STINKY DIAPERS?
I have had a few mamas ask why their diapers are stinking, here are some possibilities and solutions!
1. Detergent Build-Up: there could be a detergent build up and the diapers might need to be stripped. When using non-cloth diaper detergents this happens very quickly. Try adding 1/2 cup of white vinegar to your next load and use less detergent OR use cloth diaper safe clean rinsing detergents.
If you are using cloth diaper safe detergents consider the other options or your diapers might need to be stripped of the stinkies! To strip diapers:
Method ONE: using 1 teaspoon of regular dishsoap and hot water you can hand wash or scrub each diaper, insert, or prefold then cool rinse then wash again with no soap and rinse again until no bubbles are present whatsoever. Then dry in dryer or outside completely. You can use a machine to do the second wash and rinses.
Method TWO: add 1 capful of Calgon (water softener) and five drops of blue Dawn dishsoap to load of diapers rinse twice
Method THREE: add 1/2 cup of vinegar and 2 tbsp of detergent wash on hot and rinse three times
Overall, check in between cycles for bubbles if bubbles are present do another rinse, you want ALL the detergent out of the diapers.
2. Too Long before Washing: sometimes if the diapers are left too long in between washes the ammonia build up can be strong for one wash. You will need to rinse, wash, rinse and maybe rinse again.
Consider unrolling/unfolding the diapers also when you add them to the machine, if they are left in a ball or compact state they might not get cleaned all the way!
3. Hard Water: you might have hard water and that is building up causing your fibers to hold on to a stinky ammonia smell. You can do a white vinegar rinse, a Rockin Green Soak, or add Calgon (water softener) to your load. Rockin Green also has a hard water formula for this problem too!
4. Bottom Creams: did you use a bottom cream that was petroleum based or wasn’t all natural, in most cases these creams create a barrier and the diaper cannot be washed thoroughly. Next time you need a cream, put the cream on, a diaper protector layer (a layer of microfiber or fleece or a prefold) then the diaper. You can wash your protective layer with the rest of the load but it will be your RASH barrier for diapertime.
*If your child is prone to diaper rash especially during teething times like our little one, consider using Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm, it’s cloth diaper safe and wonderful for rashes, scrapes, and many other things!
I hope this helps! These methods are from what I have learned, used, and read about. -Andrea
