Synthetics, Ammonia & Hard Water... Oh My!!

[chely7425]

So, as the title would suggest the majority of our diapers are synthetics (pockets with fleece inners and MF or MF/hemp combo inserts) and we have hard water and our ammonia problem is getting bad again. A couple months ago I bleached everything and started using Country Save, this seemed to work for awhile but now? The stinkies are back AND I have noticed that DS's bum is red in the morning, maybe irritation? Anyway, our wash routine is:

1. cold rinse
2. hot wash with 2 tbsp Country Save and capful Calgon
3. hot wash with nothing
4. dry in dryer on medium

We have a dry pail and I wash every other day, though this will probably change to every day in the near future as we are about to have a 2nd baby in cloth.

Now.. my questions...

1. Should I switch detergent? If so, to what? We had some success with Tide awhile back...
2. Do I just need to get away from synthetics?
3. If you think synthetics are the problem, I would like to switch to mostly fitteds with perhaps some Sposoeasies or BG organic AIOs for DH and babysitter... any recs on fitteds? I have heard good things about bella bottoms and crickets... need reasonable price (we are on a tight budget), prefer OS (or 2 size... we have a solid NB stash) and good absorbency, not overly concerned on bulk.
4. Any recs on covers?

Any other thoughts? Thanks!!!!

[goodheartedmama]

We use tide and got rid of our synthetic diapers. I do have a few now, but only 3-4, and the rest are prefolds and fitteds. We have no stink issues, and it's something I battled for a really long time. I just keep doing hot rinses until there are no more bubbles.

[chely7425]

If you don't mind me asking... what kind of tide do you use and how much do you use?

[chely7425]

bumpity bump bump...

[roseselene]

We have quite hard water and used synthetic fabrics as well. What type of washer do you use? HE or regular top loader? Sometimes i feel like with the HE's...there is just not enough rinsing going on.
Amy

[chely7425]

We have a top loader, so there is plenty of water. I always do it on the biggest wash setting...

[roseselene]

hmmmmmm....well, it was worth a thought.
Have you tried a vinegar rinse?

[goodheartedmama]

I use the plainest tide I can find.

[star thistle]

I fitteds. I have used most diaper styles and fitteds are by far my favorite. I don't think I could ever go back to synthetics after using natural fabrics.

After 8 months of trial and error diapering, here's the fitted stash what we ended up with: bella bottoms one size hemp/bamboo & 100% cotton, cricketts 100% cotton both infant and toddler, sugar peas 2 size hemp, under the nile organic cotton, bumkins bamboo size 1, kissaluvs 0s, and little-lions. All of these diapers were less than $15 each. Finding sales and using coupons, they were closer to $10.

If I could do it all again I would start off with a fitted stash of kissaluvs 0s and move onto a one size like bella bottoms or 2 size like sugar peas. In spite of their awesome reputation, the cricketts fit the worst on my chunky DS so far, bella bottoms fit best. The bumkins are not very absorbent. The sugar peas are the most trim and are fairly absorbent. FWIW, I reach for the bella bottoms the most; I'm bummed when they are used or the wash is not done.

IME, the 100% cotton gets stinky faster than the hemp and bamboo. I have had to strip my diapers about every 2 months and just boiling seems to do the trick. We use Purex free and clear and have not had any issues with rashes/sensitivity. I have a front loader and use 1/2 serving of detergent the first wash on hot/cold. I follow with 2 short washes warm/warm (or until I see no suds) and then dry on high or hang dry.

Even if you spend only $10 on each diaper, it's very easy to spend a lot on the quest to find the perfect system for your family. I would recommend getting a couple different dipes and see which you like the best. Good luck!

[chely7425]

Thank you so much for the reply!! I ordered 4 bella bottoms to try... 1 hemp and 3 cotton (the cotton are seconds, she said the elastic was a bit tighter than usual but they were only 6 dollars each ), I also have some goodmamas (which I like pretty well) and some BSRBs which I LOVE except he can't go coverless in them because they need to be snappi-ed.

Do you guys have any cover recs? We have a mish mash of covers right now... 2 super brites and a couple fleece and some random other stuff...

[Galatea]

You can get ammonia with cotton, too. Ask me how I know! IME, switching materials and detergents is only a temporary fix, and the ammonia returns until the wash routine is adjusted.

Tide can cause different problems... if your child is getting ammonia burn, they are likely to react to the enzymes in Tide, too. And you can still get ammonia with Tide.

This is how I solved my ammonia:

First, strip your diapers. Some people like RLR or Calgon to help.

Regular routine:

1/2 - 1 cup plain white vinegar in every cold prewash.

Hot wash with your detergent of choice (Country Save is fine.) Make sure you are using enough that you see bubbles during the hot wash. Keep using the Calgon b/c it helps with your hard water.

Cold rinse.

Another hot wash with nothing.

Cold rinse.

Once a month, add one tablespoon bleach to the first hot wash.

Remember that one hundred years ago, people were always boiling and bleaching their diapers, and flats (which is what they used back then) are very thin and can't hang on to ammonia crystals and detergent, etc., like the more absorbent diapers of today can. Yet we expect that just by switching detergents or materials, things will get cleaner. Once I became willing to treat my diapers like things that hold poop and pee, I stopped having ammonia or any stink issues. And I use nearly all synthetics!

[chely7425]

I will give the vinegar a shot... do I just dump it in the cold rinse/prewash? Or do I have to like, put it in something?

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by chely7425

I will give the vinegar a shot... do I just dump it in the cold rinse/prewash? Or do I have to like, put it in something?

just dump it in.

[chely7425]

I have to wash diapers today so I will dump some vinegar in there... is vinegar and bleach ok with all types of fibers? We have microfiber and hemp inserts, along with some hemp, cotton and bamboo fitteds... and covers. Is bleach or vinegar going to hurt any of that?

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by chely7425

I have to wash diapers today so I will dump some vinegar in there... is vinegar and bleach ok with all types of fibers? We have microfiber and hemp inserts, along with some hemp, cotton and bamboo fitteds... and covers. Is bleach or vinegar going to hurt any of that?

Vinegar is safe all the time. Bleach is safe in small amounts occasionally (1 tablespoon, well-diluted, once a month.) If you have any dyed or printed cotton, I recommend removing it before the bleach.

[chely7425]

I am doing a load if diapers right now with vinegar... well, they are on the wash now but I put vinegar in the cold rinse. We shall see how that goes... I am going to bleach all my inserts today too I think, that really helped last time I did it and it seems like they are hardier and probably the main culprit for the ammonia... hopefully all this helps!!

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by chely7425

I am doing a load if diapers right now with vinegar... well, they are on the wash now but I put vinegar in the cold rinse. We shall see how that goes... I am going to bleach all my inserts today too I think, that really helped last time I did it and it seems like they are hardier and probably the main culprit for the ammonia... hopefully all this helps!!

With hard water, you need the vinegar in the prewash.

Yes, inserts can be bleached to death!

[chely7425]

Originally Posted by Galatea

With hard water, you need the vinegar in the prewash.

Yes, inserts can be bleached to death!

With the vinegar... should I start with a half cup and see if that does it? I do my wash with the most water possible...

and good to know inserts can be bleached to death!! Can I bleach the hemp ones too or just the MF?

[Galatea]

I use a whole cup of vinegar.

Any microfiber insert can be bleached to death, but don't use so much on the hemp as it will weaken the fibers.