Hi! I saw all the replies to another cloth diapering question and thought that maybe someone out there would have an answer to mine. I have been using prefolds on my two kids since the beginning. My problem is odor especially with my son's diapers. I do all the cold, multiple hot washing and extra rinsing. I use very small amounts of soap. I have tried Bac-out. Smaller loads. Sun drying when possible. Everything I have read and nothing seems to be helping. What puzzels me is that his diapers are newer than hers (he has toddler size now) yet it is his that smell, but not until he wets. It it his urine? I'm at a loss as to what to do. Any suggestions? Thank you so very much!
Hi K.,
What detergent are you using? Are there soap bubbles in the rinse? You might try a different detergent or a Dawn stripping. I've been using Country Save and have really liked it. Feel free to give me a call, if you need more help ###-###-####.
A. Mann
Denver Diaper Co.
This is what has worked for us:
rinse diapers well.
soak in a pail of water with a little vinegar and borax in between washings. I know it is the old way, but I have tried dry bags and I don't think it works as well.
dump the diapers and soak into the washer, spin out liguid.
wash in cold with a little soap, I like Bio-Kleen, and I use vinegar in the rinse cycle.
wash in hot, same as cold, soap/vinegar.
rinse with clean water one more time, no soap/vinegar.
once a month I use 1\4c. bleach in the first wash just to make sure that all the bacteria and enzymes that may still be there are gone!
I hope this helps a little.
Hi, I used cloth diapers for only a short time, but I want to try to clarify your question a little bit. I was wondering what "that smell" is. Is it ammonia as someone else noted? If it is, there won't be any reason to read further. I wanted to touch on something that hadn't been noted.
The first thing that came to my mind was a mildew smell. We have this problem with washcloths that we clean the kids up with after eating. The cloths would seem clean until we dampened them and we would experience a "smell." I thought with diapers also being damp, this could happen too. We would bleach on occasion and that would remove the smell for a few weeks. I really don't bleach, as I don't like the smell. Now we have a new washer with a sanitize setting. This has worked wonderfully. Now I know this is a new sort of option on machines, but the hot water treatment might work. You might have to do this in your sink or tub and add boiling water to the hot tap water. Tap water alone does not seem to get hot enough. I wish I had a time and temp to offer. If it is in fact mildew that you are experiencing, maybe someone else knows the details if done by hand.
I use 1 cup of regular vinegar in all my laundry and it gets out all the smells - from my daughter's breastmilk poopies to my husband's sweaty workout shirts and shorts. I usually get my vinegar at Costco cause it's about $3.50 for two large jugs, which lasts a long time! Good luck!
Usually when the diapers have a strong ammonia smell as soon as they are wet, that indicates that you have detergent residue. What detergent are you using, and how much? Here's a washing guide from the CD makers, with recommendations for detergents:
http://www.modernmommygear.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/r...
I would try Dawn dishsoap. Put a tablespoon or 2 in a hot wash with already clen diaper then rinse till all the sopa is gone. Hope that helps!
I know nothing about cloth diapers, but baking soda in a washer takes a lot smells out....as well as some white vinegar. But would they ruin your diapers?? you mention using little soap??
R.
To me, boys urine smells stronger. You might want to try using a little bleach in the pre-wash water. That's what my mom did. But she had all girls.
K.,
You probably need to try a different detergent, one with less residue. We have been using for Charlies Soap for about a year now and are really happy with it. The larger diapers are harder to rinse and can keep detergent in them easier. Before you switch you might try a lower water level for your rinses to increase the agitation of the diapers and if you can rinse in warm water. Good Luck.
If it is detergent residue, maybe our detergent could work. What works best for us is a homemade detergent I found somewhere online. It's 5 sqirts of Simple Green and a T of washing soda. We found both at Smith's.
VINEGAR! I just stripped the diapers, it didn't seem to work, but soaking/rinsing them in vinegar has negated the ammonia totally so far. It's only been a couple nights I'll really know by week's end.
Hi K.,
I totally understand what you are going through. We switched to a non-toxic brand of products that are safe for your kids but really work!! We use the melapower laundry detergent with solumel to cut through the odors. The products are amazing, their cheaper, and they are safe for your kids. If you have any more questions please visit www.livetotalwellness.com/wyn. I have to say that I was a customer for a year, loved the products so much, and wanted my products paid for, so I am a rep now.
Check out this great new website that may have the answer to your question: http://www.cloth-diapers-made-easy.com/
C. M., CBE, CLD
www.westsidebirthconnection.com
