crunchy diapers

[stellarae]

i inherited a dozen or so fitted diapers from a freecycle momma and havent put them to use yet because i have no idea what to do with them!

they look maybe 5+ years old (?) all i know is that they dont look like the cute fitted diapers i see in all the stores. not to say they wont be cute or wont work or anything, but anyhow this isnt even the point.

they feel really stiff and almost crunchy. mostly the stiffness, though, is what is confusing me. i havent washed them yet because of that... not sure if its something i can change?

any mommas know what i can do about them? should i wash the heck outta em or add vinegar or dawn or oxyclean, etc.? give up on them? i would love to be able to use them at some point, if i can get them workable. id even be willing to ship one to someone who knows whats up with cloth diapers just so i could find out what i should do about them...

anyhow, let me know if any more info or pics could help.
thanks!

[LaffNowCryLater]

Is it possble they are crunchy b/c she line dried them? You can try Ecover diaper-safe fabric softener or maybe some vinegar.

[stellarae]

its not really that kind of a crunch... its almost feels like there is a pliable cardboard in there...

ill check out that fabric softener if the vinegar doesnt work. thx!

[RhianaW14]

do you know what kind of diapers they are? I wonder if there is some sort of weird poly fil in it or something.

[Ifluffedthree]

Wash and dry them with a little vinegar -- no fabric softener and see how they turn out. Probably just stiff from sitting around unused.

[stellarae]

it worked! i just kept stripping them, hot water, boiling water... and they feel so much better now!

as far as vinegar goes, what kind should be used? i have apple cider vinegar and rice vinegar here... either of those okay or should it be the cheaper white distilled kind? id love to get them even softer.

next step is to find some cute fabric to sew on the outside to make them super cute!

[stellarae]

i also meant to say a big THANK YOU for the suggestions. im so glad that ill be able to use these diapers instead of having to spend hundreds of dollars on a stash of new ones.

although i might do that anyhow