High efficiency washing machines

Lisa - posted on 09/07/2009

I have a Maytag 3000 front loader and I use bumGenius 3.0s. I put the diapers on the sanitary cycle and add an extra rinse. It does take about 2 hours. I usually dry them outside and they always smell better when I do. I have not had any smell problems. If I do have to dry them in the dryer, I only dry the pocket inserts and not the bumGenius , I let those air dry.

Amy - posted on 09/07/2009

I have a kenmore HE washer. I do one short cyle on cold with no detergent, one cycle on whitest whites with a tablespoon of detergent (I use Nature Clean, It's been recommended for diapers) and a few drops of tea tree oil, and then another whitest whites cycle with no detergent. I also try to dry them outside whenever possible. They always seem fresh and clean and I used to have a lot of problems with stink untill I started to do them this way.

Janis - posted on 09/06/2009

I use chinese prefolds and have a front loader. Each time I wash diapers I do the following:

Heavy Cycle cold/cold regular amount of detergent
Heavy Cycle hot/cold regular amount of detergent
Heavy Cycle hot/cold no detergent

haven't had any problems with staining or not getting clean enough. occasionally I will throw in 1/2 cup of baking soda to the second wash cycle if I've been using more diaper rash cream. (eczema sucks)

Naomi - posted on 09/04/2009

I heard somewhere that the delicate cycle uses the most water. so we use that on cold as our first wash. then a heavy duty wash on hot with an extra rinse

if you do have hard water, try some calgon

Erika - posted on 09/03/2009

I have Whirlpool Duet and I do first normal cycle cold water with pre wash. Then whitest whites cycle. I add a 1/2 capful of sensiclean with each load. Takes 2-3 hours to wash but they come out pretty clean.

Stef - posted on 08/20/2009

I seam to be having the same prob. Not with stains, but with the smell. If you have the chance to hang them in the sun for a few hours it REALLY helps with residual stains and smells. Someone also suggested tea tree oil, I use 3 drops with the detergent and this also seams to help. Its a struggle with the HE...how ironic huh! I am also fighting hard water...uhhhgggg!!

Malinda - posted on 08/18/2009

Hmm.. we've been doing cloth for about a year in an HE washer and I've never had this problem. We do basically the same wash cycle as you (you may already know this, but avoid the super-hot cycles - we learned the hard way that it's too hot and ruins prefolds). The only thing I can think of is could you have hard water? We use Calgon water softener about twice a month, and also white vinegar every once in a while. Are you sure it's the lack of water, and not your detergent, that is causing the problem?

Angelique - posted on 08/16/2009

I have a Whirlpool Duet Sport (frontLoader HE). I am only breastfeeding so the smell is not a factor, thank goodness. I use the chinese DSQ prefolds with a polyester diaper cover and only use one dry pail with a cloth liner. I used to have a prob with stains untill I started doing the following- this might help. After the rinse and spin cycle which I guess is the equivalent of your cold rinse, I spray all the stained dipes with a spray I make using 1/4 scoop Oxiclean FREE and 16 oz HOT water. Put the dipes back in the wash with a 1/4 cup of baking soda. I also fill the softener container with white vinegar to make sure to get a real good rinse and run the whole thing on the Whitest Whites cycle which is probably the same as your heavy duty cycle. When all is done- no stains and no having to trick the washer. Hope this helps!