So frustrated! Please help. :(

brenwick

I can NOT get rid of ammonia in my diapers!

Here is what I've tried {as advised from my cloth diaper dealer}:

1 tbsp of Dawn in a hot wash, rinsed until no Dawn smell. {I checked for suds but I never did see any.}

DIDN'T WORK

So I took a few diapers did a 2 hours soak in hot water with 1tbsp. of Crunchy Clean. After the soak I took Dawn and scrubbed each insert, cover, and AIO with a scrub brush, and let soak for another couple of hours in hot water. I did a rinse in my washer, then a wash with 1 tbsp of Crunchy Clean. Then I rinsed, rinsed, rinsed until I smelled nothing. I hung everything to dry.

DIDN'T WORK

My diapers don't smell like anything until my little one pee's. Then it burns my nose, and I'm really worried of ammonia burns on his bum.

I have mostly BG 4.0's, and elementals with a few kawaii's, GroVia AIO's and a couple WAHM pockets. I have a top loader, but it's HE and "acts" like a front loader. I have hard water. The problems started when I tried switching to Tide. I am now switching back to Crunchy Clean, but I feel like I've ruined my diapers.

If anyone has anything else I can try please let me know!

StellarStina26

You could be using too much tide?  I do different sized loads of diapers all the time and every once and a while I get smell when I don't wait for enough of them.  

I bleach once a month - that takes care of it for me.

Some ladies recommend vinegar. 

NC112

Have you tried a soak in Rockin' Green?  It helped us get past it a while ago... also, I determined I wasn't using enough detergent for some of my larger loads of diapers.  I also sunned my diapers more this summer which seemed to help reduce my need to strip them.

brenwick

I only used Tide once, 1tbsp., but obviously didn't rinse well enough, I'm back to Crunchy Clean, but can't get rid of the ammonia for a fresh start.

I'd like to try bleach. is it safe on colored covers and all in ones?

I read that vinegar is not good for hard water and that it can actually make ammonia and build up worse. Does anyone have any experience with vinegar and hard water?

brenwick

NC112:

Have you tried a soak in Rockin' Green?  It helped us get past it a while ago... also, I determined I wasn't using enough detergent for some of my larger loads of diapers.  I also sunned my diapers more this summer which seemed to help reduce my need to strip them.

I'm thinking of trying the Rockin' Green Funk Rock with the "ammonia bouncer". I was hoping to find a solution that I can do right away instead of having to wait for it to arrive lol. {I'm impatient I suppose.}

Nikki1007

You can use bleach on all that. In fact BG recommends using bleach once a month. I have bleached my PUL diapers and inserts and everything was fine.  Just make sure you rinse a ton.  I just got my Funk Rock in the mail yesterday.  I will hope it works.  I think my kids pee is just toxic!

dcnm

You should definitely try a strip with RLR if you have hard water.  You can get it in small packets at momsmilkboutique.  I buy giant canisters on ebay and use it once per month or so to get the minerals and buildup out of my diapers and clothes.  I have super hard water and I find my diapers and clothes get cleaner if I also dissolve the detergent in a cup of hot water before adding it to the wash.  The hard water keeps the detergent from dissolving in the wash.

You can also check your supermarket laundry aisle for Calgon water softener. It helps your detergent work properly in hard water. 

ColoRxGirl

I've also heard not to use vinegar with hard water (which I have), but it works great. I started adding a 1/2 cup to the soak and then another 1/2 cup to the wash and the dipes smell much better. Funk Rock did absolutely nothing - but I like the RNG detergent.

RouensDream

I would add 2 capfulls of bleach to your next wash with the detergent. Let it fill up with hot water a bit before adding the dipes. Then after the cycle, rinse, rinse, rinse. I think Microfiber just tends to stink more. I'm starting to be over mine. I like my hemp and bamboo inserts so much more.

PhotoCat82

I would also recommend using RLR if you have hard water.  I used it for the first time a couple of days ago and it helped tremendously!  I purchased the individual packets from Moms Milk Boutique but will probably order the large canister off of ebay.

schenkertobe

Maybe you aren't rinsing with enough water, so you are dealing with urine residue ? Try adding a few towels maybe to add more bulk to your load of diapers and get more water in the rinse and/or do extra rinses.

GoBadgers

I was in your spot. Col months back. Do you have a delicate cycle??? Try doing rinses using it until you don't see suds. I never even had to open my rocking green once it arrived. Rinses with water did the trick.

emsrdh03

We have very hard water and suffered with ammonia problems for months.  I tried everything.  Dawn.  RLR.  Funk Rock.  Rockin' Green.  Crunchy Clean.  Thirsties Wash.  BioKleen BacOut.  Vinegar.  Baking Soda.  Literally, EVERYTHING.  Yet nothing worked.

What finally did the trick for me was lots and lots (and lots) of hot washes to rinse everything out.  I then switched to powdered Tide and added an extra hot rinse in my wash routine. (Cold prewash, Hot Wash/Cold rinse with Tide, Hot wash/cold rinse)

brenwick

Thank you so much everyone! I will be trying several different things you all have suggested. I hope something works!