Smelly Cloth Diapers

http://www.vinegartips.com/Scripts/pageViewSec.asp?id=8

vinegar is inexpensive and seems to be the trick for a load of problems. Clothes lines come in a roll (about the size of a dinner plate, with plastic covering ) that you can hang on one side of the grage, back yard, laundary room or where ever, and take the line and hook it on a nail across the room.

White vinegar in the wash then hang them in the sun to dry. The sun is not only free, but will bleach out the stains. The sun even worked getting orange popsicle out ot a white dress!

Hi T.,

I know a very gentle detergent that will clean, disinfect AND smell good. It is based on natural enzymes so it breaks down the odor and gets rid of it, not just covers it. It should also be fine for your husband as well. We have only used one detergent in our home for years because it works for infants, elderly and even diesel mechanics! It's cost is anywhere from 5 cents to 20 cents per extra large load depending on how much you buy.

I get it online and can refer you to the company if you're interested.

M.

We do use vinegar in the rinse cycle and have found it to be very helpful as we have never had a stinky problem. We also use Arm and Hammer washing soda which was recommeneded by our doctor to get them clean and not irritate the skin. As for the main detergent we use tide free and clear. The vinegar and washing soda are super cheap so that helps with the budget. We have been cloth diapering both our children, the oldest is two and those produts have been working well for us!

are you washing them seperatly? so they are not mixing with regular laundry..rinse them out as soon as you take them off the LO. use HOT water ring out really well, and wash them everyday. after you rinse them and ring them out let them soak until you wash, try using oxyclean to soak them in. I know it sounds weird to rinse them out and then soak them, but there is a method to my madness..It's to get all of the urine out or the "mud". I hope this helps. good luck (get a bucket from Home depot to soak them in and only use 1/2 scoop of OC) also if you can dry tem in the sun it does take more time to dry but that might also help.

Definitely strip the inserts periodically. I would guess that they weren't prepped properly before you started using them. However, definitely don't use any boosters (and all Tide products are out) as they leave a residue and this holds on to the odor. If you can find Charlie's Soap, it works out to be very economical each load (less than 20 cents/load). I also am very sensitive and I use it for all my laundry. Do some quick math to see how that compares with your A&H.

I know that the detergents you are using aren't recommended for cloth diapers. We use country save and are also on a VERY tight budget, but it's really inexpensive and you use like a tsp. a wash, so it lasts forever. The reason for using specific detergents is that some use enzymes which break down the diapers, others have additives that stay on the diaper which could be the reason for your smell. Line drying is the best for anything because the sun kills bacteria that the wash may not have gotten out, and it also helps with stains. I've also heard that using vinegar in the rinse cycle helps with smell...google it! :) Good luck

Hi T.! What do the diapers smell like after she pees? If they have a strong urine smell, I would warn against the vinegar rinse method that was suggested to you because that can make the smell problem worse. If it is a strong ammonia smell then the vinegar rinse will help out, just remember to do a second rinse after the vinegar rinse. BUT, if you have all-in-one diapers vinegar can actually do dammage to certain materials and it may not be a good option for you. You might want to call the makers of the diaper to ask if it is safe to use vinegar on them....We used fuzzi bunz and they said "no vinegar!"
I can tell you have had a ton of responses, but if you are doing the typical diaper washing method (cold rinse first, then hot wash and extra rinse) it all comes down to what detergent you are going to use. It sounds to me like you have a build up problem. You said you are using Arm and Hammer detergent and that may be part of the problem depending on what kind of Arm and Hammer you are using...the detergent you use can make a huge difference (we learned that the hard way!) "Free and Clear" detergents are some of the worst because they cause bad build up problems. We started using a "free and clear" and our diapers were so loaded with all the additives that they started to repel liquid! We tried Charlies soap which was highly recommended but were VERY unsuccessful with it and our newborn baby ended up getting horrible burn like rashes on her hiney due to complications related to Charlies Soap. I am sure it is great soap, but it isn't for everyone! We ended up buing a case (4 boxe) of Country Save on Amazon.com and it has lasted for 2 years and we are almost all done with diapers here for a while (until baby #2 arrives next year!) Here is a website that breaks down detergents and how they are rated for diapers. http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html
If you have a good detergent that does not have any additives (like Country Save) then you never have to "strip" your diapers as there is no reason to. It is also important to remember that if you find a truly good detergent that doesn't cause build up problems, then you have to use that for every load of laundry you do...if you use anything else, you will have build up in your washer that will get on the diapers, thus never getting rid of the original problem!
Also, do you have hard water? That can cause build up and stinky diapers. If you have hard water you may want to try a water softner like Calgon.
Or is it a mildew smell? My SIL had this problem and I always encouraged her to dry her diapers in the sun to help the problem. I highly recommend drying your diapers in the sun! Like a few other people said it gets out stains as well as smells! It depends on what kind of diaper you are using if they will be stiff or not from drying outside...if they are a all in one with fleece, they will be soft, but if they are basic prefolds they will be a little crispy...just throw them in the drier for a few minutes and it softens them up a bit!
And finally, if it is a lingering poopy smell then all you need to do is make sure to rinse and soak a poop diaper really well before throwing it in the diaper pail!
Good luck and let us know what happens!!
-M.

If the smell occurs after the pee hits them, you are using too much detergent. You need to strip the diapers and then use less detergent, and add an extra rinse. Yes, it's really that simple.

Hi T.,
I had this problem awhile back. It may take a few cycles to get rid of the odor. Here's what I did: wash diapers seperate from other laundry. Wash no more than 2 1/2 dozen diapers at a time. On largest setting do a cold water rinse. Then wash on hot with 1/2 amount of detergent and 1/8 cup or so of baking soda. Do a cold water rinse with vinegar in the fabric softner cup or a downy ball. Do an extra cold water rinse. Dry in dryer for only about 10 - 15 minutes (doesn't dry them completely but helps them stay softer than completely line drying), then dry them in the sun. On hot days they dry pretty quickly, not so hot days take longer, this even works on overcast days, the sun helps disinfect and remove order.
I've read that baking soda and vinegar aren't best for regular use so I only do this when there are odor problems. I've also read that you can use bleach on inserts and prefolds, but it can harm diapers so I'd only do it once.
I would change detergents. I know that many of the detergents recommended for cloth diapers are expensive but I've had good luck with Sun Free and Clear and it's inexpensive. Maybe you can switch detergents for the diaper laundry only. Check out the detergent comparison chart at www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com and www.diaperjungle.com to see how your regular detergent compares and get ideas of what may work well for you.
Best Wishes, K.

Might be a couple of things going on:

Use the Arm & Hammer Free & Clear Essentials. It's readily available and diaper approved. **Use only about a tablespoon for a full load**. With diapers a little detergent goes a long way. Don't use the Tide stuff. You could use just a small amount of Sun Oxygen laundry booster but again just a small, small amount. If you have hard water you can use 1/4 cap full of Calgon water softener about once every 2 weeks when doing a load.

Also, because you bought used you may need to strip the inserts. I had to do that with all my BG inserts a while back because we were having the stinky problems. I boiled them in a big pot on the stove for 10 minutes I think it was, then washed them and that fixed the smell problem.

Are you running a cold wash/rinse prior to your hot wash/rinse? A cold pre-rinse or wash will also help get the diapers cleaner. Then use a hot wash/rinse with your tiny amount of detergent and then a hot second rinse.

I have been cloth diapering for 2 years and have never used vinegar, baking soda, etc. Those can be hard on your diapers and will cause them to wear out faster. Bleach will do the same. I have bleached a few times and doing so every few months or if the babies have a tummy bug is fine. Just not on a routine basis.

Washing every other day is perfectly fine. And I know line drying would save energy and probably some $ but I hate the way the diapers feel. They are so stiff. I wouldn't want that on my tushy so I won't do that to baby!. Just make sure you thoroughly dry in the dryer. Your covers are best line dried though for longevity.

I started cloth to save money too and it really has been a huge $$ saver!

With each load, add 1/2 cup plain white vinegar in the fabric softener spot on your washer . The vinegar neutralizes the urine smell and all the laundry smells better.

I came on here to answer you with wise vinegar information but I see that it is well covered. We use vinegar for stinky stuff and still use the dryer. The reason I still decided to make a comment after seeing that the same info had been shared is to let you know that if you try soaking the diapers in baking soda, don't ALSO use vinegar. Ever seen one of those home made volcanoes? The eruption is a chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar. I suggest finding the one you like separately and stick to it.

I do not believe that Arm and Hammer (with baking soda) detergent will have the same reaction if you use the liquid but if you use the powder, I'd do a little test run over the sink by mixing some vinegar into a small amount with a rubber spatula or something.. If it bubbles up a lot, you don't want to mix a bunch together in your washer. I have an older washer that does not have the different compartments that you put detergent, softener, and bleach so I put it in at the same time as my liquid detergent, right into the water. You can also take the ones that are stinky and soak them all in a container of vinegar and them run them through the wash.

If you ever accidentally leave a load in the washer too long and it gets that mildew smell, you can rerun with vinegar to get rid of it. It works best if you have actually dried the clothes as well before rerunning but it isn't necessary unless they have been in there for a while. Good luck and well done choosing to use cloth diapers!

Hi T.,

You've received some great advice about laundering so far. I can think of a few bits to add...

I notice that my daughter's urine has a much stronger odor when she's not drinking enough liquids throughout the day, especially in her night time diaper. It might be worth trying to increase her liquid consumption.

Don't bother trying to line dry cloth diapers. They are so absorbent that it can take forever for them to dry. (Although, an occasional line dry in direct sunlight can bleach out solids stains.)

You don't seem to want to change detergents, but I thought I'd add one recommendation to the list. I do use Charlie's Soap (http://www.charliesoap.com/). It's supposed to be great for sensitive skin, and costs around $10 for an 80 load bag of powder (which lasts me several months). You just use a little, and it works better than some of the others I've tried. Our local Whole Foods carries it in stock, and Charlie's website usually has free shipping for buying two at a time.

Good luck!

We have the stink issue too. Honestly the absolute only thing that worked for us was Rockin' Green Detergent. http://rockingreensoap.3dcartstores.com/Samples_c_8.html You can get the samples for $.75 each. I would really recommend getting at least two samples. Soak all your diapers overnight, then wash as normal, without detergent. If that doesn't work (it didn't with us) do another overnight soak and wash as normal with out detergent. Stop using the Tide booster. Tide is NOT safe for cloth diapers. I'm not really sure if Arm and Hammer is "safe" either. I make my own detergent. It's really really easy and super crazy cheap. http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html

You can try stripping your diapers too. Use some regular Dawn dish detergent in your wash and keep washing until the water isn't soapy anymore. I would say maybe use about 2 Tbs (a total guess) of Dawn. You'll have to wash them a lot to get the soap out. I think it took me a good 7 HOT washes.

Line dry if you possibly can. Sun bleaching does wonders for killing the bacteria in the diapers.

Do you have hard water? If so, get a bottle of Calgon Water Softener and use it with your regular detergent.

You can also try vinegar in the wash. Or baking soda. I've even done and Oxi-Clean soak over night. If you soak in anything, you'll just want to soak your inserts, fitteds, or pre-folds, NOT your covers. Prolonged exposure to water and detergent can ruin your covers. That said, when I did my first soak with Rockin' Green I soaked everything overnight.. I didn't the second time.

Now, for your regular wash routine.... Do one cold rinse, no detergent, use LOTS of water. Then do a HOT wash (Warm or hot rinse if you can, if not, cold is fine) with 1/3 the amount of detergent recommended for a regular wash. I personally do another cold rinse after the wash. Sometimes I'll even do two washes in HOT with detergent. I've found that I don't have to do an extra wash with the Rockin' Green. I would suggest maybe using the Rockin' Green once or twice a month. You wouldn't have to use it every time. I know it's very pricey.

Check out www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com They have a TON of washing tips. I think a lot of it is trial and error. We've been using cloth for almost two years total and I've tried a lot of different things.

Let me know if you have any more questions! I LOVE cloth :)

I would try pre-soaking them in baking soda and water. I always recommend line drying outside for all clothing. You would be amazed how much you could save financially and environmentally by doing this. The sun is a natural bleaching source. For bright and dark clothes make sure you turn them inside out if line drying outdoors. Good luck.

L.