Stripping Diapers?

[Smirkin]

First I just want to say thanks to all those who've been helping me lately - I've posted lots of questions in lots of different parts of this forum, and the responses have really helped me out, and helped me feel supported. I'm a first-timer and I'm home alone most of the time (DH works long hours) so it's really nice to have this outlet.

anyway.

I want to strip my prefolds b/c I've been using lots of creams on DD lately due to rash (finally going away thank goodness). What's so magic about blue Dawn dish detergent? Can I use any dish detergent? I have Ecover and Palmolive - could I use either of those?

For those who use bleach (DD has a yeast rash), could you explain your complete process for me?

My plan was to bleach them and then strip them. I'll take any advice about this.

thanks.

[Michigan Mama]

I don't have a good response on why use Dawn. I've seen it asked here before. Hopefully another mama will respond.

I try to avoid bleach just because I like to skip the chemicals when possible, but I have boiled my pf's! Great because it's natural and you know any little germs or bugs in there are totally dead. I wash them like normal, spin them out, boil them about 10 min. each batch (make sure your pot is not toooo stuffed with dipes), carefully dump them in a laundry basket and transport back to the washer to spin out again, then dry like normal.

But the truth is my real stripping routine, that I don't do that often, is to wash like normal, then turn up the hot water heater and run like 3-4 extra rinses on extra extra hot. That usually does the trick for us.

[MissE]

I was actually wondering if you strip the diapers in the dishwasher or the washing mashine??? I have a frontloader, won't dawn just totally sud up and clog my mashine? I like the boiling idea better. I've been CDing for almost 2 years now and never stripped a diaper. Every now and then I wash them on the Sanitary cycle which seems to be getting the water hot enough to get the stink out.