I just keep rinsing and rinsing and rinsing....

[Jenn98]

Help me figure out where I went wrong. I did a load of dipes last night (PF's) and I'm still running them through to rinse out all the detergent this morning. I started by runing them through with nothing but cold wash/cold rinse. Then I added 1/4 cup Tide and ran it through on Hot wash/warm rinse. I then ran it through again on a hot wash/warm rinse with nothing added. And then another rinse. And it is currently going through on yet another rinse. When I lifted the lid there were still bubbles and soap swishing around the top. There really aren't that many diapers in there - just one day's worth. I have hard water and an old washer, if that gives any clue. The obvious answer is that 1/4 cup is too much detergent. Should I halve that to 2T of detergent? Will that be enough?

TIA,
jenn

[mudder17]

Hmm...when you stop the cycle and let it settle, do the bubbles go away? In other words, are they soap bubbles or air bubbles? The other thing is (and I don't know if this is the same of top and front loaders), but the size of the load determines how much detergent I use. 1/4 cup of tide *shouldn't* be too much for hard water, but if you didn't have too many diapers in there, then yes, 1/4 cup is probably too much. Are you sure you have hard water?

Eileen

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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[Jenn98]

Yup, I stopped it and there were all these nice bubbles floating around - definitely soap, not air bubbles. I *think* I have hard water. That's what FIL told me. When I boil things on the stove to sterilize I always get a ring around my pot and build-up on whatever I was boiling unless I add vinegar. Is that hard water?

thanks for all your help!

jenn

[mudder17]

Yes, that is hard water. Okay, first off, let's worry about getting rid of the current soap bubbles. It puzzles me that 1/4 cup would be too much with hard water, since I know some mamas here who need 1/2 cup to get their diapers clean. But I guess that depends on how hard the water is and how large the load is. How long have you had these dipes by the way? Maybe it's just been a long period of build up and we need to get rid of them? In any case, I would try some more hot washes with warm rinses to help get rid of the soap bubbles as quickly as possible. The rinsing action isn't quite as efficient at getting all the soap out, so you'll want to do wash cycles.

With hard water, Calgon should help strip the diapers, so I would probably use them from now on with your detergent. And yes, I would probably use less detergent. You'll have to play with the balance of Calgon and detergent. Keep in mind that some here (I *think* it was Lori) haven't had any success with Calgon, but it's still worth trying, I think. For the same size load next time (once you get everything stripped), I would try half the detergent amount and see if they actually get clean (they shouldn't smell like ammonia or anything stinky at all). If they're still getting clean and you're not having the sudsing problem, then that's the amount you should use. :)

HTH! Keep us posted.

Eileen

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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[daisymommy]

When I had sudsing issues, I found that warm (or hot) water got the soap out better than cold water. It is a bit more expensive for heated water, but you end up using less water total because it get's it out quicker and better.

And, I hate to tell you this, but after using Tide Free & Clear, and getting build-up, it took 12 rinses to get all the soap out!!! Yikes!

After that episode, I gave up on Tide and switched to Sportwash. I could have used scented Tide, which I have heard doesn't produce build-up as badly as the unscented version, but the perfumy smell was just too much for me when combined with urine ;).

FYI...If you don't know about Sportwash, you can find it at Walmart in the camping/hunting section. It's a small white bottle with an orange label, sells for about $3.00. I use a half a capful as my detergent for 2-3 days worth of diapers. It's unscented, rinse very clean, and have never had soap build-up issues with it. Love it!

Good Luck with the soap suds, I know how frustrating it is!

[mudder17]

Oh my, I had forgotten that it took you 12 rinses to get it all out! Yes, hot or warm water is definitely better for getting out the soap. I use regular Tide, since the scent doesn't bother me, but I tend to alternate with Sportswash, which definitely works well. Oh, and I think it was Sportswash that Lori (if I'm remembering correctly) said didn't work for her, not Calgon (she has very hard water). I think she uses a capful of Calgon with every wash? I use about 3/4 capful with almost every wash, though my water is not as hard as hers. Anyway, sorry about that.


Eileen

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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[Jenn98]

Okay, so I guess I'm off to buy Calgon (I'm assuming it's in the detergent aisle and it's not the stuff from the commercials "Calgon, Take me away!"), Sportwash and some microfiber towels. Wal-Mart, Here I come! (even though I hate to shop at WalMart. I live in a smallish area and WalMart is putting our locals out of business :( )

And if it makes any difference, I am using regular, powdered Tide. My regular detergent of choice is All Free and Clear, but I know that might casue build up on dipes. Also, I've only had these dipes a little while (4 months). We didn't use them all that much (maybe two or three a week) till yesterday, but when we did use tham as burp rags I just threw them in with all the rest of DD's laundry (Washed with All Free & Clear).

Ahhhh, the mystery of cloth diapers continues! :)

[mudder17]

Yes Calgon is in the detergent aisle although I haven't had any luck finding it at Target or Walmart. I've only been able to find it at the local grocery store, for some reason.


Eileen

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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[trumansmom]

If you hate Walmart, go to a local sporting goods store that carries hunting supplies. Of course, you have to deal with all the large heads on the wall, and the weird look on the clerk's face when you're telling them what you want, but you don't have go to the Evil Empire. :) Also, not all Walmarts carry it - mine doesn't, and i live in a HUGE hunting area.

I bought a different brand of hunter's detergent, and it has been GREAT! I actually only had to do two rinses last night!

Good luck-
Jeanne
Mom to Truman 11/01 and Eleanor 4/04
Independent Consultant, Do-Re-Me & You!

[parker10302]

Oh feelin' the pain!!! I am on my TWELTH rinse....yes 12!!!
I still have a ton soap bubbles. I never really thought I was using too much soap until I read this post and thought next wash day I would do an extra rinse and see if there were suds. Oh boy are there suds!

So, I am using tide, and we definitely have hard water. So I should half the detergent and add Calgon(which I haven't been able to find locally so far) or I should switch to Sportswash??? I'm getting a bit confused as to the best game plan to avoid this in the future. Also could the build-up of soap in the dipes result in wicking of Angelwraps? Or is that a completely separate problem???

Thank you to all the expert advice!

Nicole

mommy to
Grace 10/02
Emelia 4/05

[bcky2]

if your angelwraps wick i would think that you need to not only use some sports wash to clean them but then to waterproof them again. you just want to make sure that you use the sports wash first befor you spray them with the stuff to waterproof them. i got mine from angelwraps.

[parker10302]

Thank you, I'll check that out! What exactly is the concept of Sportswash? Does it have less detergent in it, so it doesn't suds up as much?
We have a front loader, it doesn't seen as efficient for rinsing because the diapers/clothing aren't immersed in water as it is in a top loader.

So what should be my regular wash routine?
Half the Tide(we use the HE) with some Calgon added then alternating with Sportswash? Anymore advice is appreciated!!!
Oh...we're still rinsing!!! Argh!!!

Nicole

mommy to
Grace 10/02
Emelia 4/05

[bcky2]

i dont know the exact concept behind sportswash, all i know is my diapers came out very clean after using it. as for wash routine you kinda have to play around with that. we just got a new washer and i am still trying to get it down to the right combo. we also moved and our water is totally different. who ever knew that laundry could be a science :)

[DebbieJ]

Exactly, who knew it could be such a science! We moved 10 months ago and I STILL haven't figured it out. Just ran two days worth of rinses for the SECOND time since we've been in this house! Didn't help that DH let the softener run out of salt. Grr..

I need to figure out what is going on with our water. Is it hard, soft, or somewhere in between? Does that mean I need more or less detergent? Ahh...I'm so confused!

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
BFARed for 20 months and 6 days
(Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org)

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/style_avatars/Ribbons/18months-bfar.jpg

[mudder17]

Well, if you have a softener that has NOT run out of salt, then it means you have soft water. So that means less detergent. Yes, you still need enough to get them clean, but with a water softener and front loader in my parent's house, I think I used a tablespoon or less of HE detergent! Any more and I got lots of suds.

Eileen

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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[parker10302]

Wow, only a tablespoon??? So if we have hard water, no softener, a front loader and HE detergent should I use about a tablespoon as well???

WOW, this really is a science!!!

Nicole

mommy to
Grace 10/02
Emelia 4/05

[mudder17]

Actually, if you have hard water, you'll need more. I have medium water and a front loader and I think I use about 2 tablespoons.


Eileen

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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[DebbieJ]

Eileen,

If you are right, I have been using WAY too much detergent! And I'm sure my DH uses more. No wonder! D'oh!

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
BFARed for 20 months and 6 days
(Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org)

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/style_avatars/Ribbons/18months-bfar.jpg

[mudder17]

Sorry!

Eileen

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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[mudder17]

I never realized how little detergent our clothes needed until I started washing dipes! Yes, diapers absorb more, so they tend to hold on to detergent more than regular clothes, but if you follow the instructions for detergent even with regular clothes, you're probably using twice as much as you need! Of course it depends on whether you have hard or soft water and top or front loader, but for the most part, it seems we need less detergent than it says in the instructions. This is particularly true with diapers, I think.

Eileen

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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[psophia17]

I'm almost positive that I read on the BBB a while back that you shouldn't use powdered detergent on CDs...