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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 Tide powder, with an extra rinse and an occasional bleaching.
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!
Giveaway: I have another 45/90 load bag of Rockin’ Green Classic Rock Mighty Mighty Marshmallow scent and a full-size bag of Funk Rock to give away. Combined retail value is $26.90.
Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below. Mandatory entries are name & email address. Optional bonus entry for following this blog. Just like last time, you pick GFC, RSS, Email, “like” me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. I want you to choose what will get you to come back and keep reading! Especially with 5 days of huge giveaways coming up with the Merry Fluffy Christmas Event and several more diaper giveaways after that! I will accept entries until Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 at 9:00 P.M. Eastern. I will select a winner using random.org’s true random number generator and notify him/her by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is chosen. View my giveaway rules page for complete details. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.I love comments, but comments do not count as entries. Feel free to comment about detergent/wash routines, or just to remind yourself that you entered! Post will be updated daily with the # of entries received.
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
https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dEtuMktfbHZOUXd3WWxoOGNRS2V4cWc6MQ
FTC compliance: I paid normal retail prices for all items, I was not compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.
Maria wants to live in a world where cloth diapers are the norm and moms can make parenting choices without judgement. When she’s not chasing her 18, 14 and 11-year old kids around, you might find her checking out the latest gadgets, organizing something (again) or exercising in the fresh air. 
>RnG definitely seems to be the ticket for a lot of people with hard water!!
>I very much agree with what you said about different washing routines working for different people. We have hard water and when I switched to Rockin Green it was wonderful. We were having serious problems with ammonia and were using a detergent rated highly recommended for CDs. When I started using Rockin Green the stink gradually began to fade. We're still not 100% stink free but I just ordered a bag of Funk rock so I'll have to see how that works out for me.
>Carrie, I honestly feel guilty about the lack of green-ness of Tide, but without it, I might not be able to make CD'ing work. So I figure using cloth cancels out the Tide, LOL.The gray water system sounds awesome!! Love it. You might want to try the Funk Rock, it might fix things for you.Becca, you're exactly right, I'm glad you guys are able to understand that I'm not saying it's bad just because it doesn't work for me 🙂
>What a great giveaway and I love the honesty as well. Not every product works for every individual–especially in terms of laundry–but that doesn't make it a bad product!
>I love this review – So many review read like RnG is one seat over from the Almighty Himself. Like you say, just because it doesn't work for you doesn't mean that it won't work for others, and vice versa. I've been using RnG for a couple of months, and even with RnG, I have a relatively persistent funky smell. Better than it used to be, but not perfect. I'm on the fence about trying Tide. My diapers are all out of warranty so no loss there. I'm just stuck on wanting a "green" detergent since my house has a gray water system that flushes the laundry water onto the lawn! Oh, choices…
>Thanks for the giveaway and I so appreciate the honesty!
>I'm in! Thanks for the chance!
>Rockin Green does not work for me either. In fact, I never had problems with ammonia until I decided to try it! I wish I never had!
>Edie, if it's working for you, awesome! There are SO MANY people that Rockin' Green works for! If it wasn't going to work for you, you'd know!
>Oh, now I'm worried! After using the samples of Rockin Green hard rock that you sent me, my diapers were smelling much better – still not perfect, but much improved. So I went ahead and ordered a bag of detergent and a bag of the Funk Rock. Haven't got them yet, but now I'm scared it's going to make the situation worse!!