Washing reusables - adding vinegar - can I wash clothes too?

[LoobyLou33]

Just been trawling through previous threads about the benefits of stripping nappies and putting white vinegar into the fabric conditioner slot of the machine...sounds like we need to do that big time. I have second hand sandy's and tots bots bamboozles, and when I dug out an unused originals from a drawer, couldnt' believe how soft and white it was by comparison to my cardboard nappies!

The water here is very chalky/hard and I usually wash at 40 on a pre-wash setting. I probably use too much detergent because our machine is a bit lame and doesn't really get stains out well - even on clothes, I have to use vanish.

I usually put the nappies in with some of our/DS's clothes, because a full bucket doesn't fill the machine iysim. So my main question is... can I still put the white vinegar in the machine when I'm also washing clothes, or will that harm the clothes somehow? Obviously for a strip-wash, i'll just wash the nappies.

As an aside, I've just borrowed some gorgeous bamboo little lambs from a friend, and they were fabulous, but I wondered - will they get stiff quickly in a hard water area? I loved how soft and stretchy they were, mm, strokey... Anyone a fan/non-fan?

(I am having a bit of a nappy obsessing week, looking at my existing kit and deciding whether I "need" to buy some more or whether I can beat the starchiness out of the tots bots and make do with them). really I just want an excuse to buy some funky ones after the dream-dris proved too leaky to use any more!

I've started putting vinegar in every wash now, I use it instead of fabric conditioner now. It's meant to be better for the environment and also cleans your washing machine out! In case you're worried, it doesn't make your clothes smell either.

I don't use vinegar with the nappies (warned off by the nappy lady et al) but I do use it instead of fabric conditioner for all clothes/bedding/towel washes for both DDs, who both have eczema. It works really well as a softener and hasn't knackered the clothes at all.

I started using vinegar instead of fabric softener when DD1 was in nappies, many years ago. Now both DDs are well out of nappies and DD2 is about to start school (eek!) but we still use soap nuts and vinegar for all our laundry.

A good 'scrunching' can soften up crunchy nappies, and the occasional tumble dry helps too.

I was asking these questions not long ago. After consulting the lovely ladies on here I now use vinegar in the pre-wash and soap nuts in the main. Every wash. I have a crappy washing machine so I never fill up with nappies.

I also bought some second-hand nappies recently. They were hard. I put them directly in the washing machine and saw loads of soap suds in the the wash. I kept rinsing until none were left (about 3 rinses!). The first time DS wore them they stank of ammonia within an hour of wear. So I then soaked each used nappy with 50/50 vinegar/water for at least an hour. Then pre-washed and washed with soap nuts. This cured the problem and they are lovely and soft too.

Effects of long term vinegar use? Not sure, but vinegar isn't a harsh chemical. It is certainly fine on textiles. It's the elastic I'm not sure about. I've checked on t'internet and there appears to be no problem. I'm not sure why Nappy Lady warns against it.

It's not just the Nappy Lady, though. Loads of advice labels on various makes of nappy also warn off vinegar (I'm assuming that's why the NL is anti-vinegar)

Can I ask - what sort of White vinegar? Is it just the usual stuff the you might use for pickling things? ??

Just the cheap distilled stuff. I use it for pickling too. I would like to know why vinegar is so bad for nappies. Any links anyone?

I've just looked at the Care section of the Rumparooz website - its pretty extensive, and interestingly doesn't mention vinegar.

www.flipdiapers.com/customersupport.php

community.babycenter.com/post/a21591115/washing_cds_baking_soda_and_vinegar..._bad

Thanks everyone for the advice...I see on the Flip instructions it mentions not using vinegar or baking powder. I think it's probably fine to use vinegar for a "strip wash" though (ha ha!)

I've done one detergent -free wash this morning, and onto a second now with some added vinegar. MOre soap bubbles in the second wash, oddly...I struggled to see any in most of the first wash, perhaps our machine doesn't bubble things up that much, or perhaps it's "starting to come out in the wash"!

wicketkeeper, thanks for the tip about using it with clothes etc, I think I'll try that and hope it cleans our machine out a bit too. It does get smelly and scummy sometimes and could do with something to sort that out..probably because of the limescale.

Just had a Little Lambs delivery and the info leaflet clearly states no vinegar... (no specific info other than that it can damage them)

Along the lines of additives in the wash - has anyone had any problems with nappy longevity having used Tots Bots potion? Also, do you use it as well as or instead of detergent?