Repelling... need Help

lnrussell

So... After a bunch of leaks with my FuzziBunz, I tested and they are definitely repelling. I have an HE front loader, but risked it and stripped with dawn anyhow. I washed the dipes on hot and the inserts on sanitary. They still seemed to be repelling, so I hand washed everything in the bathtub with dawn, scrubbing it all, and rinsed till there were no suds, Then I ran then through about 4 hot washes/cold rinses in the machine with no detergent. After drying them, they still repelled. So I put them back in the washer and have ran 2 more washes sans detergent, and I thought one insert started to absorb, but it may have just been that they were still damp.

 What next? I love cloth diapers, but I need them to work...

BrendaLou1969

calgon or RLR? I guess

lnrussell

What is calgon and where would I get RLR?

lnrussell

BTW, since hand scrubbing them, I have washed w/out detergent 8 times. Still repelling.

lwsnake

They have Calgon at Walmart. I would try them on the baby first. They need some pressure absorb so maybe they aren't repelling as much as before. 

Cilley

We were having the same issue with our BGs. We have been using A+D since the beginning. We stripped the diapers with Dawn and bleach and have stopped using A+D. Did without any barrier cream for a few days and got some cream that is ok to use with cloth diapers. So far we haven't had any probs. Are you using any kind of ointment that would repel liquid? Just a thought.

SaraTF

How are you testing for repelling? I ask because I thought mine were repelling, but it turns out that I just wasn't getting a tight enough fit and the microfleece needs some compression to absorb.

hispenguin

lwsnake:

They have Calgon at Walmart. I would try them on the baby first. They need some pressure absorb so maybe they aren't repelling as much as before. 

Ditto this. MF needs some pressure in order to absorb. Also try warm water, since pee is warm.

We found Calgon at the grocery store. RLR I bought at an actual cloth diaper store.

lnrussell

I was dropping water on the MF and counting to see if it would absorb. There were a bunch of inserts that I haven't used yet, since they all came with 2 and I only double-stuff at night. The unused ones absorbed right away, and the ones in regular rotation bead up an never absorb unless I work it in. I did another wash with just oxiclean free, then rinsed another 3 times, and they do seem better, though not as good as the unused inserts. We are gonna put them back on and see.

lnrussell

We used some CD-safe ointment at first for about 3 days, always with a liner. Other than that, nothing. The only thing I can think is that I have been tinkering with making my own detergent, and I made a powder mix with a grated bar of ivory soap, Oxiclean free, washing soda and borax; thinking it was safe since free of dyes and perfumes. I now have a wet detergent that I doubt will do that, but will be using Rockin Green on dipes from now on... just in case.

So once you stripped, all was good?

lwsnake

lnrussell:

We used some CD-safe ointment at first for about 3 days, always with a liner. Other than that, nothing. The only thing I can think is that I have been tinkering with making my own detergent, and I made a powder mix with a grated bar of ivory soap, Oxiclean free, washing soda and borax; thinking it was safe since free of dyes and perfumes. I now have a wet detergent that I doubt will do that, but will be using Rockin Green on dipes from now on... just in case.

So once you stripped, all was good?

The soap probably contributed. The cd homemade detergent recipes I saw said not to use soap because it builds up and repels.  You could also try throwing in some vinegar. 

Megan.10.06

Soap could DEFINITELY be a big contributor. 

My advice?  Soak, soak, SOAK!  Soak in your tub or washer in HOT water, with about a Tbsp RnG (I'm assuming that's what you have since you mentioned it) overnight - then wash hot without any extra soap, and rinse rinse rinse! Then, when there are no more bubbles in the rinse, dry them - and give up the beading test.  Use them, and see how they work.  It should take care of it. 

BrendaLou1969

Calgon is a water softener found in the laundry isle.  It will "bind" to the minerals in your water.  It helps detergent work better and aids in stripping because it allows water to completely penetrate without the minerals "building up" - I think that is how to describe the process.