RE: "THE" Comprehensive Diaper Wash Routine Thread
Age of baby: 15 mo.
Type of Washer (toploader or frontloader): top
Type of Water (e.g. hard, soft): soft
How Often: about every 4 or 5 days I think (we still use a service, too, so I'm not washing all the diapers we use)
Size of Load: Full load
Brand of Detergent: I was using Bi-O-Kleen premium laundry powder, but after about a year I started noticing stink. There wasn't any buildup, so I tried switching to plain old Tide. So far, that's working fine. Maybe I'll switch back eventually, because I like the Bi-O-Kleen.
Amt. of Detergent: with Bi-O-Kleen, barely less than the recommended scoop. With Tide (powder), 1/2 of the bottom line.
The Routine: Long hot wash with detergent, cold rinse. Shorter hot wash with no detergent, cold rinse. (full load both times) From time to time I'll remove all PUL after the first wash, and add a splash of white vinegar to the second hot wash. (I didn't used to worry about PUL with the vinegar, until someone here posted that it could be a problem).
Dry Routine: I hang all PUL to dry. Everything else goes into the dryer for 2 full cycles on hot. (Some of the nighttime hemp diapers have internal soakers, and they need both cycles to dry).
Do you have "the Stink?": No. (And I have a lot of hemp)
How do you resolve "the Stink?": switching detergent, and making sure I don't get buildup. I bet the long hot drying time helps, too.
Overall Satisfaction with Routine?: cautiously very satisfied. I've been tweaking what I was doing to try and come up with a very simple, yet effective system- so that when the new baby comes, whoever does diaper laundry won't feel like it's rocket science! So far, I think this will work well.
Any Additional Comments?: All wool, I handwash with Eucalan. Occasionally, I'll throw a washcloth with TTO on it in with the diapers. (I use it first to deoderize the diaper pail, then it goes into the wash with them- it helps to do that occasionally, I think).
*Bonus Questions*
Current Favorite Diaper: For night I think it is still the FF ST. Umm, for day? I think the burley knit terry elbee (thanks, Tarah!). But I usually reach for PFs.
Current Favorite Cover: A Simon's Custom Cloth wool jersey cover (I love it, but I am having problems with the snaps). Next fav is probably the Sugarpeas fleece.
ETA: You know, we should probably add this to the CD101 thread, after we are done. It's pretty helpful.
Kit
Littleman 10/03, Mr. Sweetcheeks 08/05, Babyman 11/07