Is some smell normal?

ktpaladino

We are in week 4 of CDing and I've noticed an odor on my diapers. It's not really what I would qualify as "stinky" yet. Not really a barnyard or ammonia smell, or a poop or pee smell....just kind of like an organic kind of smell. Is it coming from the natural fibers? I feel like it's in the synthetics as well, but the worst on my Gro Via AIOs and GMD workhorses. Should the diaper smell like the detergent when you sniff them after being cleaned? I use Tiny Bubbles and they don't really smell fresh after they are washed...I guess it is hard to explain. They don't smell good like my normal clothing smells when it comes out of the washer/dryer. Just wondering if some sort of smell is normal, or perhaps they aren't getting clean enough or are starting to have some build up issues already. (Although this smell has been there since week 1, just that it's getting more noticable IMO) I asked DH if he thought they smelled and he couldn't smell it so maybe I am just being paranoid. It is worse after she pees in the diaper. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Chichigo

Your diapers shouldn't smell once cleaned. What's your wash routine? What type of washer?
I wouldn't trust my husband's nose-he is immune to the stench of poop and rotten food.

blondolphn

What is your exact wash routine?

TJ1979

I think my diapers have a specific smell. But I have almost all one type. The fact that different types of dipes smell the same makes me wonder.

ktpaladino

Warm rinse, hot wash, cold extra rinse. 3/4 a scoop of Tiny Bubbles for 9 AIO's and 6 newborn workhorses w/ covers. None to very little bubbles present on final spin.

ktpaladino

TJ1979 said:

I think my diapers have a specific smell. But I have almost all one type. The fact that different types of dipes smell the same makes me wonder.

This is what worries me as well. I'm wondering if I am just used to my clothes smelling a little fresher because I use dryer sheets within my regular laundry, but not with my CD laundry.

YellowLily2013

The dryer sheets would make a huge difference in smell IMO.

They should smell like nothing. If they smell like something other than that you may want to try and adjust your wash routine. That isn't very many diapers, maybe you're using too much water and they aren't getting enough agitation to get clean?

YellowLily2013

Also, if its newborn diapers you can do a cool initial rinse, a warm rinse is usually recommended later for dealing with ammonia, which should be an issue with a little one.

bumpuser5078523

Do they smell musty? Mine will get that if I don't get them dried right away and they sit damp.

ktpaladino

YellowLily2013 said:

The dryer sheets would make a huge difference in smell IMO.

They should smell like nothing. If they smell like something other than that you may want to try and adjust your wash routine. That isn't very many diapers, maybe you're using too much water and they aren't getting enough agitation to get clean?

Forgot to mention it's a HE machine, sorry

ktpaladino

doeie04 said:

Do they smell musty? Mine will get that if I don't get them dried right away and they sit damp.

Ehh, maybe that's a little bit of what it is. I would describe the smell as "earthy" if I had to pick a word I guess LOL. I don't ever let them sit in the washer damp, but it takes two dryer cycles to get them completely dry and I do one before bed, then finish them off in the morning. So they sit overnight in a very very slightly damp state (like just where the elastic is on the workhorses, and inside the pockets on my Simplex) Guess I will stop doing that and see if it makes a difference.

ElleBeeDub

ktpaladino said:

Do they smell musty? Mine will get that if I don't get them dried right away and they sit damp.

Ehh, maybe that's a little bit of what it is. I would describe the smell as "earthy" if I had to pick a word I guess LOL. I don't ever let them sit in the washer damp, but it takes two dryer cycles to get them completely dry and I do one before bed, then finish them off in the morning. So they sit overnight in a very very slightly damp state (like just where the elastic is on the workhorses, and inside the pockets on my Simplex) Guess I will stop doing that and see if it makes a difference.

This would make sense. When I was still air-drying in my basement, I would occasionally get this type of smell if my diapers took more than a day to dry.

freezorburn

It might be a good idea to vacuum/brush out your dryer ducts, just to make sure your machine is working at its best.

Rrrrrachel

Throwing a dry towel in also helps dry time a lot, if you want to try that before you can get your hands on any dryer balls.

ktpaladino

Chickypoo2468 said:

Oh but also, you said it's getting more noticeable. So it's getting worse?

I'm not sure if it's getting worse or I'm getting more paranoid haha.

bumpuser5078523

I dry mine on one regular cycle (they are pretty damp after that) and then a one hour cycle on ultra low. I have been leaving all my covers and pockets in to dry.

Before that, I would do one regular dry cycle and pull all my covers and pockets out, then do two more regular cycles. It was annoying. And I'm lazy.

bumpuser5078523

Because I'm lazy. (Insert blushy face here)