My wipes REEK of mildew. Do I need to start over with wipes?

[DoomaYula]

My wipes all SMELL, even when they're clean and dry! They smell like mildew

Normally I make solution (2c water, 2tb soap, 2tb baby oil, a few drops of tt oil) and pour it over the wipes. I make about 12-15 wipes at a time and store them in an old plastic wipes container. But clearly something is wrong.

Do I need to buy new wipes? Do I need to keep the solution in a spray bottle and spray the wipes directly instead of leaving them in a container? Do I need a new wipe recipe?

[Llyra]

I would try bleaching them. If they smell clean when you're finished, and look clean, they likely are okay to use again. And then I'd probably keep the wipes dry until you're ready to use them.

[SuzyLee]

This happens periodically with the washcloths I use for my face. The ONLY thing that works (and I have tried everything- vinegar, sunning, bac-out, etc) is bleach.

Then I would stop keeping the wipes moist. Either just get them wet at the sink when you ened them, or make a squirt bottle of your wipes solution to wet them.

[Michigan Mama]

I was thinking to suggest bleach, too.

I use my wipes basically the same as you, but haven't had a problem. The only thing I do differently is I only keep like 4-5 in my wipes box at a time and only wet a couple.

I keep my wipes solution in an old pop bottle and try to jsut wet the wipes I need at the time.

[schreiberwriter]

When using Charlies and some Bac-Out for laundry, I didn't have any problem with musty smells. Maybe that would help.

[RGsMom]

I agree with washing them until they aren't mildewy. You shouldn't need new wipes.

We started out doing that with our wipes solution also and that would happen since we wouldn't go through them quick enough. Now, we use a bottle and then just squirt or pour it on the wipes when it's time!

[katie9143]

i would boil them....

oh and what you think smells like mildew may possibly be residual tt oil...i always thought it smelled a bit like mildew on the wipes. i stopped using it and do the water, soap, oil (whatever type i have) and some aloe gel. i soak tons of wipes in the solution and it sits there for as long as a week and i have never had issues....been doing it like that for over 2 yrs.