Help, going crazy! Diapers never seem to get dry

[JessieBird]

Hi there - I rarely post here but am so grateful for all of the wonderful advice I've read. I just successfully got the stink - mildew and ammonia - out of my stash using Calgon, yeah for Calgon! I was at my wit's end with the stench and am now so relieved. However, there is still something wrong with my diapers. I have about 25 AIOs - assorted brands but all are the typical PUL-fleece-microfiber construction. The problem is that they never seem to truly get dry after washing. I think I am going bonkers. I put them in the dryer, I put them on the line, I hang them over every chair in the house, I've tried everything and still there is always some humidity in them. They feel cold to your cheek, you know? Both on the fleece inside and the PUL outer side. I know that AIOs will take longer to dry but yesterday I put them on 3 high heat dryer cycles (about 45 mins each) then put them on the line. Not full sun but there was a stiff breeze and no humidity in the air. Still they felt damp to the touch. My husband said I was imagining it so I stacked them up in the cupboard (loosely laid flat in a pile, not folded or tightly packed) where I keep them and sure enough this morning they are damp to the touch when you stick your hand into the middle of the pile. It's like they are creating their own moisture.

I had this problem for at least a few weeks before stripping them but I truly thought I must be imagining it. Now I know I'm not. Is there anything that could be causing this problem or is it just that they need more drying time?

They work wonderfully otherwise - hardly any leaks, great fit, all diapers were bought brand new within the last three months. I'm pretty sure that they didn't do this in the beginning, that it just started over the past month or so. We have hard water and I use just a wee bit of Nature Clean and a touch of Calgon to wash them.

Help?

[Michigan Mama]

I'm not sure... I mean, microfiber is pretty absorbant, but I'm not sure if they could actually pull the humidity out of the air. And if that's possible, I would think more mamas would have a problem.

Maybe if we bump this up another mama will have an idea.

[Llyra]

My thicker diapers need to be dried on high heat for 70 minutes before they're really genuinely dry. So it can take awhile. But it sounds like you are drying a long long time. Have you considered having your dryer maintained, or checking its exhaust vent for clogs or excess lint buildup? Maybe it's just not working efficiently.

[MommaShark]

It sound like my microfiber towels when they get kitchen grease on them - maybe more soap and rinse the heck out of them? Maybe they got washed after a load that had lotion or oil on them....it sounds like you stripped them but maybe not enough? Good luck!