The Winds of Change.

I'm been changing up my laundry routine, and am currently doing some hard water research. When we first moved in here I noticed that the grocery store [Moncians] sells Calgon, a laundry additive for hard water. To me that's a good indication that I live in a hard water area. But I didn't have any issues with my laundry. My soaped sudsed up fine, and I didn't have stink issues or anything else.

But in the last week that's changed, my diapers don't smell clean when they get out of the wash, though they smell fine out of the drier. I upped my detergent but I'm still playing around a bit to try and get the right amount.

My oldest is potty training now. I'm conflicted about training pants, in a way I don't think I need them but then I think one or two pairs would be handy for when we're out and about. She wears panties most of the day, unless she decides not to tell me she needs to go. I've been accepted into a Bummis training pant beta test but they had a draw back and the diapers won't be out for another month or so. I will update you all on my decision when I make it. Probably by the end of the month..

Washing

We started out washing in Sunlight Sensitive, not my best moment but I was using what was available. My routine consists of a hot soak with vinegar or oxyclean, then a hot wash cycle with 1/4 scoop of Nature Clean detergent. If I have a lot of Poop diapers I do an extra rinse cycle. I use a top loading washer.

Shortly after I switched to Nature Clean I noticed a bad rash on Ace. I assumed it was yeast, I treated it as such but to no avail. Finally I figured it out. The starting detergent I'd used contains enzymes that mixed with the ammonia in her pee and gave her chemical burns. On top of that [literally] she got Impetigo.

We stripped, and stripped and stripped. Hot wash cycles, one with blue dawn dish soap, the rest with vinegar or baking soda. Finally I stopped seeing bubbles, the dreaded Sunlight was stripped out. I also line dried, the sun kills bacteria and also helps bleach out stains.

At the same time, L started loosing weight. Our small diapers were starting to leak because of it. I had to double stuff to get a good fit. Poor girl. I bought another perfect size diaper. I should have bought XS but I was optimistic and didn't want to buy diapers she'd grow out of in a month. It took two months to get her gaining again. I still wish I'd bought at least one XS.

She looked so tiny in them: