Front loader washers and Cloth Diapers

Kristi - posted on 03/25/2009

Yes it works, thats exactly what I use! Also, you can use any detergent in an HE machine just use half the amount that it calls for.

Stella - posted on 03/24/2009

Hi, here in the UK front loaders are the norm and top loaders are pretty rare. I am now cloth diapering for a second time with the same batch of nappies that I used for my first, 3 years ago. I soak in a water/vinegar/tea tree oil mix. Instead of doing a full cold wash first, I just do a rinse+spin cycle and then never use more than a 60 (centigrade) wash, but usually use a 40. Though I did start of usig the boil wash cycle for the first couple of months, all the detergent adverts here started pointing out that they are so efficient these days that hot washing is no longer necessary. I use fuzzi bunz, swaddlebees and happy heinys (and of course the accompanying pre-folds) and they come out soft, clean, fluffy and fresh smelling every time. I use a non-bio powder, but I doubt if the brand will be available in the US.

Lindsey - posted on 03/24/2009

I am surprised more people don't use Nellie's Laundry Soda!! I bought the $19 can in September and use it for all my loads of laundry. I haven't even made it through half of the can yet! I strongly recommend trying to out! It has no smells and is hypo-allergenic! 

Joanne - posted on 03/22/2009

Quoting Malinda:

As it turns out the hotter the better isn't always true (even after the cold rinse).  It can really mess up fabric.  Our pre-folds wore out *very* quickly and I think much of the reason was that I was using the Sanitize setting on my HE front loader.  Water was WAY too hot and made my cotton pre-folds pill up.  Now we just use the "hot" setting and Mountain Green Free and Clear (did use Kirkland's but didn't like it and think it helped wear out the pre-folds) with *much* better results. 

Thanks for the tip! I've been using the sanitary cycle for nearly two years thinking it was the right thing and wondering why my prefolds never got soft! After I read your post, I decided to do a little research on the topic and ran accross this: http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/04/29/gre...

Its pretty interesting to think about.

Jodie - posted on 03/22/2009

Hi there, ever since my little girl was about a month old, we have been using Pea Pod nappies, they have without a doubt,  the best nappies for us. We have tried normal washing powders, since Keira's skin is sensitive, we have found the eco powders to be of value, with a few drops of tea tree oil in the final rinse, works a treat to aid the spin cycle, also adding a pleasant smell to the inner nappy. Not only does this disinfect the wash, the nappies smell great, and helps absorb any moisture.

Jodie - posted on 03/22/2009

Quoting Angela:

Front loader washers and Cloth Diapers

II'm new to this group and excited to have found it. I'm looking into trying cloth diapering again with our new baby but I have new front loader washing machines and have been using HE soaps. I know they make an All Free and Clear for HE, but will that work to keep clean the diapers?? Anyone have recommendations for what works best with Front loader machines as a washing routine?

Malinda - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Cindy:

I've never heard of cold wash, then hot. I always think the hotter, the better. Do you think it is the cold wash that gets rid of the ammonia smell or what is the reason for the cold wash?

As it turns out the hotter the better isn't always true (even after the cold rinse).  It can really mess up fabric.  Our pre-folds wore out *very* quickly and I think much of the reason was that I was using the Sanitize setting on my HE front loader.  Water was WAY too hot and made my cotton pre-folds pill up.  Now we just use the "hot" setting and Mountain Green Free and Clear (did use Kirkland's but didn't like it and think it helped wear out the pre-folds) with *much* better results. 

We got our new prefolds from Green Mountain diapers (http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/) and they came with a booklet that specifically says to NOT use the Sanitize setting on Front Loaders... so if your's has that, I would recommend against using it.

Joanne - posted on 03/18/2009

We use Charlies's

Angela - posted on 02/24/2009

Wow you ladies are great!! Thank you so much for all the great feedback. At least I know it is possible and sounds do-able. Now I just have to decide on which diaper to buy. :) More research. Thx.

Janice - posted on 02/24/2009

I have a front loader, we use Fuzzi Bunz diapers, and we use Charlie's Soap.

Shaun - posted on 02/24/2009

I use all free and clear in my front loader and it seems to work well.  The problem I am having is with the tabs (bum genius AIO).  I can not seem to find the right spin speed without having the tabs come off the laundry area and all stick together.  Anyone have any suggestions?

Robin - posted on 02/24/2009

I love my front loader. I usually do a first wash with warm water. I add environmentally friendly detergent and some chlorine free bleach in the first wash, as I find this helps to eliminate odour and stains. I then put them on another wash with hot water and then throw them into the dryer after. This had worked well for me for over a year now. If I have problems after a while with some smell or stubborn stains, I will take the covers out after the hot water wash and give the liners an extra warm water wash with some chlorine bleach to get them really clean and fresh.

Elizabeth - posted on 02/24/2009

I have a top loader (wish I had a front loader) and use the cold (no detergent), hot,second rinse method as well and I LOVE it. The cold rinse gets rid of the poop, and then the hot cycle really gets the smell out. I don't soak mine at all, just put the diapers in, run the prewash cycle (which does a short wash, no rinse) on cold, then add the detergent and wash on hot with 2 cold rinse cycles. That's all!

Front load washers are so much better environmentally than my old top loader-- a top load washer uses about 70 gallons on a wash cycle compared to 14 for a front loader. So it really is the most eco-choice!

Jennifer - posted on 02/24/2009

Quoting Cindy:

So when soaking them, I should actually be doing this in cold, not hot water?

Are you soaking them in a pail and for how long?  I rinse in a cold water cycle, then wash in hot or warm water.  My HE has a "Rinse/spin" option, so I run that and sometimes add the "extra rinse setting" to that if it has been 3-4 days since my last wash.  This tends to get rid of the ammonia smell alone, wash in hot/warm, then a normal rinse cycle.

I read, after I had been soaking that we should not be soaking our dipes more than 10 minutes, so I found that the routine with the extra cold water rinse first got mine the cleanest.  Now, if I coul donly find which product is safest to remove rust, I'd be set!  I have hard well water.

Cindy - posted on 02/24/2009

So when soaking them, I should actually be doing this in cold, not hot water?

Jennifer - posted on 02/24/2009

Hot water will set stains/odor, so you run a cold wash to rinse the offending product out first. This also works with other stains. This is how I wash the toddler sheets when the toddler has an accident.

Cindy - posted on 02/24/2009

I've never heard of cold wash, then hot. I always think the hotter, the better. Do you think it is the cold wash that gets rid of the ammonia smell or what is the reason for the cold wash?

Karen - posted on 02/24/2009

I used All Free and Clear with a front loader in the US, with mixed success. Now in the UK we only have front loaders (except in commerical launderettes I think). Here I've been using Ecover washing powder. I also like OxyClean (with no additives) every once and a while for a deep clean. And I wash quite hot...60C at the moment. Not sure if that is necessary, but I'm reluctant to mess with something that's working.

Dawn - posted on 02/23/2009

I use Kirkland brand (from Costco) free and clear HE. It works well for me. Just remember 1/8 amount of recommended soap, cold wash, then hot wash.

Kimberly - posted on 02/23/2009

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. The place I bought my Allen's detergent put a little restrictor clip on the pump (I bought the gallon size with a pump) so that I get about 1/8 of an ounce with each pump, I think. And I use 1 pump per load. http://babyworks.com

Laura - posted on 02/23/2009

Opps, clicked enter too quickly :)

I also have an HE and I use Allens liquid detergent- just about 1/8 of suggested dose. I will also toss in some baking soda occasionally when stripping dipes.

Laura - posted on 02/23/2009

Here's a really great chart of detergents that I've used to reference myself. http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/he...

Lisa - posted on 02/23/2009

I did not have good luck with Allen's in my front loader and it took me a bit to find what worked well for me. But, I finally have a routine that I'm very happy with.  I start with a cold wash-no soap, followed by a hot wash with Tide HE with several drops of tea tree oil and then finish with a cold wash to rinse. About once a month I wash my inserts with a little bit of bleach or borax. Weather and time permitting I also try to hang everything in the sun.  Good luck!

Jennifer - posted on 02/23/2009

I use Charlie's Soap in my HE.

Kimberly - posted on 02/22/2009

I also have a front loader and have found it very good at cleaning diapers. I do a first cycle on cold with soap and BacOut by BioKleen. Then I do a hot wash with soap again. Then I do a hot rinse with no soap or additives. Seems to get my diapers totally clean and with no ammonia smells later.



I use Allen's Naturally soap because it leaves no residue in the diapers which would either irritate baby's skin or make an ammonia smell when the diapers get wetted. I've also used BioKleen's laundry liquid and really like that. I think the free and clear detergents are not recommended for cloth diapers because they really are not entirely "free" or "clear." But I don't know for sure what is in them. I try to use biodegradable soaps...which I believe both Allen's and BioKleen are. Hope this helps! :)

Elly - posted on 02/22/2009

I think front loading washing machines actually washer better than top loaders. I do a cold wash then a hot wash with an extra rinse. I have started to use sports wash rather than regular detergent as it doesn't seem to leave residue. Hope that helps! Otherwise I was using ECOS washing liquid with a few drops of tea tree in the second wash. Sometimes I'd add some oxyclean, too.