CD mamas: alternatives to microfiber?

daizijayne · January 2014

My CD stash from DS is pretty varied, but I do have a lot of pocket diapers with microfiber inserts. They were no problem until DS was 13 months and we moved to a place that has very soft water. Suddenly I was battling terrible ammonia smell and even some ammonia burns. After a few long months I got it under control, but that involved using some of my size 1 Thirsties prefolds as inserts.

This time around, I'm considering foregoing the microfiber all together. As I will need the prefolds in other, non-pocket diapers when this LO is small, I am looking for good substitutions. I've heard good things about hemp and bamboo. Any other materials you would recommend? Any brands that you especially love?

cnbean · January 2014

I've used hemp and bamboo as inserts in the past and liked them. The downside is that they can take longer to dry. I really like the Joey Bunz Hemparoo inserts from Jillian's Drawers.

I've actually just started using prefolds instead. I'm going to just buy a few more prefolds and use those as our inserts this time. They are much less of a pain IMO.

Allibob · January 2014

I love hemp & bamboo, & they hold less stink than MF. I also use cotton pre folds to stuff pockets. It gets a little spendy to replace my entire stash, but I'm slowly working on buying more hemp & bamboo. I love Joeybunz Babykicks for hemp, & my bamboo is from all over the place. I've heard good things about charcoal bamboo, but haven't tried it yet.

pistolpackinmomma · January 2014

Mind if I ask what your wash routine is? I've never heard of soft water causing ammonia issues.

dragossoul84 · February 2014

there is hemp and bamboo but have you tried Rocking Green Soft Rock its made for soft water to help get your diapers clean I really like Rocking Green

Xath · February 2014

I just got more prefolds when I replaced all of my microfiber. That way I don't have to sort anything when I do laundry and I just need 1 wash routine. Also, I love prefolds. Specifically the unbleached Green Mountain Diaper prefolds are my favorites.

pistolpackinmomma · February 2014

dragossoul84 said:

there is hemp and bamboo but have you tried Rocking Green Soft Rock its made for soft water to help get your diapers clean I really like Rocking Green

Rocking green is actually more like additives and less of an actual detergent. I too fell for a lot of CD myths but while fighting ammonia and stink found a fb group called the cloth diaper compendium. They are rock stars! First, if OP is fighting ammonia then she should do a bleach soak (yes it's safe and the only way I was able to fix my diapers) of about 1/4 cup of bleach in a tub full of cole water. Fill the tub, add bleach, stir, then add dipes. Soak at least 30 minutes if not over night. I did this and it seriously saved my diapers. I was this close to giving up. And none of my colors faded except for on my wet bags but they are a different mAterial than your CDs. Don't use color safe bleach, the good stuff is what you need. And mainstream detergents are ok. I have had the best of luck with tide powder. I tried BG and RnG "detergents" but after joining that group I learned they really aren't detergents.

daizijayne · February 2014

pistolpackinmomma said:

Mind if I ask what your wash routine is? I've never heard of soft water causing ammonia issues.

I was doing a cold rinse, hot wash, and two cold rinses, but the problems started as soon as we relocated. At the time I was using either Planet or RNG for detergent. I think my biggest problem with the soft water was that I wasn't getting all of the detergent out (potent toddler pee probably didn't help my issues either). I ended up needing to do several rinses before I stopped seeing bubbles. Over time I was able to find a good balance between amount of detergent used (about 1.5 tbsp) and number of rinses. Adding 1/4c distilled vinegar to everything without PUL or elastic in the final rinse seemed to make a huge difference, as well.

daizijayne · February 2014

Also, it was mostly the overnight diapers that were causing problems, so I started rinsing them all out before putting them in the wet bag.

mirdamae03 · February 2014

gertiebarden said:
I just got more prefolds when I replaced all of my microfiber. That way I don't have to sort anything when I do laundry and I just need 1 wash routine. Also, I love prefolds. Specifically the unbleached Green Mountain Diaper prefolds are my favorites.

A girl after my own heart! I'm a big GMD prefold and workhorse fan. I am interested in learning more about the charcoal though.

tjkdlhb · February 2014

I soak my overnight diapers in a sink with some BioKleen.

hemp, cotton and bamboo prefolds tend to wash better than microfibre.

Also, a strip with RLR once a month or so might help.

pistolpackinmomma · February 2014

daizijayne said:

pistolpackinmomma said:

Mind if I ask what your wash routine is? I've never heard of soft water causing ammonia issues.

I was doing a cold rinse, hot wash, and two cold rinses, but the problems started as soon as we relocated. At the time I was using either Planet or RNG for detergent. I think my biggest problem with the soft water was that I wasn't getting all of the detergent out (potent toddler pee probably didn't help my issues either). I ended up needing to do several rinses before I stopped seeing bubbles. Over time I was able to find a good balance between amount of detergent used (about 1.5 tbsp) and number of rinses. Adding 1/4c distilled vinegar to everything without PUL or elastic in the final rinse seemed to make a huge difference, as well.

Ok here is what I learned in the fb group I found (and they have scientists and everything for mods, seriously smart ladies) that might help you.

1.) all of the extra rinses aren't needed. No need to go until you don't see any bubbles. As long as the diapers don't feel slimed you're fine.

2.) bleach is needed to kill the ammonia in your diapers. 1/4 cup in a tub full of cold water, soak over night and wash with hot in the morning.

3.) CD safe "detergents" aren't really detergents. Mainstream detergents are fine as long as they don't have fabric softeners in them. I prefer tide powder. Also, use the appropriate amount for your load size according to the instructions on the detergent container.

What I would suggest is bleach your diapers first. Then in the morning wash with hot using tide (or I've heard gain is good in soft water areas) or whatever you use for your regular clothes that works. They say in the group (which makes sense when you think about it) that CD laundry is just laundry that gets really dirty. For your day to day routine I would pre-rinse (just to get any gross stuff out and your not washing in as dirty of water) then wash with regular detergent on a hot wash and then maybe do an extra rinse on that cycle. Oh and it's totally safe to dry your diapers too, even those with pul. You want to make sure you aren't using too much water too. If you have a non-he (since he washers auto detect) washer then you want it to look like stew. The diaper need to rub up on each other to get clean. If they are swimming in the water then there's not enough rubbing to get them all of the way clean.

The group is The Cloth Diaper Compendium if you're interested.

daizijayne · February 2014

pistolpackinmomma! DS PTd a few months back, so the diapers aren't currently in rotation. I do think washing everything with bleach before using them with this LO is a good idea, that way can at least know I am starting with a clean slate.

And now I'm off to find that FB group for future reference...

ABColeslaw · February 2014

I loath microfiber. I use all organic cotton or hemp/bamboo. I also love charcoal blends. I just can't stand the feel of microfiber while stuff. But I also hate stuffing in general

pistolpackinmomma · February 2014

daizijayne said:

pistolpackinmomma! DS PTd a few months back, so the diapers aren't currently in rotation. I do think washing everything with bleach before using them with this LO is a good idea, that way can at least know I am starting with a clean slate.

And now I'm off to find that FB group for future reference...

I was so close to giving up hope. That group seriously saved me! I heart them bunches!

Xath · February 2014

I never had a problem with stinkies until we hit the toddler phase. I feel like I've bleached more in the last 6 months than I did in the previous 2 years.

I'm considering switching to a wet pail to help deal, but I'm so lazy and the diaper hamper is 2 floors above the washer. I'm convinced I'll end up dropping a full wet-load of stinky diaper water somewhere in transit. As it stands, I already spray Bac-Out on my overnights and poop diapers.

Toddler waste is gross. Bring on the PL.

pistolpackinmomma · February 2014

gertiebarden said:
I never had a problem with stinkies until we hit the toddler phase. I feel like I've bleached more in the last 6 months than I did in the previous 2 years.

I'm considering switching to a wet pail to help deal, but I'm so lazy and the diaper hamper is 2 floors above the washer. I'm convinced I'll end up dropping a full wet-load of stinky diaper water somewhere in transit. As it stands, I already spray Bac-Out on my overnights and poop diapers.

Toddler waste is gross. Bring on the PL.

Just be careful that you don't soak anything with elastic in a wet pail. It can relax the elastic on ya. And the wet pails are dangerous if a kid falls in, so they say. I actually leave my wet bag wide open. The open air helps reduce stink.

Xath · February 2014

pistolpackinmomma said:

I never had a problem with stinkies until we hit the toddler phase. I feel like I've bleached more in the last 6 months than I did in the previous 2 years. I'm considering switching to a wet pail to help deal, but I'm so lazy and the diaper hamper is 2 floors above the washer. I'm convinced I'll end up dropping a full wet-load of stinky diaper water somewhere in transit. As it stands, I already spray Bac-Out on my overnights and poop diapers. Toddler waste is gross. Bring on the PL.
Just be careful that you don't soak anything with elastic in a wet pail. It can relax the elastic on ya. And the wet pails are dangerous if a kid falls in, so they say. I actually leave my wet bag wide open. The open air helps reduce stink.

Do you just use a regular pail liner as your wet bag? My big bags are just Blueberries PUL with the draw string. I was going to use the tiny trash can we got from Ikea as a tiny wet pail if it comes to it, since it sits in the bathroom already.

ABColeslaw · February 2014

pistolpackinmomma said:

I never had a problem with stinkies until we hit the toddler phase. I feel like I've bleached more in the last 6 months than I did in the previous 2 years. I'm considering switching to a wet pail to help deal, but I'm so lazy and the diaper hamper is 2 floors above the washer. I'm convinced I'll end up dropping a full wet-load of stinky diaper water somewhere in transit. As it stands, I already spray Bac-Out on my overnights and poop diapers. Toddler waste is gross. Bring on the PL.
Just be careful that you don't soak anything with elastic in a wet pail. It can relax the elastic on ya. And the wet pails are dangerous if a kid falls in, so they say. I actually leave my wet bag wide open. The open air helps reduce stink.

This is what keeps me from doing a wet pail. It maybe overly paranoid. I have in the past though done small loads every day. When Asher was like almost three man his dipes were terrible. I would fill my washer like halfway with water and a squirt of blue dawn and throw the inserts in as I changed him. The shells I threw in the wetbag after spraying.

daizijayne · February 2014

gertiebarden said:

pistolpackinmomma said:

I never had a problem with stinkies until we hit the toddler phase. I feel like I've bleached more in the last 6 months than I did in the previous 2 years. I'm considering switching to a wet pail to help deal, but I'm so lazy and the diaper hamper is 2 floors above the washer. I'm convinced I'll end up dropping a full wet-load of stinky diaper water somewhere in transit. As it stands, I already spray Bac-Out on my overnights and poop diapers. Toddler waste is gross. Bring on the PL.
Just be careful that you don't soak anything with elastic in a wet pail. It can relax the elastic on ya. And the wet pails are dangerous if a kid falls in, so they say. I actually leave my wet bag wide open. The open air helps reduce stink.

Do you just use a regular pail liner as your wet bag? My big bags are just Blueberries PUL with the draw string. I was going to use the tiny trash can we got from Ikea as a tiny wet pail if it comes to it, since it sits in the bathroom already.

I just use a large Planet Wise hanging wet bag like this one and leave it open. Worked pretty well, until the ammonia started up.

cnbean · February 2014

I started having ammonia issues when DS hit the toddler age too. I started adding RnG Funk rock to my loads and that helps alot.

pistolpackinmomma · February 2014

daizijayne said:

gertiebarden said:

pistolpackinmomma said:

gertiebarden said:
I never had a problem with stinkies until we hit the toddler phase. I feel like I've bleached more in the last 6 months than I did in the previous 2 years.

I'm considering switching to a wet pail to help deal, but I'm so lazy and the diaper hamper is 2 floors above the washer. I'm convinced I'll end up dropping a full wet-load of stinky diaper water somewhere in transit. As it stands, I already spray Bac-Out on my overnights and poop diapers.

Toddler waste is gross. Bring on the PL.
Just be careful that you don't soak anything with elastic in a wet pail. It can relax the elastic on ya. And the wet pails are dangerous if a kid falls in, so they say. I actually leave my wet bag wide open. The open air helps reduce stink.

Do you just use a regular pail liner as your wet bag? My big bags are just Blueberries PUL with the draw string. I was going to use the tiny trash can we got from Ikea as a tiny wet pail if it comes to it, since it sits in the bathroom already.

I just use a large Planet Wise hanging wet bag like this one and leave it open. Worked pretty well, until the ammonia started up.

That's what I use, the hanging planet wise wet bags. Then I use medium ones in my diaper bag.

Xath · February 2014

@pistolpackinmomma Awesome. I have one of those hiding somewhere.

pistolpackinmomma · February 2014

@pistolpackinmomma Awesome. I have one of those hiding somewhere.

I actually have the wet/dry hanging bag but hardly ever use the dry part. Just when we actually used cloth while traveling. I need to get a few more.

CD mamas: alternatives to microfiber?

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