I just cannot get my PUL cloth pads clean

[AuntLavender]

I have some flannel cloth AIO pads lined with PUL. I wore one overnight and washed this am and it has a slight odor fresh from the washer (yes I sniffed it) (no visible stains). I have hard water. I used 2 tbsp Biokleen liquid laundry detergent and 2 tbsp Biokleen Oxygen bleach in a load of laundry (only had 5 pads to launder).

I am soaking the pads in Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds (detergent). Is it the PUL? Hard water?

I normally use a Diva Cup and a thin cloth pantyliner so I don't have much menstrual flow to wash off my cloth pantyliners.

I am thinking about making some pads that I can unfold completely in order to launder more thoroughly the first time. I don't soak my pads in water before washing.

Thoughts?

[jennyfah]

Hmmm. . . my guess is the hard water? I have been washing my pads with diapers so they've been getting two washes (one hot, one cold). I also do not soak them (I dry pail) but I do spray them with a mixture of peroxide and essential oils before I drop them in the bag. I've had no problems with odor---that I've noticed!

Did you wash in hot, or with other items that had blood on them (underwear/sheets)? Just wondering if the other stuff got clean.

I have noticed that sometimes certain diapers will go through the wash being kind of stained or a bit stinky, but the next time through they are just fine. Maybe it was a fluke!

Sorry that I am not more help. GL!
Jen

[Mrs.Oz]

I don't have any PUL pads, but when I used PUL diaper covers, I had horrible problems with them retaining odors. Eventually I just ended up getting rid of them. We have hard water as well. Maybe try adding a water softener to the wash?

[Siennaflower]

I would strip them and cut the Dr. Bronner's out of the soak. I'm betting that's the culprit.

[AuntLavender]

After washing them a second time they smelled fresh!

So I washed them once in cold water with Bi-O-Kleen laundry liquid and Bi-O-Kleen Oxygen Bleach in a normal load of laundry (meaning other laundry).

Then I soaked them for 2 hours in plain water and a squirt of Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds (a detergent) by themselves. (Why 2 hours? Because I forgot about them!!)

Then I washed them again in a normal load of laundry (more clothes) in cold water with 2 TBSP Bi-O-Kleen laundry liquid and Bi-O-Kleen Oxygen Bleach.

Out of the washer and then the dryer they smelled fresh.

Normally I can wash them once with no issues.

Thanks for your replies!