BG/FB Laundry Questions

heatherkj

My current wash routine is to run a short cold cycle (since we don't have a fancy washer, I can't just add an extra rinse), then add detergent (Charlie's Soap) and run a hot cycle with a cold rinse. I notice that my diapers (especially the FB) tend to have a little bit of a smell to them when they're done. Not really a poop smell, and I don't even think it's even an ammonia smell... but it's a smell nonetheless.

Does the smell mean that I'm not using enough detergent? I already use a tablespoonful of Charlie's, plus a little bit extra.

Do you put anything in with your "cold" rinse/cycle? Detergent? Vinegar? I think I read once that someone uses Borax? What does that do, give the diapers a little extra wash?

sunnydays99

My wash routine is this:

cold wash cycle with extra rinse (no detergent)

hot wash cycle with extra rinse (1.5 tbsp rockin green detergent)

cold rinse (no detergent)

It took me a long time to figure out what worked for our diapers / water (we have very hard water) and this has been working great!!  No more stinkies or stains.  I've added vinegar to my rinses before but it always ended up giving DS a rash.  I'd play around with the amount of detergent and maybe throw in an extra rinse at the end to get all of the detergent out.

ETA: I always make sure to have extra water in the washing machine as well.

ash.flea

I do a cold rinse then hot wash w/ extra rinse.

I used to use Charlie's but started having problems with ammonia stink.  No issues since I switched to Rockin' Green.

Kim72508

That happened to me when we first started.  I now do a cold rinse, hot wash with detergent and cold rinse, then 2 more cold rinses.  I think my previous problems were because I wasn't getting all the detergent rinsed out.  

MrsSteelerTeacherLady

I use the EFF homemade detergent which has borax, washing soda, and oxy clean.  I do one cold cycle with 1 T, then 1 hot "heavy duty" cycle with cold rinse with 1 T.  

The first two washes of every month I use 1/4 c vinegar with the hot cycle (to make sure I get all of the diapers.   

heatherkj

Thanks, all. We'll give Rockin' Green a try soon... I've heard nothing but good things about it.