In my opinion, wash routine and detergent are the biggest hurdle in cloth diapering. My personal motto is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" If you have a detergent and wash routine that are working for you, stick with it. After trying many different detergents, I've been using about 1/4 the lowest load line of Tide powder, with an extra rinse. About once a month, I notice a slight ammonia smell or funk to my inserts, so I wash just the inserts with a dab of bleach, and rinse until the water is clean and the bleach smell is gone.
So why am I messing with it? I was sucked in by the new Rockin' Green Funk Rock Ammonia Bouncer, thinking that maybe by using it, I could eliminate the monthly/semi-monthly bleaching. I decided to also buy a bag of the mighty mighty marshmallow classic rock detergent to use along with it. Lucky for you, I bought an extra bag of each to give away to a reader!
I also snagged one of the magnetic measuring scoops that sticks right to the washer!
I don't know if the mighty mighty marshmallow smells exactly like marshmallows, but it smells sweet and yummy!
The Funk Rock package suggests first soaking the diapers overnight in 3T of Rockin' Green, so that's what I did. I followed that up with a full wash/double rinse, and at least two more full washes/double rinses.
Next, I opened up the funk rock. The package says to initially use 4T and soak 30-60 minutes.
I soaked for about two hours, then followed with a full wash/double rinse, and two more full wash/double rinses.
After that, the diapers stunk. Not like ammonia or funk, but like poop. Like they hadn't been washed. I did another wash with 2T of Rockin' Green, with more full wash/double rinses. In all, I had been washing/soaking for a full 24 hours+. I did at least 8 or more full washes, all with double rinses. I reviewed a sample of Rockin' Green back in April, and learned that you need to soak and rinse like crazy when first switching. That the switch can bring all the funk to the surface.
To be honest, after a full day of washing (and this was only half of my diapers!) I was ready to throw in the towel. I was sniffing them after every wash to see if it was getting any better, but it wasn't.
So, at the time I'm writing this at 10:40 P.M., my stinky diapers are being washed in Tide. Hopefully the detergent police don't come after me, but I won't stray again as long as it's working for me!
We have mountain spring well water, a water softener and an HE washer. Even if you have exactly the same, what works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. Unfortunately, that's just how washing goes! So, even though this didn't work for me, it may work for you. Who knows, it I'd kept washing for another day (or three) maybe it would have worked out. Right now, I don't care to find out. I'm having a moment where I'd like to pretend my laundry room doesn't exist! I'm having flashbacks to a month of constant washing battling stinkies!
I just want to be clear that Rockin' Green has worked wonders for so many people, especially the Hard Rock version for those with hard water. I still wholehearedly recommend trying Rockin' Green if you're having trouble. It just isn't the right detergent for me!
Please note: This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or approved by, nor affiliated with Rockin' Green or any retailer.
# of entries received as of November 30th at Giveaway Close: 197
FTC compliance: I paid normal retail prices for all items, I was not compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.
