I figured out what my stink problem was that I Facebooked about.
(and might I add, where I received the sage advice to "wash the diapers separate from other clothes." Thanks. I got that memo awhile ago.)
My wash routine changed when I bought my bumGenius stash back at tax-time. I had been using All Free & Clear for all my laundry, and just using 1/4 of the amount for my diapers. It worked fine, really. But when I bought the bG's, I decided to go ahead and switch to Dawn Original Blue for the diapers. I haven't had a problem with any leaking at all, or any stench.
But last month I bought my groceries at Kroger and they didn't have All Free & Clear. And I was out of laundry detergent. So I bought regular Purex, only I didn't realize it wasn't regular Purex. It was Purex with fabric softener in it.
The science experiment I've created in my washing machine has produced the most horrible ammonia smell in his diapers, along with a nasty blister on his wee little manbits. Also, just yesterday, we found a fresh outbreak of diaper rash, a rash on his neck, and skin peeling off his toes.
I thought it was because I used oxiclean in the load before that, but we've since realized that even after stripping the diapers, we still have the stench. I know I'm pregnant and smells are amplified, but it's not good when you change just a wet diaper and nearly throw up.
The moral of this story is to nevah evah EVAH use fabric softener with your cloth diapers.
I'd love to run out and buy the big 5-gallon bucket of Charlie's Soap for $149.99 to use on all of our household laundry, but until then we're back to the Free & Clear detergent.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
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4 comments:
I'm going to go out on a limb here, because I'm sure you've already tried this, BUT . . .
have you tried stripping your diapers using only scalding water and no detergent of any kind?
No I haven't - but I'm gonna have to because the stank is BACK. I'm going to try stuffing the pocket with a prefold to see if it is the pocket or maybe the inserts.
Grrr. This is not the month for my standby cloth diapers to be out of commi$$ion. Iffen you know what I mean.
Scroll back in the archives and you'll see my scalding stripping method that I had to use after a horrid Charlie's Soap reaction. It took awhile and a LOT of hot water, but it worked.
Also, don't underestimate the power of a teensy bit of bleach on those inserts as well. And sunshine.
Found it - thanks. Lots of hot water. LOTS of it.
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