Tide on Diapers with Hard Water?

Waiting_4_Little_O

So I am having serious stink and rash issues!

 I have tried everything - the last 2-3 days my washing machine has been going non stop. I washed my diapers like I normally would - with 2 tbsp RnG Hard Rock, then did a billion rinses. I then stripped with dawn - did a billion rinses and washes, added in some oxygen bleach, did a billion washes and rinses, added TTO did another billion rinses and washes.

 So I put what I though was super clean diapers on my daughter last night and when she woke up it is the worst ammonia I have ever smelt before in my life and her butt that had just started to heal was red again. UGH

 I have been reading about using Tide on diaper and have decided to try. I actually saw on the Motherease site (most of my diapers are the ME fitteds) that they reccomend using Tide. Just wondering if anyone out there with Hard water can reccomend an amount to use and whether I should use the Original powder or the Free and Clear Powder

 

Thanks

moussy

I have very hard water with high levels of iron.  I have not tried Tide yet, but I have some purchased just in case!  I think the general concensus is that Free and Clear detergents are a no-no.  The last time I saw tide discussed the users were using 2 Tbsp. for an HE washer.  I use 2 Tbsp. RnG hard rock and end up rocking a soak, using funk rock, and one time used bleach every 3-4 weeks as her bum starts to get red like an ammonia burn around that time.  I just recently purchased Calgon water softener (found it at Walmart) and this is supposed to make your detergent more effective when you have hard water.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will be the answer.  Otherwise I may be joining the Tide camp shortly.

BrendaLou1969

I've heard Tide original... do you have hard water.  Maybe try a strip with just calgon water softener, i've heard that works really well for removing 'amonia build Up'  There was also a previous post about using amonia remover for fish tanks.. here is the original post from babycenter

https://community.babycenter.com/post/a23042415/ammonia_is_gone

Waiting_4_Little_O

I forgot to add the Calgon step in my description of what I did, I did that after the dawn strip... while adding in pots of boiling water.... seriously my machine was going non stop for 3 days, ugh. Maybe I just did too much to the diapers. I thought I may have had yeast, hence the cleach and TTO.

 

 Bought some original Tide and we shall see how it goes.

laceysmom82

This is probably a dumb question but when you strip with Dawn do you do that in your washing machine?  I thought that would ruin a washing machine?

MomOf2Littles

I'm not sure that 2tbsp of any detergent can clean poop and pee soaked diapers.  

I read on another message board this analogy...she said, "Would you soak 12 tshirts in poop and pee in the toilet, throw them in a dark warm bag for 2-3 day, wash with 2 tbsp of detergent, and then wear them?"  I certainly wouldn't.

I have an old top loader (not HE) and I use Tide Free.  I use up to the 1 line of detergent.  I do a warm rinse, hot wash with detergent, cold rinse, cold rinse.  

No stink or stains.  HTH! 

 

ETA also have hard water 

Waiting_4_Little_O

I use the amount reccomended by RnG... when you put it that way it does not seem like alot. I'll give the Tide a whirl with up to the 1 and see how it goes.

 

Waiting_4_Little_O

laceysmom82:

This is probably a dumb question but when you strip with Dawn do you do that in your washing machine?  I thought that would ruin a washing machine?

 

I have heard this as well, something with the seal on the door of HE washing machines. I soak the diapers in hot hot water in the tub with a coupledrops of dawn and stir them around every couple minutes. Once the water cools down I drain the tub and run the shower over the diapers, swishing and squeezing them to get as much soap out as I can. Then I do the rinses in the machine... maybe it will ruin it less lol, I have no idea. I can get most of the soap out in the tub usually.

emsrdh03

We have hard water and used Tide powder for the first few months.  I started out with half a scoop and gradually had to add almost a full scoop for them to get clean.  Within 6 weeks they were all repelling because of detergent buildup.  I did a dawn strip and switched to RnG Hard Rock and haven't had a problem since.

I know RnG isn't working for you.....but wanted to let you know the experience I had with Tide.

ToastieSimons

you can also throw in baking soda to soften the water, I usually throw 2tbsp in my front loader.

We have extremely hard water and extremely high iron even after a water softener and filter.