help! my bum genius are no longer absorbent!

[mamallama]

I am new to this forum. I have 6+ years of cloth diaper experience, but being the die-hard prefold user (I love prefolds--use, wash, repeat!) I really haven't had any issues or anything diaper related to talk about

Until now.

I got in on the bum genius 2.0 sale six(ish?) months ago. I only bought a few with the intention of using them overnight. I have loved them for overnights. He gets wet, but he stays comfy & sleeps well. Except that now they leak. It's coming out the leg. The outer layer is fine--totally perfect. The pul inner layer is fairly stiff with diaper cream stain & it just doesn't absorb.

I want to keep using the bum genius for overnights. What can I do to make them absorbent again?

[Galatea]

Get an old toothbrush and some original blue Dawn dish liquid and scrub that inner til all the cream is gone. Rinse all the Dawn out and then wash them on hot a few times with diaper-safe detergent. The cream is built up on the suedecloth and so the pee is just running off the sides.

Then stop using that cream! There are a couple of cloth-safe rash creams like the Magic Stick or Northern Essence.

[mamallama]

Thanks! I'll try that. I'd hate to think I've ruined the most expensive diapers I've ever bought!

[Michigan Mama]

Your problem definately calls for stripping your dipes. You can switch to a cloth friendly cream, or use fleece or flushable liners. If I need a thick cream (I like Weleda), I usually put a fleece liner in there, then wash my liners with regular laundry instead of my dipes so they don't get build up. Unless the liner gets poopy - then it washes with the dipes anyhow.

[mamallama]

Originally Posted by Galatea

Get an old toothbrush and some original blue Dawn dish liquid and scrub that inner til all the cream is gone. Rinse all the Dawn out and then wash them on hot a few times with diaper-safe detergent. The cream is built up on the suedecloth and so the pee is just running off the sides.

Ok, I did this. I scrubbed like mad, rinsed like crazy, then I washed them alone with my regular stuff (arm & hammer, hot cycle) It is just not coming off. Is there anything else I can try?

<sigh> prefolds are so much easier....

[Galatea]

Try turning them out and scrubbing them on the inside, too.

Or you can try RLR in the wash to strip them. I don't know if it will work on this, though.

[mamallama]

Thanks! What is RLR?

(I did scrub the insides)

[bobandjess99]

Yikes! Being a PF user, I guess you didn'tknow that you can NEVER ever put diaper cream on a pocket diaper. As you have experienced, the oils in teh cream render the inside fleece impermeable, such that instead of the pee passing through into the inner insert, it rolls of and out the legs.

You have to keep scrubbing with dawn and a toothbrush to really get the cream out of the inner fleece. A degreaser like simple green might also help. You probably also want to strip your inserts, as some of the cream probably soaked through to them as well.
Sorry that happened to you! I woudl also ask though...why do you use so much diaper cream? You really shouldn't need any most of the time with a healthy child in clean cloth diapers. If you aregetting frequent rashes or something, I would try to run down the cause of them and fix it, rather than constantly slather on cream.

[mamallama]

I feel a little judged, bobandjess. Why would you think I didn't track down the source of the rash?

Thanks for the tip on the simple green. I had considered it, but I was concerned about damaging the waterproof outer layer.

What is RLR?

[Galatea]

RLR is a hard water stripping treatment that can be found in some hardware stores. I think Mom's Milk Boutique carries it.