They went crunchy after one wash

[NaeNae]

I decided to wash my 0000 wondersuits last night in with some other "lights" to make up a full washing load and used the Aware detergent. We don't have a tumble dryer so I just hung them on the clothes rack in front of the heater and this morning they felt crunchy and hard compared to the super soft feeling of the unwashed ones ....

What did I do wrong? I wouldn't wear something that felt like this coz it would make my skin scratchy, should I have done the clothes in something like softly? or a detergent with a fabric softener - sheesh good thing bub isn't here yet I would feel so bad. I have never felt so useless when it comes to laundry

Nae x x

[Olive]

thats normal im afraid for the wondersuits!! the coloured ones that BigW sell are different they dont seem to crunch up as much

[Patooties]

Hi Nae - I used to love washing the baby clothes in Lux flakes. Smelt so good - that new baby smell Perhaps you could dry them on the line in the sun for a while, and then bring them inside to completely dry off.

[briggsy's girl]

i tend to hang clothes away from the heater cos, when they dry quickly, they go stiff. i shake them a little when they come off the airer and they're all good. E never whinges - and none of her clothes go in the dryer. if they do feel a bit stiff, i shake them out before i fold them, scrunch them in my hands, then fold them up.

[NaeNae]

really?? man that sucks, they cost me $20 bucks a pop (they are those ones that have the fold over hands and fold over feet) do they soften at all in a softener?? our water is considered "hard water" so I wonder if that made a difference as well. I feel so disappointed.

[~Raven~]

i tend to hang clothes away from the heater cos, when they dry quickly, they go stiff. i shake them a little when they come off the airer and they're all good. E never whinges - and none of her clothes go in the dryer. if they do feel a bit stiff, i shake them out before i fold them, scrunch them in my hands, then fold them up.

I would have thought the same thing too. Drying in front the heater makes some things go like cardboard. Bamboo nappies are the same!

Maybe move it back a bit so they don't dry so fast or give them a good scrunch as they are drying.

[NaeNae]

JaZaHMum - can you use Lux in front loaders? I would normally hang things outside for a bit but the rain has been coming right under our verandah and even the clothes on the undercover line have been getting wet not that I am complaining about the rain at all coz its needed !!

BG - thank I never thought of the fast drying being a cause for stiffness will have to try it again and see if that works. I scrunched one of them in my hands a bit this morning but it didn't feel the same I just thought "bugger what else will I do wrong" still its all learning isn't it

[skybie]

oh hun i hate when that happens!!
bummer u dont have a dryer, they come out all soft and nice when tumble dried!
DD2's clothes all go in the drier just for this reason.
Target brand doesnt do it as bad as the wondersuites. the fluffy(not terry towling looking ones IYKNWIM) are good for not going crunchy.
does anyone u know have a drier u could borrow to make them all nice agian?

[NaeNae]

Bamboo nappies are the same!

Ahhhhhh ok well that explains why my pop ins have gone a bit funny too - I just thought they softened more as you washed them in prep for the baby I am really dense about these things aren't I

[~Raven~]

Forgot to ad that manufacturers use a fabric conditioner to make them feel nice and soft in the shop so don't go comparing washed ones to unwashed ones

ETA no not dense! You'll work it out. Same thing in the summer too. BBB's alost snap in half when they've been outside on a hot dry day!

[Patooties]

Nae - no you can't. I just soaked them in a bucket, rinsed them and then put them in the machine for an extra rinse and spin. It's extra work, but I used to love the Lux smell and the softness.

[NaeNae]

skybie - No unfortunately - I have an old upright dryer and so does MIL no one on the farm really uses them either because we have the undercover clothes lines on our verandahs and clothes horses coming out our behinds

[briggsy's girl]

maybe try drying them outside so they get the fresh air and the movement (not today obviously!) - and only leave them out til they're almost dry - then move them inside away from the heater

[Shades]

Just a note in case you were considering it, I think it'd be fine for the clothes but fabric softener is apparently a no-no for nappies - it lowers the absorbency or something??

[LionsandBears]

Try white vinegar in the "fabric softener" bit. It doesn't lower absorbancy, helps keep clothes soft and doesn't damage washing machines like normal fabric softeners. Also, it's cheap and environmentally friendly.

[briggsy's girl]

vinegar isn't recommended too much with nappies i don't think - it can impact the life of the elastic and pul

i almost always dry nappy inners on the clothes airer - and they aren't crunchy at all - i just put them in the rumpus room which is warm from natural sun through the bay window, but doesn't get flooded with direct heat. it takes a day or two to dry, but our stash allows us to have enough to last 3 days if needed. i wash every second day and haven't really run out - i do have some extra flat nappies just in case.

i have also dried all her clothes in the same spot (poor DH lost his bar when the baby arrived lol) - and never had any real problems with cloths not being soft. we only have one actual wondersuit, only have target cheapies - but they all came out the same

[HollyC]

I know that you can soften things in the dryer by putting dry stuff in there with a damp face washer.

I'm not sure how you could get the same effect without a dryer... Maybe spray a bit of water on crunchy items and let them dry again?

[NaeNae]

I completely forgot about this thread

I just have to say thank you to you all for your wonderful suggestions and advice I have worked it out OK I think hehehehhee I rewashed those clothes in the old top loader that we use just for wool washes (the other cycles don't work) and I washed the crunchy clothes in some softly and I hung them on the clothes horse AWAY from the heater and they were nice and soft again so it looks like bubs clothes will be washed in the softly in the old machine. I can throw towels etc in with them so thats not too bad, the machine just uses more water than the front loader.

As for the nappies, I only wash them in the Eco/Aware stuff because I know normal detergents etc are not good for the MCN's.

Ohhh I have also brought some Lux flakes and some Lectric Soda to trial in the top loader, I think the lectric soda should be ok in the front loader provided its dissolved first.

Vinigar works wonders in our water too but I am out of that and keep forgetting to buy it when I go shopping.

Thanks again everyone - we'll get there ........ eventually I am sure there will be lots of dumb questions coming up over the coming months

Nae x x x x