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Are diapers ever just too far from saving?

goodheartedmommygoodheartedmommy member
in Eco-Friendly Family

I cannot get rid of the ammonia. I've been doing this for 2.5 years, and have not ever had the problems I have in this house. They are now so bad that they have burned blisters on her, so we're in disposables.

I'm really not sure what to do. I'm not down with sticking with sposies, but I don't think I can save my diapers at this point. I'm strongly considering getting rid of what I have (they are pretty much ruined--tons of money put into these diapers, and most have large holes from so much washing and stripping). 

The problem is...I don't know that getting new diapers will solve anything. I'm hoping someone will say that my diapers are what is hopeless. I will keep my covers and replace with 36 prefolds and all cotton doublers. I'm not interested in having any fibers besides cotton, as I think a lot of my problem started with hemp/microfiber. 

I honestly have tried everything to get these diapers back in good condition, and it's just not working. I'm frustrated beyond belief with them. 

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Re: Are diapers ever just too far from saving?

  • goodheartedmommygoodheartedmommy member
    Okay, I think I'm just going to order some flats and some doublers. Flats are super easy to get clean, and not a huge investment.
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  • Dobie_MamaDobie_Mama
    Yeah, if they're getting holes from trying to fix them, and they still aren't fixed, I think they're most likely a lost cause.  Flats + doublers sounds like a good plan.  I hope you have better luck with them!
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  • tommigirletommigirle

    have you tried the vinegar soak with your diapers? my dd also got ammonia burn blisters and now we have no ammonia problems whatsoever. stripping did nothing--it was the build up of ammonia salts in our diapers, not detergent that was causing the problem and it was affecting our natural fibers (bamboo & hemp), prefolds and a couple of microfiber diapers. even extensive stripping cannot remove the ammonia build-up in the diapers--the dawn is for combating the detergent only. 

    i soaked them in 3/4 gallon of vinegar overnight and washed as usual, adding the rest of the gallon of vinegar to the final rinse. now i soak her nighttime diapers in water and a splash of vinegar every morning when i take them off of her as a preventative measure. you can read more about it here: https://valleygirlhasbabygoescrunchy.blogspot.com/2009/10/when-cloth-diapering-goes-bad.html 

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  • HippinskiHippinski
    How are you stripping them?
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  • goodheartedmommygoodheartedmommy member

    I've done everything. I've soaked with vinegar, I've washed with bleach, I've soaked with bleach, I've washed with baking soda, I've pour boiling water in (and have my hot water heater up all the way), I've switched detergents a gazillion times.

    Seriously, these diapers are helpless. I've posted here so many times, along with having help of some friends (one whom owns a cloth diaper store here in town). It's either my water in this house or the diapers are just so bad that they can't be fixed. I'm hoping it's the diapers and not the water, because otherwise the new diapers I get are going to go downhill fast, too.

    BTW, everyone I know that cloth diapers here has frequent problems with their diapers. Our town has extremely hard water--in fact, I'm pretty sure we have the largest amount of kidney stone patients for the same reason. It's bad. 

    But like I said I've been doing this for a few years, and have always been able to fix problems. This has been ongoing since February when we moved into this house. 

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  • HippinskiHippinski
    I'm guessing the RLR & Dawn trick too. :(  If not I think I'd give it one more try and then I'd add Calgon to your wash routine.  I think I would also switch to Planet or Tide for detergent.
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  • goodheartedmommygoodheartedmommy member

    I've tried calgon, I've tried planet and tide, I've tried combinations of both, I've tried them with bleach or with dawn, I've tried it all in every combination possible. I'm terrified of RLR because I had 2 friends try it (that live here) and it made things so much worse for them.

    I always had great luck with Tide at our old house, and I could use it for awhile here as long as I rinsed 7 or 8 times. But it didn't take long for all the stink to start.

    Really I'm ready to just move out of this stinking house! 

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  • HippinskiHippinski
    I swear by the RLR & Dawn combo.  But you gotta do what feels right for you.  I'd just hate to see you invest a ton of $$ in new diapers only to have the same problem. :(
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  • goodheartedmommygoodheartedmommy member

    imageHippinski:
    I swear by the RLR & Dawn combo.  But you gotta do what feels right for you.  I'd just hate to see you invest a ton of $$ in new diapers only to have the same problem. :(

    I'm just ordering flats...$15/dozen, and then 1 dozen preemie prefolds at $14/dozen, so I won't be out too much if it doesn't work out. 

    I don't want to get back into fitteds and AIOs and stuff. Just not worth it. I can't deal with these. And I'll be super bummed if it happens to these, but flats are the easiest diapers to clean from what I understand, so hopefully it won't be an issue. 

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  • suzymariesuzymarie

    Do you have a diaper service in your area?  There is one here that will strip your dipes for 25$.  To me that is well worth it for a last ditch attempt.  I think they have industrial washers that get suuuuuper hot, and I have heard only amazing things about getting them "professionally" stripped.

    After that I would do flats, and use an additional flat as a doubler rather than buying special doublers.  Check out Little Lions seconds- I think they were the cheapest when I was looking.

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