Cloth diapering saves me money.
In an effort to save even more money, I started making my own detergent. Which worked great. Until my diapers started repelling liquids (quite the OPPOSITE of what they should be doing). Back came the Arm and Hammer.
Then, one day, I was told that vinegar is supposed have the same effects as fabric softener (which, by the way, you are NEVER supposed to use with diapers), but for a fraction of the cost. It also is supposed to rinse cleaner, and work with your detergent to get dingy fabric bright again. So, of course, this went into my diaper wash. Both the wash AND the rinse, mind you. I wanted clean, soft diapers.
BUT I DID NOT KNOW that vinegar erodes the elastic in bumGenius diapers.
I do now.
Luckily for me, Jenn from Cotton Babies, the inventor of bumGenius diapers is the kindest, most understanding person IN THE WORLD. When I contacted her to see what I was doing that was ruining my diapers, she explained it was the vinegar, and that I was not to blame, since they had not put “no additives” on the laundry tags yet when I purchased my stock.
So I sent them in today to be replaced.
Sigh.
I wonder if vinegar has this effect on other forms of elastic? Will it eventually ruin the rest of my diaper stash (or just the covers – as they are the only other diaper-related thing with elastic)? Will it start ruining clothes as well?
Has anyone else used vinegar in their wash for extended periods of time? Have you noticed any breakdowns in your laundry?
I’m anxious to hear the answer. I use a vinegar/baking soda/water mix as fabric softener. it works great on clothes. I’m glad you told me not to use it on my diapers. Which by the way I can’t wait until they come in…..
The vinegar helps remove the soap out of the clothes. This does some softening, but the baking soda is the real softener. I would assume its the acid in the vinegar that is breaking down the elastic. The baking soda neutralizes the acid and should not be a problem if you are using both. If you are really worried, the baking soda will soften the clothes, just does not get out all the soap like the vinegar does. Maybe only use the baking soda in the rinse for the diapers if you are still worried about it.
Peggie,
Thanks for the tip! What amounts of vinegar and baking soda (or, since I am now sufficiently scared of using vinegar on diapers, just baking soda) should I use?
Holy cow, I wouldn’t have thought of that…
About using vinegar with diapers — I have done this for the past several years, and it hasn’t seemed to affect the elastic in the covers I use — but I just use simple Dappi nylon covers (or Gerber vinyl covers that are given to me/found for free!). I don’t use vinegar every time I wash diapers though. Maybe once every 5-10 loads. Especially in the summer (constant line-drying weather!) I could go weeks without using any vinegar in the wash at all. I do use a little baking soda (maybe 1/4 cup) in each load I wash. 🙂
See, this is the problem with homemade laundry ideas… it takes months or years to discover what’s a good or bad idea!! 🙂
Thanks, Tammy! I’ll have to buy a bigger box of baking soda… 🙂
I have never had a problem with my homemade detergent. My 5yo was cloth diapered from the day she was born until she was potty-trained, and we have used the same diapers with my now-7mo, and the only time I ever had a problem was the month I used storebought detergent! When I went back to making my own, our diapers were fine again.
I use a powdered detergent made from baking soda (yes, baking soda, not washing soda), borax, and grated soap. And I think that part of the “trick” is not using too much.