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Switch or keep detergent?

DecafGrandeMochaDecafGrandeMocha member
in Cloth Diapering
Hi, newbie questions here. I have an old top loader and want to try washing my CD with Purex Free & Clear (since we use it on the rest of our laundry) but will stick with Charlie's or Allen's if that's overall better. What do you recommend? If I do go with the Purex, the way to know if I'm using too much is to look for suds after the rinse cycle? TIA!
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Re: Switch or keep detergent?

  • tjkdlhbtjkdlhb member
    edited November 2014
    A friend of mine uses Purex free and clear without any issues at all although it's not a recommended detergent.  I would be hesitant to use it, especially liquid version.

    Do you know if you have hard or soft water?

    I used to use Tiny Bubbles but had issues with ammonia stink/burns.  Now I use Tide powder without any issues.



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  • DecafGrandeMochaDecafGrandeMocha member
    edited November 2014
    I haven't officially tested it, but it seems like we have hard water.

    ETA: I have BG freetimes (more on the way thanks to mapleme), a grobaby, kawaii baby pockets and cocalo inserts for gdiapers/thirsties duo wrap covers. I'm getting more grovias next week from a friend.
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  • tjkdlhbtjkdlhb member
    DecafGrandeMocha said:
    I haven't officially tested it, but it seems like we have hard water.
    I'd recommend ordering a test strip and testing it to be sure.  I think a lot of my issues could have been avoided if I knew I had hard water from the start.  My detergent wasn't strong enough to get my diapers clean.



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  • DecafGrandeMochaDecafGrandeMocha member
    edited November 2014
    tjkdlhb said:


    DecafGrandeMocha said:

    I haven't officially tested it, but it seems like we have hard water.

    I'd recommend ordering a test strip and testing it to be sure.  I think a lot of my issues could have been avoided if I knew I had hard water from the start.  My detergent wasn't strong enough to get my diapers clean.


    Will order test strips, thanks. My diapers seem clean but LO has been in them less than two months and only part-time (for now!).

    As I look back on what I researched before LO arrived, I also need to find out what kind of septic system we have to determine if powder or liquid detergent is better for it . I've always used liquid but it may be bad (oops). Does it seem to matter if the Tide is liquid or powder? I'm noticing powder love. Thanks!
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  • DecafGrandeMochaDecafGrandeMocha member
    tjkdlhb said:

    Tide Ultra powder original scent.

    I'll get some on my next Target trip. If it's not the best for our septic, using it just for CD should hopefully be ok. The movie "Meet the Parents" slightly freaked me out about moving to a septic system area after always having sewer LOL.

    Thanks for all of your help!
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  • freezorburnfreezorburn member
    The GMD booklet says that many of their customers report good success with Purex F&C, but their recommendations apply primarily to natural fiber dipes. So YMMV.

    The thing about mainstream detergents is that they aren't clean-rinsing, so you may still see suds after the rinse and may need multiple rinses. It kinda depends on your water quality. As long as you rinse well enough to minimize any residue that would irritate your baby's skin, you should be okay. Some babies are okay with this, others aren't. If you are already washing your baby's clothes in Purex, there's a pretty good chance that it will be fine on diapers as well.

    But yes, it helps to know just how hard your water is.
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  • DecafGrandeMochaDecafGrandeMocha member
    freezorburn said:

    The GMD booklet says that many of their customers report good success with Purex F&C, but their recommendations apply primarily to natural fiber dipes. So YMMV.


    The thing about mainstream detergents is that they aren't clean-rinsing, so you may still see suds after the rinse and may need multiple rinses. It kinda depends on your water quality. As long as you rinse well enough to minimize any residue that would irritate your baby's skin, you should be okay. Some babies are okay with this, others aren't. If you are already washing your baby's clothes in Purex, there's a pretty good chance that it will be fine on diapers as well.

    But yes, it helps to know just how hard your water is.
    Thank you!!!
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  • tjkdlhbtjkdlhb member
    Yes!! about the natural fibres vs synthetic!  Natural fibres are way easier to clean and don't have issues with build up in the same way.

    Love my prefolds/flats!



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  • DecafGrandeMochaDecafGrandeMocha member
    tjkdlhb said:

    Yes!! about the natural fibres vs synthetic!  Natural fibres are way easier to clean and don't have issues with build up in the same way.

    Love my prefolds/flats!

    By flats, are those the flour sack towels?
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  • tjkdlhbtjkdlhb member
    Some people use flour sack towels as flats.  I haven't tried them.  I use osocozy birdseye and flannel receiving blankets as flats.



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  • bumpuser5078523bumpuser5078523 member
    They are basically the same. I think flats are higher quality than FSTs. :)
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  • tjkdlhbtjkdlhb member
    doeie04 said:
    They are basically the same. I think flats are higher quality than FSTs. :)
    :)

    I consider my receiving blankets to be a step up to my birdesye.  The birdseye is more trim though.



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  • DecafGrandeMochaDecafGrandeMocha member
    Thanks everyone & TGIF!
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