Who uses gDiapers?

[cdseno]

I cloth diapered J for a little over a year and I loved not using disposables but I had so many laundry issues that it was becoming a problem. Our front loader never seemed to get them clean enough and he started getting chemical burns and I felt like I had to strip them constantly. I would love to cloth Max now because he has sensitive skin, but am worried about going through the same things. So does anyone use gDiapers and do they wash different than other cloth?

[mislogis]

I don't, but as for washing, does your frontloader have an extra rinse? I wash my bum genius 3.0 diapers with a little tide, no fabric softener on the sanitary cycle with an extra rinse. They never stink, or need stripping. I used the same diapers for my middle daughter as well. Hth!

[tinkl0ver]

I'm starting to transition to gDiapers. I got their starter pack and the flushable inserts so I don't know about the wash thing. have you checked out their blog to see if they have any tips?

[bkroxfan003]

What detergent were you using? And I agree about doing an extra rinse. I'm pretty sure you just wash them the same way you wash other cloth diapers. Front loaders don't always clean them well enough, but it can be done.

[harleyquinn]

Our wash routine goes

rinse cycle and spin out dirty water
custom cycle - hot water with either bum genius or tide detergent (small scoop and powder) no softener extra rinse and spin
extra rinse and spin to make sure all the detergent is out

we use bum genius ppckets, prefolds and fitted with a few all in ones/twos.

[mimsy]

I know trichie uses gDiapers.

[cdseno]

I was using detergent I got from the children's boutique where I bought the diapers. They are big here for cloth so I went multiple times to ask for help with what I was doing wrong. I did so many extra rinses it that I was spending hours every other day washing diapers. I think our washer is just a POS and I won't be able to do it unless we get something new.

[gahorseygal]

Feb 5, 2015 19:42:33 GMT -5 cdseno said:

I was using detergent I got from the children's boutique where I bought the diapers. They are big here for cloth so I went multiple times to ask for help with what I was doing wrong. I did so many extra rinses it that I was spending hours every other day washing diapers. I think our washer is just a POS and I won't be able to do it unless we get something new.

Most cloth safe detergents don't contain surfactants or the right kind of surfactants to properly clean the diapers. Mainstream detergents do contain these which is why Tide is a much better choice (or Gain, Arm and Hammer, etc). Check out Fluff Love and CD Science. They have great information on washing cloth diapers. You maybe need one extra rinse but multiple is just ridiculous. 

[cdseno]

Feb 5, 2015 21:40:08 GMT -5 gahorseygal said:

Feb 5, 2015 19:42:33 GMT -5 cdseno said:

I was using detergent I got from the children's boutique where I bought the diapers. They are big here for cloth so I went multiple times to ask for help with what I was doing wrong. I did so many extra rinses it that I was spending hours every other day washing diapers. I think our washer is just a POS and I won't be able to do it unless we get something new.

Most cloth safe detergents don't contain surfactants or the right kind of surfactants to properly clean the diapers. Mainstream detergents do contain these which is why Tide is a much better choice (or Gain, Arm and Hammer, etc). Check out Fluff Love and CD Science. They have great information on washing cloth diapers. You maybe need one extra rinse but multiple is just ridiculous. 

That's annoying. So even the Rockin Green I paid out my ass for was probably worthless too? I had switched to a eco-friendly store brand toward the end, but I think I was already in a hole so nothing was making it better. 

[bkroxfan003]

Feb 5, 2015 21:50:12 GMT -5 cdseno said:

Feb 5, 2015 21:40:08 GMT -5 gahorseygal said:

Most cloth safe detergents don't contain surfactants or the right kind of surfactants to properly clean the diapers. Mainstream detergents do contain these which is why Tide is a much better choice (or Gain, Arm and Hammer, etc). Check out Fluff Love and CD Science. They have great information on washing cloth diapers. You maybe need one extra rinse but multiple is just ridiculous. 

That's annoying. So even the Rockin Green I paid out my ass for was probably worthless too? I had switched to a eco-friendly store brand toward the end, but I think I was already in a hole so nothing was making it better. 

Not necessarily. Rockin Green works great for some people. I would ask on the CD board here. They're way more knowledgeable than the fluff science people.

[gahorseygal]

Feb 6, 2015 0:06:50 GMT -5 bkroxfan003 said:

Feb 5, 2015 21:50:12 GMT -5 cdseno said:

That's annoying. So even the Rockin Green I paid out my ass for was probably worthless too? I had switched to a eco-friendly store brand toward the end, but I think I was already in a hole so nothing was making it better. 

Not necessarily. Rockin Green works great for some people. I would ask on the CD board here. They're way more knowledgeable than the fluff science people.

Rockin Green and other detergents can work but you will have to use higher temperatures, more agitation and longer wash cycles (which can wear out your diapers faster). If you have a detergent that contains enzymes then you can wash on lower temperatures and shorter wash cycles. However that doesn't work for everyone (think sensitive skin) so yes, you can use those other detergents but you have to adjust your wash routine accordingly. 

[gahorseygal]

Also @cdesno do you have hard water? If you do and aren't adding anything to soften the water you won't have much luck with anything.

[cdseno]

No we don't have hard water. I feel like cloth diapering should be a lot easier than it is. I may be trying to get in over my head again by thinking about starting over.

[mimsy]

It is sooooo much easier that fluff love cd science makes it.
Over on the CD board we absolutely help dissect a wash routine to figure out issues.

Personally, bum genius detergent didn't work well for me. I use tide powder. It took some playing to figure out how much to use. I also use a tablespoon to scoop out my detergent.

Start with a hot water strip and we can troubleshoot from there.

What is your full wash routine- including # of days between washes?

[cdseno]

I'm not using cloth anymore now and I sold my stash when I thought I was done with kids. I was thinking about doing it again with Max but I'm not sure. With J I used BG 4.0 and was doing (if I remember right) a cool rinse, a hot heavy wash with extra rinse, then another rinse I think. It was a while ago so I don't remember exactly. I followed the wash routine Cotton Babies recommended for a front loader.

[mimsy]

That's about right. I'd aim to was EOD or every 2 days. If they are heavily soiled, do a no detergent wash first instead of a rinse. Some people prefer warm to cool. Some even rinse their ON dipes/inerts to hold off ammonia buildup.