thanks ladies!