Need Help With Detergent Amount (Tide)

BoothBaby · January 2015

I had been using Bum Genius detergent and it was working fine, but since it's a bit pricey I thought I would give Tide a try. I am still using the BG scoop -- 2 scoops is just under line 1, and 3 scoops is just over line 1 on the Tide scoop. I did my first load of diapers with 2 (BG) scoops, and they still smelled a little dirty after. So I left them in the washer and started it over with 2 scoops again, this time with a scoop of Charlie's Booster (softener), just to see what that would do as I had been adding it to the BG. Afterward, I could still smell a tiny bit of stink on them. I went ahead and dried that load anyway. Now I have a new load in there, and tried 2.5 scoops -- still had a little stink. So they are still in the washer with 3 scoops this time.

Am I doing the right thing to just keep adding detergent until they come out not smelling? I will be sure to check near the end of the cycle to make sure any bubbles are gone. I do have a rather sensitive nose, but I have always done a good whiff out of the dryer (paranoia from a troublesome start with CDs) and they didn't smell before with the BG detergent.

I can detail my wash routine if you need that info! For starters I have an HE FL and hard water. TIA!

TJ1979 · January 2015

I would detail your wash routine. Unless you have insanely hard water, you shouldn't need a softener with tide as it already has softened in it.

Brandiewine11 · January 2015

Tell us your wash routine and how many diapers you wash. You had no stink with bg then stink out of the wash with on first use of tide?

BoothBaby · January 2015

Yeah, I figured that, I was just surprised at the stink so I threw it into that one load to see if it did anything. I haven't added it since then. Here is my routine (it's a bit involved, but was the only thing that was working):

1. Quick Wash cycle (warm) w/ extra rinse, set to "light" soil level. Large squirt of bac-out in the bleach compartment. Two towels saturated and added to load.
2. Regular cycle (hot) w/ extra rinse, set to "heavy" soil level, with detergent. Towels re-saturated and put back into load.

BoothBaby · January 2015

Brandiewine11 said:
Tell us your wash routine and how many diapers you wash. You had no stink with bg then stink out of the wash with on first use of tide?

Correct, unless I just didn't notice the stink, but it definitely wasn't noticeable like this. I wash dipes EOD, so approx...15?

Smallllmin · January 2015

BoothBaby said:

Yeah, I figured that, I was just surprised at the stink so I threw it into that one load to see if it did anything. I haven't added it since then. Here is my routine (it's a bit involved, but was the only thing that was working): 1. Quick Wash cycle (warm) w/ extra rinse, set to "light" soil level. Large squirt of bac-out in the bleach compartment. Two towels saturated and added to load. 2. Regular cycle (hot) w/ extra rinse, set to "heavy" soil level, with detergent. Towels re-saturated and put back into load.

This is such a smart idea!
Is this for weight to increase the load size, or for added water? Or for both?

Brandiewine11 · January 2015

Honestly I would try without the towels. Perhaps with a different detergent you may not need them. How hard is your water? Do you wash eod? How many diapers?

BoothBaby · January 2015

Smallllmin said:

This is such a smart idea!
Is this for weight to increase the load size, or for added water? Or for both?

I assume both?

Someone posted a link on this board that outlined that routine for HEFLs, and I thought what the heck?

@Brandiewine11‌ -- I did one of the hard water test strips, and it was just "hard" (right in the middle....not very hard or whatever). Other answers above!

Brandiewine11 · January 2015

Hmmm....I say give it a try without towels and just see what happens. It makes sense that with them you would need more detergent. If it works it would simplify your routine.

Not sure if it's helpful but I have moderately hard water and an he fl as well. I do not use towels and use 2 tbsp of tide. During the nb stage when I washed a lot more diapers I used tide to the 1 line and my "extra water" setting.

BoothBaby · January 2015

Thanks for the help! If they come out stinking again I will try without towels. It would be great not to have to do that!

I *really* wish my washer had the "add water" setting. This stupid HE machine has made the washing experience so frustrating!

countrycotton · January 2015

I started using tide a while back, and have a regular top load. I use 1 table spoon and bacout in my prewash and to just above the 1 line in the main wash for EOD washing. I adjust the amount up if I have an extra day, but never above the two line. I base it on the size of the load as if it was regular laundry. I figure why could dirty diapers need less detergent than barely dirty clothes.

TJ1979 · January 2015

Why are you using the BG scoop instead of the tide cup?

BoothBaby · January 2015

TJ1979 said:

Why are you using the BG scoop instead of the tide cup?

I bought a giant box of the detergent from Costco, so I have a small container of it on top of the washer to make it easier to get into the detergent tray. The big Tide scoop won't fit in the small container, but the little BG scoop does. Just trying not to spill powder all over the place.

PipSqueak0313 · January 2015

TJ1979 said:

Why are you using the BG scoop instead of the tide cup?

Maybe for the same reason I measure with the Charlie's scoop.....it's easier.

TJ1979 · January 2015

Well it's too much math for me. I'm out.

PipSqueak0313 · January 2015

TJ1979 said:

Well it's too much math for me. I'm out.

Counting a couple little scoops is easier than trying to measure against virtually invisible lines, especially when the sun's not shining light on the subject.

BoothBaby · January 2015

Update: they came out of the last wash (with 3 small scoops) smelling clean (or rather, like Tide). I'll try the next load without towels to see if that makes a difference, but otherwise I'm guessing I just needed a bit more detergent.

Smallllmin · January 2015

@BoothBaby‌
I thought I read somewhere that Tide can sometimes pull smells out of fabrics when you switch, and sometimes it takes a couple of loads before they smell clean again. Maybe that's what happened? Either way, I'm glad you fixed it!

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