Why no bleach?

ThatWasAHoot

Hey!  I've been CDing my kids for about 3 years now.  Honest question here....why shouldn't you use bleach? 
For a while, my toddlers diapers have smelled so bad.  I've done everything...stripped them with dawn, tried a new detergent, used less detergent, basically everything all of the websites say, I've tried it.  Basically the only thing that has worked is right after I use the dawn on them.  But only for one use.  After that, they smell again.  I wash them every other day.
So for like 2 months now, I've been using a bit of bleach each time on them.  They haven't changed at all besides the fact that they don't smell anymore! 

Also, any secrets to remove smell besides these things?

mrshudson618

Mostly because bleach wears down your diapers much faster, and because it usually doesn't fix anything, but masks a problem. Bleach will kill bacteria, but not actually REMOVE anything from the diapers if that makes sense.

mrshudson618

What is your wash routine/ water type/ current detergent?

Unknown

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sarenu1

I use BacOut on my toddlers diapers.  Especially if I let them go 3 days before washing.

ThatWasAHoot

Ooh okay!

I was using Rockin Green for a long time, but I really hated how it made my diapers smell!  So I switched to All Small And Mighty Free & Clear recently.

I have regular water

My wash cycle is
Cold rinse, drain, spin
Warm wash
Cold rinse, drain, spin (x2 if it is sudsy or anything)

I just got a new washing machine yesterday with a sanitize and power wash cycle.  So I am trying one of them right now.

Any other detergents that I can get at like Target that isn't Rockin Green if All Small and Mighty free and clear isn't good? 

Into+the+Kitty

Your problem is likely your detergent choices.

Into+the+Kitty

Also, don't use the sanitize cycle.

ThatWasAHoot

When they are dirty, they go into an open diaper pail.  I know that's kind of gross, but I don't want bacteria growing on wet dipes, so I keep it well ventilated!

My new washer is a Maytag front loader.
My old washer was a Maytag front loader, too.  But it was defective -_-

ThatWasAHoot

Okay, good to know!  No sanitize cycle.
Any recs for detergent?  I was thinking of the Seventh Gen.  Has anyone tried that?

nanabanana06

Yeah, try a different detergent and maybe do a warm wash before doing a hot wash with detergent.

TJ1979

First of all, you probably don't want to use the sanitize cycle. It's going to be too hot and will mess up the PUL and elastic.
Secondly lots of people have issues with both of those detergents. I would do a hot water strip to get all the detergent out. Then switch to original tide powder. Then let us know.
Finally, step away from the blue dawn. It's really only good for getting greasy stuff like non cd safe diaper cream off of diapers for spot cleaning. It's definitely not good for your machine.

ThatWasAHoot

Oh I can use original Tide powder? 
Thanks so much guys!  I will try all of these things!  :]

freezorburn

Here are a couple of popular detergent ratings charts. 

https://www.jilliansdrawers.com/resources/detergentsforclothdiapers

https://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/Articles.asp?ID=263

YellowLily2013

What kind of diapers are you using?

mrshudson618

Just make sure that you are starting fresh before you switch anything again. Do a hot water strip of at least 3-5 hot washes with no detergent to get rid of all the bleach, dawn, and detergent.

Toddler pee is harsh, so I agree with trying a warm rinse/ hot wash instead too.
I also second tide original powder, if you want something available at target.

ThatWasAHoot

BG 4.0 and freetimes, Alvas, FuzziBunz some Kawaii and Charlie Bananas

ThatWasAHoot

Ok so I will do several hot washes sans detergent before anything else.

What should my wash cycle look like?

nanabanana06

I'd do a warm regular or express wash, no detergent. Then a hot wash with detergent and an extra rinse.

SkyBee

I noticed you are only doing a warm wash..... I would do a hot wash. Hot water does a much better job on poop and pee.

ThatWasAHoot

Okay, thanks!  I will do a rinse, then a hot wash with no detergent, then a hot wash with detergent, then a couple of rinses!

mrshudson618

ThatWasAHoot said:

Okay, thanks!  I will do a rinse, then a hot wash with no detergent, then a hot wash with detergent, then a couple of rinses!

I'm not sure where you got this, but that is probably overkill. 

Like Nana said, warm wash as a rinse, hot wash, extra rinse. 

SkyBee

mrshudson618 said:

ThatWasAHoot said:

Okay, thanks!  I will do a rinse, then a hot wash with no detergent, then a hot wash with detergent, then a couple of rinses!

I'm not sure where you got this, but that is probably overkill. 

Like Nana said, warm wash as a rinse, hot wash, extra rinse. 

Yes this^ warm rinse, hot wash, extra rinse

ThatWasAHoot

Sorry, I meant to get the crap out of them!  lol

mrshudson618

ThatWasAHoot said:

Sorry, I meant to get the crap out of them!  lol

To do a hot water strip just wash 3 times on hot. NO detergent. Check for bubbles on the third, if there are bubbles keep washing on hot until they are gone.

Into+the+Kitty

mrshudson618 said:

ThatWasAHoot said:

Sorry, I meant to get the crap out of them!  lol

To do a hot water strip just wash 3 times on hot. NO detergent. Check for bubbles on the third, if there are bubbles keep washing on hot until they are gone.

But start with clean diapers, so wash them using your new detergent/routine, then do a hot water strip of several hot washes with no detergent.

mrshudson618

Into+the+Kitty said:

mrshudson618 said:

ThatWasAHoot said:

Sorry, I meant to get the crap out of them!  lol

To do a hot water strip just wash 3 times on hot. NO detergent. Check for bubbles on the third, if there are bubbles keep washing on hot until they are gone.

But start with clean diapers, so wash them using your new detergent/routine, then do a hot water strip of several hot washes with no detergent.

Oh right, you do need to get the literal crap out of them lol! I was reading that "crap" as in bleach and dawn an detergent build up!

ThatWasAHoot

Okay so thank you guys for your help!

I stripped the crap out of my diapers and started using original Tide powder.
My diapers have never smelled cleaner!  I am very happy and am very grateful for the advice!