Stripping Diapers - Which materials are safe to boil?

[Lily's_Mom]

Just thinking ahead to which cloth diapers I should make when we have baby #2. We have hard water here, and shared (coin) laundry in the apt building, so I have a feeling I will need to do some stripping now and then.

I have some fitteds I made from old t-shirts, and a polyester fleece wrap I made for dd. We were doing pull-ups for a while and ran out, so I tried cloth last night. This morning I hungup the fleece cover to air out and it REEKS!!! Horrible, stinky needs to be stripped kind of stench going on. So, what can I boil (so I don't spend $$$ on hot washing, since each load is $2).

polyester fleece?
velcro (nylon)?
cotton/natural-rubber elastic?
plastic (resin) snaps?
PUL?
microfiber?
etc (something I forgot)?

Which of these are okay to toss in the stock pot? I've seen conflicting advice about PUL, some say it's okay, others had their fuzzi bunz ruined.

The cover I made is polyester fleece, with velcro closure and cotton-rubber elastic. The fitteds are cotton t-shirts, with same velcro and elastic. And they're getting their stink on.

Thanks!

[michelle123]

I wouldn't boil anything with snaps or elastic. Fabrics like microfiber, hemp, cotton (pretty much inserts and prefolds) are fine-just make sure to use a lot of water.

You'll probably be fine just washing the fleece cover. Soaking it before you wash it might help as well.

[Lily's_Mom]

Originally Posted by michelle123

You'll probably be fine just washing the fleece cover. Soaking it before you wash it might help as well.

It was freshly washed before I put it on her last night. Before, I'd be able to use it for a few nights, hanging it up to air during the day, then washing it with the diapers (hot, with Country Save) and all was well. This time, after 1 pee it is in need of a deep clean! That's why I think the washing machine just isn't cutting it and stripping would get the leftovers out. I'm thinking I won't want any more synthetics in my stash! They hold onto the smells, and are a pain to strip.

What should I soak the fleece cover in? I have baking soda, washing soda, borax, country save, oxyclean...

[Michigan Mama]

Well, I actually think you can boil the fleece, too. I have boiled my pockets before (I don't leave them in too long), and they have fleece on the inside, elastic and snaps and they were fine. Be careful, and there is some risk with doing pockets, but lots of people say they have done it without trouble.

I have noticed, even with my son's fleece jammies, that sometimes they smell like pee after wearing them just one night. And he had a diaper/cover on - but I do notice some things hold onto smell. Maybe it depends on the type of fleece, because I have a windpro cover that I use for multiple changes and I have never noticed a stench to that...hmmm.

All inserts, fitteds, etc should boil without a problem.

[cristeen]

If you're planning ahead for your next purchases, your natural fibers can all be boiled. Cotton, hemp, bamboo.

Personally I wouldn't boil poly fleece because it is technically plastic, and will/can melt if it gets too hot. It may be that higher quality fleece can stand up better to this than others, but if you wouldn't iron it for fear of melting it, then don't boil it either.

Elastic doesn't like the high heat either. It won't really melt, but it will soften it, and it will make it wear out faster. If you're going to boil them, be sure not to stretch the elastic while it's hot.