Cloth diapers -- germs in washing machine?

erin2345 · August 2009

I want to try CD but my BF is really against it. He is a bit of a germ freak and he thinks the poopy diapers are going to contaminate our washing machine. I tried to google this to find some answers on the germs/bacteria but I am having no luck. Can anyone help me out?

CABunny · August 2009

I don't have a scientific answer for you, but we don't have poop on our clothes and we don't get any sicker (or get sick any more often) than anyone else I know.

Maybe someone else will have an official answer for you, but that's all I've got!

mrs.a.butler · August 2009

you are gong to be washing poop and pee on clothes as well...it's inevitable. and vomit. I can ffind pics of poopsplosions for you to show him if you would like

the heat of the water and the detergent helps kill germs

ETA: I should say its inevitable...some are lucky...but I think most people have at least one incident with poop on clothes!!

smurfetteinred · August 2009

Washing machines and the detergents that you use in them are for getting clothes clean. They're designed for cleaning. Not to mention - if you use disposables (or have a kid at all) poop and pee are going in your machine whether you like it or not. We had blowouts weekly (probably more in the first couple months) in disposables and unless you want to buy a whole new wardrobe monthly - those clothes, sheets, towels, your clothes all have to get clean.

My husband is a germaphobe and he's not bothered at all by the washing machine. It's just as clean now as it was before we started using cloth.

MrsLeslie030405 · August 2009

Using the hot cycle helps kill off bacteria and also... you realize your undies have poop germies too right?

Lady Galadriel · August 2009

My thinking is babies get poop on their clothes and us when tiny. Also, hot water and soap kill germs last time I checked. Thats why doctors wash up before procedures.

I could be wrong though.

triumphantreturnofplanningbug · August 2009

smurfetteinred:
Washing machines and the detergents that you use in them are for getting clothes clean. They're designed for cleaning.

This.

breech · August 2009

i dont think the washer gets and poopier than when you would poot a poopy onsie in ther if you used sposies. BUT tide just came out with a washing maching cleaner... maybe pick up some of that, and use it if hes really that freaked out

OneSimpleMom · August 2009

Sure - the washing machine gets a lot of poop and germs in it. But not any more than you would with a baby in disposables...since their poop gets everywhere anyways. Think about all the yuckies that go in there even without a baby! I do think it's important (epsecially w./ a FL) to periodically clean the washing machine (ours has a special cycle) with some sort of disinfectant. I've been using the hydrogen peroxide/ citric acid mix that Publix sells. I think that before having a baby I was a germophobe too, but once you have a little one peeing, pooping, and spitting up on you constantly, you start to realize that it's just a part of life!

GladToBeMrs.SRS · August 2009

If you wash underwear or clothes in your washing machine, there are poop and coliform bacteria in it already.

Sorry, but poop is everywhere.

jen5-03 · August 2009

Tell him not to suck on his clothing and he'll be ok. Wink

Poop is a fact of life. All his clothes have been washed with poop particles already unless he only uses disposable underwear.

SWBs Wifey · August 2009

Vinegar is an excellent disinfectant... spray some into the wash after each load. VOILA! Killed any germies that weren't killed by the super hot water or detergent.

erin2345 · August 2009

lol at the 'sucking on his clothes' comment above! Great points ladies, I am going to keep trying to convince him. The washing machine cleaner product is a good idea too.

Thanks!

GladToBeMrs.SRS · August 2009

If he really resists, just buy a spray bottle and fill it with a 10% bleach solution. A squirt of that, and nothing can live. It's what we used in the microbiology lab where we propagated e. coli and s. aureus.

ElloPoppet · August 2009

Marking to show Hubby & MIL...

Also, I've used the washing machine cleaner from Tide in my FL - seems to work, I didn't really notice a change. Just nice and fresh My washer also has a "cleaning" cycle where I think you just put bleach only in the tray & run it empty. Might do that between poo loads & adult clothes loads.

MawrtyrB · August 2009

That was DH's major objection too. He's adjusted. Take a firm stand. There's alot of info online. It's actually better for the environment becuase the poop is going into waste water where it belongs.

Dobie_Mama · August 2009

GladToBeMrs.SRS:
If you wash underwear or clothes in your washing machine, there are poop and coliform bacteria in it already.
Sorry, but poop is everywhere.

This. You've heard the thing about fecal coliform on toothbrushes, right? Poop happens.

SapphyrEyes · August 2009

The diapers are being washed on hot. So no germs. Plus, if your kid blows out in disposables which is definitely guaranteed to be numerous times on a daily basis are you going to throw out every single outfit that gets poop on it or are you going to wash it? If you throw it away you're going to be out of clothes really quickly.

CABunny · August 2009

SapphyrEyes:
The diapers are being washed on hot. So no germs. Plus, if your kid blows out in disposables which is definitely guaranteed to be numerous times on a daily basis are you going to throw out every single outfit that gets poop on it or are you going to wash it? If you throw it away you're going to be out of clothes really quickly.

My neighbor's DS is PL and they throw out every pair of underwear that gets poo on it. =( I was really nice and non-judgmental about it, but I did have to comment to them about it.

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