Over time, hard water leads to mineral buildup, lingering odors, and decreased absorbency in cloth diapers. You can spot hard water by checking for white rings in boiling pots or limescale on your bathroom fixtures. To keep your diapers fresh and functional, consider these softening solutions and loading tips:
Water Softening Options
Washing Soda: Add ¼ cup to your wash cycle alongside your detergent. Ensure the powder is dissolved and agitated in the water before adding the diapers.
Calgon Water Softener: Add ¼ cup of Calgon to your diaper laundry. Start with one treatment per week and adjust based on results.
Whole-Home Softener: This is a pricier endeavor, but installing a water softening tank is a premium, long-term investment that benefits your entire home, from spot-free dishes to healthier hair.
Optimizing Your Wash Load
The amount of water used is critical; diapers need plenty of room to agitate and rinse thoroughly.
Load Size: For a standard capacity machine, aim for no more than 18 diaper changes per load.
Water Levels: Match your water level to the amount of diapers. You need enough water to fully submerge them while still allowing for enough friction to scrub them clean. Aim for a 'stew' consistency rather than a 'soup'—diapers that simply float around won't get clean.
HE Machine Hack: If your machine uses weight sensors, toss in a heavy, wet bath towel or manually add a bucket of water to "trick" the sensors into providing a deeper clean.
*If you are using well water, it would be a good idea to have your well tested for sulfur and other contaminates. For a US map of the United States with a visual breakdown of concentration of water hardness: http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/2008/12/could-you-have-hard-water.html
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If you have a problem with hardwater scale in your laundry, or anywhere else in your home for that matter, try something that can nip the problem in the bud. If you install a hardwater treatment system where your water comes in, then you won’t have to deal with the effects throughout your home. That means cleaner clothes, as well as cleaner faucets and shower-heads. The Scalewatcher is an electronic water conditioner that requires no salt (so it is environmentally friendly and maintenance free!). It conditions the water- suspending the minerals with an electronic frequency that descales pipes, water-heaters and faucets and provides squeaky clean water, never slimy. Saves on energy costs too, since the heater becomes more efficient once it is descaled.
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Hint: baking soda can be purchased in bulk at sams. Thanks for the tips, thirsties! We have hard water and I never could get the superwash to work with our water but I’m looking fwd to trying again.