Posted by KarenC on March 15, 2004 at 18:16:49:
In Reply to: Best detergent for washing posted by NicoleH on March 15, 2004 at 17:50:55:
Hi Nicole,
All Free & Clear is apparently one of those problematic detergents for some people. I do say for some because others swear by it! Those who have problems say it can cause odors...
There isn't really any one good detergent. Tide works for some, others find it too harsh (leads to rash on some children). Just stay away from detergents with fabric softeners (many 'baby' detergents have those built-in) and bleach or bleach alternatives. Many stay away from detergents with scents because it can irratate baby's skin but I don't know of any reason why they're any better for diapers.
All that said, I would first suspect that your odor problems are being caused by detergent build-up. That's probably THE number one cause of stinky diapers that I have either encountered personally or during the 4+ years I've frequented cloth diapering boards. You only need about 1/4 - 1/3 of the 'recomended' amount of detergent. Less really is more when it comes to diapers. Too much detergent won't rinse out of the fabric properly and over time it builds up and causes odors. Check your final rinse cycle, if it has lots of suds you need to rinse more and use less detergent. To rid yourself of the build-up you'll have to run your clean diapers through a few (maybe even several!!!) plain washes (no detergent) until the water has no suds (air bubbles are ok but no suds).
Karen.