I may give up cloth diapering

ninasc · September 2010

Because I cannot seem to strip my diapers properly and the smell is starting to get to me. They aren't so bad coming out of the dryer but as soon as Lukas pees, I can smell a very strong amonia smell.

We primarily use BG Organic AIOs and I followed the instruction on the Cotton Babies website (Original blue Dawn dish soap, bleach, lots of rinsing) but that didn't help at all.

I washed the diapers in three cycles with Charlie's Soap and then three cycles with just water. That helped for one use (diapers didn't smell so horribly when used) but they gor bad again after the next 'regular' washing (rinse cold, wash hot, extra rinse). I wash diapers every 2-3 days.

Any suggestions before I give up CDing? We had a good 8 months run and I really don't want to use disposables...

AlishaRichelle · September 2010

Do you have hard water?

pixy_stix · September 2010

I haven't had any experience with this, but a lot of people report great success with Original powdered Tide.

blissfully_caffeinated · September 2010

I'm no expert but a few things come to mind. How much detergent are you using? Do you use vinegar in your wash routine? I haven't stripped my diapers before but I've heard others comment that 3 washes was not enough. When you washed were there still bubbles?

Maybe you could try switching detergent and stripping again. I've heard that adding vinegar to your wash routine if you don't use it or cutting it out if you do can help with the smell. I'd also try using less detergent.

nsees · September 2010

The only other thing I can offer is that there are specific instructions related to ammonia issues on the EFF blog.

GreekyPie · September 2010

tide powder, original. no stinkies ever.

tmp-178885312508083 · September 2010

I'm interested to know if you have hard water, too. I have very hard water and besides the fact that I think my DD is allergic to Charlie's, it really doesn't do much in hard water. What really helps me, and I have no idea why, is to use two different detergents and switch them every few weeks. I've used the homemade stuff on the EFF blog, Original Tide powder and Country Save. I also used Rockin' Green, but I'm not a fan of them anymore, really. I'd also bleach them (I bleach everything once a month).

Alligator · September 2010

Don't give up! We went through that too, a couple of times. I stripped them with Dawn and it went away. It came back a few times, but then would go away. Somehow we fixed it. Good luck. I know it stinks (literally!)

ninasc · September 2010

I am not sure if we have hard water--I don't think we do but I can't tell for sure.

I am using one scoop of Charlie's Soap (was previously using the BG detergent). I haven't used vinegar or boiled the diapers because the bumGenius website specifically says not to (although I guess if I'm not going to be using the diapers anyways, there is no harm in trying).

I will try the Tide original powder to see if that helps. Thanks for all the suggestions!

smurfetteinred · September 2010

Don't boil them! Boiling really only works for prefolds or inserts. The extreme hot water for an extended period will trash your pul and can really mess up your elastic (and snaps if you have them).

I would try adding a couple pots of boiling water to a hot cycle on your washer (with clean diapers in it). It's not the same as boiling because it's less extreme water temperature and it doesn't stay at the boiling point the whole time like physically boiling them will. However the extra hot water will help to strip out any detergent residue left in your diapers. Do this a couple of times in a row with just plain water, no detergent, no dawn, nothing. Peek in while it's agitating and make sure there are no bubbles (I almost always get bubbles when I do this even if I wasn't getting bubbles with previous strips) and if there are keep doing it until they are gone.

If this doesn't work, I'd boil your inserts (JUST your inserts) twice for 15 minutes.

monkeyqueen · September 2010

I've started putting 1/2c. of baking soda in with my detergent once in a while for washes and then rinsing until the water isn't slimey (feel it). It has helped a ton with ammonia smells!

I'd also boil your inserts.

danaann78 · September 2010

This is going against everything everyone else normally says. I happened to get a newsletter from Abby's Lane right when I was having stink issues in my AIOs. She said many times people use too little detergent and recommended using the full amount of detergent called for on the container or recipe. I have not had any issues with stink since I started doing this.

ninasc · September 2010

The BG organics don't have inserts and we have a front loader so I don't think I can add boiling water mid cycle. I could soak the diapers in boiling water for a few minutes though. I posted above about a thread I found online which talks about using an amonia eliminating solution for fish tanks-- I may try that

smurfetteinred · September 2010

ninasc:
The BG organics don't have inserts and we have a front loader so I don't think I can add boiling water mid cycle. I could soak the diapers in boiling water for a few minutes though. I posted above about a thread I found online which talks about using an amonia eliminating solution for fish tanks-- I may try that

If you do, make sure to update us! I'm going to try it for sure the next time I have ammonia issues (and there will be a next time). If it works, it will sure beat wasting all that water with hot washes and extra rinses.

lesalia217 · September 2010

I second the suggestion of using vinegar in the rinse cycle. I have a downey ball w/ 2 tbsp of vinegar with my final wash cycle every single time. I have never had issues. I also agree with reading the EFF instructions. Everything there has always worked for me.

Want a personalized experience?

I may give up cloth diapering

Re: I may give up cloth diapering

Choose Another Board

Search Boards