stupid CD washing question

mesa81

I've developed a good system so far with washing the CDs (as long as the washing machine cooperates). Anyway, I do a cold soak, then a hot wash (with detergent) and then a cold rinse. I've been running 3 separate cycles.

The washing machine says "hot/cold" on the dial. Does that mean it's getting that cold rinse and I don't have to do that 3rd cycle? I'm rather sleep deprived at the moment and have been thinking about this for way too long. 

Glitzyklm

Your machine automatically does a cold rinse, so two cycles should be good.

mesa81

Thank you ... My brain is just not working right anymore. I'm happy to not waste all that extra water!  

SBTibbs

I hear ya on mom brains not working right! Eli has only been out of diapers for 2 months and I don't remember how I used to wash them! This does not bode well for poor Ruby. Hopefully it will all come back to me!

Seems like you got your question answered, but I think I did a cold/cold normal wash w/out detergent, then a hot/cold "heavy" wash (includes extra rinse) with detergent.

mesa81

It will come back to you soon enough! I was never this sleep deprived when she was a newbie... we've been struggling with major gas issues at night and she's getting out of her swaddle/ fighting it more often now. She was an amazing sleeper for her first 3 months

maeghan21

Yup, the second temp is the rinse temp. I do a quick cold rinse (doesn't need to soak, just gotta flush the pee out. Otherwise it's kind of soaking in a larger combo of cold water and pee. Then my washer has a Extra Hot sanitary so I use that. It has a cold rinse or a hot rinse, sometimes I'll do hot if I feel like I accidentally used too much soap.

She'll get back to sleeping good. Caroline has always been a good sleeper, but she has had a few days here and there. 3 months they start getting mobile and that messes them up. Then you have the sleep issue with them puling themselves up from the crib, then teething, then random nightmares, then teething  

hikingnclimbing

Ok, so, while we're talking about it, let me double check that I'd be doing it "right". I have a Whirlpool HE front loader.

1. Cold water rinse

2. Hot regular wash cycle (or maybe sanitary, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra time, water, and energy)

Does that sound about right? I'm going to start by using the eco detergent that we buy at Sam's since I think it's on the ok list for CDs and I'd rather just keep using the same thing than having multiple choices in the cabinet. 

Mrs.ErikaMay

My washer is ancient, so although I hate to use the extra water and energy, even though the hot cycle has a cold rinse, I have no way to indicate to do extra rinse or long rinse, so I do a final cold rinse after the hot wash.

Maybe I don't have to though- I haven't ever tried just the rinse and wash to see if they were stinky or anything. On newer, more efficient machines you might be all set. I know when mine are done any wash or rinse cycle they are still absolutely sopping wet, so the extra rinse helps me feel better about getting out any extra soap or grossness. (They are so wet that I have to wring them out before putting them in the dryer or else they come out half damp.)

Susie- I have no clue about front loaders, sorry.

a.bartholomew

hikingnclimbing:

Ok, so, while we're talking about it, let me double check that I'd be doing it "right". I have a Whirlpool HE front loader.

1. Cold water rinse

2. Hot regular wash cycle (or maybe sanitary, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra time, water, and energy)

Does that sound about right? I'm going to start by using the eco detergent that we buy at Sam's since I think it's on the ok list for CDs and I'd rather just keep using the same thing than having multiple choices in the cabinet. 

 

I'm pretty sure I heard sanitary can be a bit hard on your dipes.  

maeghan21

I've been using sanitary and I've never had to strip my diapers. We also don't have the hot water turned way up because there is a baby in the house ie: bath time safety etc. I had to return a few BG's for other reasons and I chatted with them about exactly what I was doing and they said it was fine. They were actually surprised I haven't had to strip. I've only used 1 Tbsp of bleach on them maybe a handful of times either. I use Planet detergent and every once in a while All Free and Clear. Susie, what you are saying will work just fine and it's what they recommend. I just hated every once in a while getting a stinky diaper after washing and drying so for me it's easier to push sanitary and know it will be clean afterwards.

hikingnclimbing

maeghan21:

I've been using sanitary and I've never had to strip my diapers. We also don't have the hot water turned way up because there is a baby in the house ie: bath time safety etc. I had to return a few BG's for other reasons and I chatted with them about exactly what I was doing and they said it was fine. They were actually surprised I haven't had to strip. I've only used 1 Tbsp of bleach on them maybe a handful of times either. I use Planet detergent and every once in a while All Free and Clear. Susie, what you are saying will work just fine and it's what they recommend. I just hated every once in a while getting a stinky diaper after washing and drying so for me it's easier to push sanitary and know it will be clean afterwards.

Our hot water temp is turned all the way down, so it wouldn't get piping hot anyways. But I'm all for eliminating extra steps if its worked for you, Meg! I'll just do a rinse and then sanitary wash and call it good (and see what happens). I figure I'll do a strip before the kiddo gets here since most of the CDs I've bought are used and then just go to the rinse/sani and see where we get. :-)

Sorry for the thread hijack, OP! 

Mainer-in-Texas

hikingnclimbing:

Ok, so, while we're talking about it, let me double check that I'd be doing it "right". I have a Whirlpool HE front loader.

1. Cold water rinse

2. Hot regular wash cycle (or maybe sanitary, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra time, water, and energy)

Does that sound about right? I'm going to start by using the eco detergent that we buy at Sam's since I think it's on the ok list for CDs and I'd rather just keep using the same thing than having multiple choices in the cabinet. 

I also wanted to chime in that Rockin Green has recommendations by washing machine on their website. HE washers can sometimes be tricky with CDs, and they recommended I do a cold wash for step 1. I think it's helped with the stinkies.