New Product: Charlie's Soap Hardwater Treatment & Laundry Booster!

Did you know that we carry Charlie's Soap Laundry Treatment and Hardwater Booster?  Did you even know that there was such a product?  Well we do, and there is!

What exactly is it and how can you tell if you need it or not?

Charlie's Soap Laundry Booster & Hard Water Treatment uses a biodegradable phosphate that leaves no residue on your clothes while softening your wash water. 

Certain phosphates can safely eliminate these problems and be environmentally friendly. They're only a problem with overuse.

If hard water is an issue, why not use an environmentally-safe product from Charlie's rather than take a chance with other detergents that put bad things into the environment?

The advantage of using Charlie's Soap with our new Laundry Booster & Hard Water Treatment is that you get the benefit of really clean clothes without a lot of chemicals left behind.

The Charlie's Laundry booster and hard water treatment works hand in hand with our Powder or Liquid to give you the best of both worlds. 

How to use it?

Simply add a 1/2 tablespoon per large load with your Charlies Soap detergent!  Your laundry will be whiter, brighter, softer and you can rest assured that they'll be clean, even if you have hard water issues.

MSRP, Just $18.99 for enough to treat 80+ large loads

New! Thirsties Pre-Wash & Super-Wash!

PRE-WASH Features:

• Completely non-toxic solution

• 100% biodegradable

• Custom formulated by a chemist specifically for use in pre-washing diapers

• Designed to help loosen and rinse away waste and eliminate bacteria

• Antimicrobial ingredient naturally disinfects

• Washes completely clean; will not leave residue

• Highly concentrated to reduce costs and carbon output

• HE Safe

• Made in the USA

PRE-WASH Description:

Thirsties® Pre-Wash is the only solution custom formulated by a chemist to pre-clean your cloth diapers. The active antimicrobial ingredients in Thirsties® Pre-Wash actually eliminate bacteria from your diapers, which are often the culprit of residual odors and diaper rash.

Be sure not to skip this important step in cleaning your cloth diapers! Thirsties® Pre-Wash is specially formulated to loosen and rinse away waste and works to prevent stains from setting. Our pre-wash solution is completely safe against your baby's skin and washes clean from your diaper leaving no residue behind.

Most detergents contain harmful enzymes, artificial fragrances, man-made whiteners, and leave behind harmful residues. Thirsties® Pre-Wash is entirely non-toxic, is safe for your HE washer and is 100% biodegradable.

SUPER WASH Features:

• Completely non-toxic solution

• 100% biodegradable

• Odorless & colorless

• Custom formulated by a chemist specifically for use in washing cloth diapers

• Probiotic solution introduces good bacteria to eliminate odor-causing bacteria

• Helps prevent diaper rash by naturally destroying bad bacteria

• Effectively brightens and whitens without harmful additives

• Washes completely clean; will not leave residue

• Highly concentrated to reduce costs and carbon output

• HE Safe

• Made in the USA

SUPER WASH Description:

Finally a cloth diaper detergent that does it all! A wash that truly lives up to its name: SUPER! The amazing probiotic component of Thirsties® Super Wash actually introduces constructive bacteria to your wash which helps to eliminate the bacteria that are often the culprits of residual odors and diaper rash. It's the only wash of its kind that offers this important ingredient.

Most detergents on the market will 'clean' your diapers, but none of them work to eliminate bacteria. Adding an oxygen bleach booster to your regular detergent will certainly disinfect, but it is very harsh on your baby's delicate skin and will deteriorate your diapers at a much more rapid rate. As well, using a boosteralso adds up the expense to launder each load. Thirsties® Super Wash is completely safe against your baby's skin, yet has everything you need to thoroughly clean your diapers, and is custom formulated specifically to suit the needs of your reusable diaper laundry.

In addition, most detergents contain harmful enzymes, artificial fragrances, man-made whiteners, and leave behind harmful residues. Thirsties® Super Wash is entirely non-toxic and is just as safe as rainwater against your baby's skin.

Use our washes from Day One on your cloth diapers to maintain that 'like-new' appearance. Thirsties® Super Wash effectively brightens and whitens your diapers--you will be amazed! Test it yourself by reserving some of your dingiest used diapers. Wash some of them in Thirsties® Super Wash and watch them brighten more and more with every cycle. After several wash cycles, compare your dingy diapers still on reserve to the diapers washed with Thirsties® Super Wash and you will notice a difference.

Use:

Pre-clean with 1/2 ounce Thirsties® Pre-Wash on COLD (if your machine has a pre-wash cycle, use it; if not, use a short cycle). Follow with 1/2 ounce of Thirsties® Super Wash in heavy cycle on HOT with an extra rinse. DO NOT USE ON HAND-DYED TEXTILES. We recommend testing for color fastness prior to using on dyed textiles.

Also, available in a Value Pack! Save money and grab both the Pre-Wash & Super Wash!

Doing diaper laundry can be simple!

When I first started using cloth diapers, I had this fear that I would ruin them. That somehow I would add too much soap, or the water would be the wrong temperature, or I would use the wrong soap, or something bad would happen. I would mess up all my new diapers that I just bought! I don't know why, but I seriously feared washing my diapers.

A silly thought, sure, but that's actually a common concern of many new cloth diaper users! You just spent $15 + on a diaper. The last thing you want to do is ruin them!

I've learned that washing your diapers is actually really simple and I'm pretty sure it's virtually impossible to ruin them. My wash routine is very basic. There are many ways to wash your diapers, many different detergents to use, many different ways to dry them, and really- they all work at cleaning your diapers- it's just about doing what works for you!

My routine is very simple.

We keep a regular trash can with a lid ($10 plastic bought at Fred Meyer) in the hall bathroom which is across from my son's room. Inside the trash can we have a normal trash bag which contains all the dirty diapers. Because this is more wasteful, I would prefer to use a wet bag/pail liner. I will hopefully be getting one eventually, but they are certainly not necessary. It works just fine to use a trash bag and throw it away after each wash.

After the trash can is full, I wash! I wash about every 3 days. Currently I'm using Purex Free & Clear detergent. I'm not in love with this detergent, yet I have no reason to complain about it either. I've found something that works to get my diapers clean, so I'll stick with it! I always do two loads and one dry. The first load is a cold wash, the second is hot. Through trial and error I learned that you should always do a cold wash first. This helps prevent any stains from occurring. With both washes I use a tiny bit of detergent. It takes very little detergent to get your diapers clean!

Drying my diapers can be done two ways; the lazy way or the smart way. The lazy way is to throw all my diapers (covers, inserts, rags, etc) into the dryer on medium setting. It usually takes less than 20 minutes to get everything dry. I call this the lazy way because I don't believe this is the best way as I've noticed it really wears and tears on my diapers. Just like our clothes, the more times things are dried, the more wear is caused to them.

The smart way, and the way I believe that really helps contribute to long lasting diapers, is to either hang them to dry or lay them on your kitchen table. Really, anything better than the dryer is better. A clothes line is optimal and nice, however your couch, bed, table, heck even a clean floor! would work as a place to lay your diapers to dry. Avoiding the dryer is going to make the elastic and velcro last longer and keep them looking newer for longer.

After my diapers are dry I stuff them and prepare them for wearing! This takes less than 10 minutes and is almost always done while watching TV. :)

And that my friends, is it! Sounds simple doesn't it? That's because it is! Using cloth diapers doesn't have to be complicated or include 12 different steps. It can be and it is easy! Does it take an extra 20 minutes of my time every few days? Yes. Does it cost more money up front? Yes. Are the benefits of using cloth and the cuteness factor totally worth it? YES!

Reader Contribution
by Samantha at Mama Notes

What if my diapers are repelling? Use Dawn...

One wise mom's advice for stripping diapers that are repelling is:

A quick scrub with DAWN (or other grease cutting dish detergent) – it works like a charm!

On a clean, dry diaper, apply a little bit of dawn to the inside, add water, work into a lather by hand (one diaper at a time), rinse and then launder.

Be sure that you are using a reduced amount of detergent as detergents leave residue (the more you use, the more residue you can expect) and the problem will likely return. Avoid scented detergents as these are specifically designed to leave residues. The thought that the more detergent you use the cleaner your diapers will be, is not the case. Also be sure to do a second rinse after the wash cycle to rid as much detergent as possible.

Some “for baby” detergents can also be problematic as plant oils tend not to rinse out as well.

Trick for Neutralizing Ammonia Odor

I recently read one Moms advice on killing the ammonia odor in her cloth diapers. She says that Lime juice naturally kills bacteria and neutralizes ph, so she puts a tablespoon of it in the final rinse when she washes her cloth diapers.

Give this tip a try and respond letting me know if it works for you!

Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator

Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator 16oz.

with Live Enzyme Cultures:
It seems everyone has a Bac-Out story. Bac-Out’s live enzyme-producing cultures attack pet, food, and beverage stains, organic waste, and odor until they are gone, digesting them back to nature, safely and naturally. Bac-Out is safe to use around children and pets, even birds.

• Lime Peel Extract cleaning power
• Destroys the toughest odors so they are gone for good
• Excellent for mold and mildew
• Preferred by commercial carpet cleaners nationwide

BioKleen Laundry LIquid

Citrus Laundry Liquid 32oz.

Phosphate & Chlorine Free:
Our Laundry liquid removes the toughest dirt, grease, stains and odors, yet is gentle enough for cloth diapers, delicate fabrics and hand washables. Rinses clean without leaving residue on clothes that can irritate skin or ruin fabrics. Recommend 1 oz per load.

• 3x More Concentrated
• Grapefruit Seed & Orange Peel Extracts
• Naturally controls stains and odors
• Makes a great pre-treat for stains

What do I need to know about washing CD's in a Front Loader?

Detergent residue can be a problem, because front loaders use less water and need less detergent to clean. So if you'd like to use regular detergent (not HE detergent), you'll want to use 1/4-1/3 of a normal load amount. Front loaders usually require 1/2 the amount of regular detergent, so with CD she'll want to cut it down from that. If she's using HE detergent, then 1/2 of recommended amount.

A double rinse is recommended with front loaders, just to make sure of no detergent residue.

The sanitize setting makes the water really hot, so to maximize the life of PUL, only use that cycle during or after a child is sick with a stomach flu or infection, to make sure any lingering bacteria/virus/fungus is killed. Or use the sanitize cycle to sanitize used diapers purchased online, etc. Over use of the sanitize cycle will breakdown PUL faster, and decrease the lifespan of the diaper and it's effectiveness.

Stinky Diaper Remedy?

My diapers smell clean when they come out of the laundry but after being worn, and especially after overnight, they have this awfully strong odor? How can I keep this from happening?

Well I don't think there's a cloth diapering mom out there who hasn't had smelly diaper issues at some point. I personally wash my diapers almost every day and they had still been getting pretty smelly after having been peed in. So I decided to try using a wet pail for a change. I put my diaper pail in my utility room where there would be no risk of drowning, and filled it half way with water. Then I added a squirt of BioKleen Laundry Liquid which has Grapefruit Seed & Orange Peel extract in it. I submerge each diaper in the water to soak and when I have about 10 or so diapers in it I dump the diapers and the water into the washing machine. I turn on the washer with either hot or cold and add another ounce of BioKleen, I let them soak for an hour and then let the washer complete it's cycle.

This was my first couple days trying a wet pail. The first couple loads after having soaked in the wet pail with baking soda and/or a squirt of Blue Dawn DishSoap smelled clean but did still produce a strong odor after being peed in and after over night. After my first soak and wash with the BioKleen Laundry Liquid, this morning when the babies woke up the odor was almost 95% gone. It really is amazing. I need to experiment some more to find out if the BioKleen works as well on diapers that sat in a dry pail, or if it is the combination of them soaking in the wet pail with the BioKleen and washing them with the BioKleen that did the trick.

Soon I hope to retail the BioKleen products in my store, but for now you can find them in your local HealthFood store.