Urine Smell...?

[MyBoyAramis]

We recently started using cloth diapers again because my husband felt he was throwing away his money using disposables. I mean, it makes sense so I can't really blame him.

Anyway, we've been hand-washing them because we're not allowed to have a washing machine in our apartment. We have to go to the basement to use the machines which are $1. I used to do that in the beginning until an employee came and told me it was extremely unsanitary and that if he ever saw me washing my son's cloth diapers again he will report me and I will be charged with a fine. Nice huh? I had just moved here and I didn't want any problems.

So, I've been afraid to use soap, because my son breaks out with a rash if I do. My husband has been using vinegar, but it still smells like urine. Is there any way to get that smell out? Can I use regular detergent... in just small amounts?

[MyBoyAramis]

No one has any advice?

[chely7425]

I'm pretty sure you need to use some kind of soap... what kind of diapers do you have?

[Chloe'sMama]

I don't know how all the hand washing stuff works, but I would agree that you need to use some sort of soap on them.

In addition, hanging them to dry in the sun helps with smell and sanitizes them.

Good luck.

[MommaShark]

http://www.zany-zebra.com/washing-cloth-diapers.shtml

the above link explains how to wash by hand

what type of soap do you use on his clothes - you need to find a hypoallergenic soap free of dyes, perfumes, enzymes, optical brighteners, fabric softener and ???? am I missing something ladies?

maybe Country SAVE, Ecos free and clear

I'd ask the manager about washing cloth diapers - if there is a rule against it maybe the employee was just a butthead (I mean ignorant)?

[MyBoyAramis]

I think the employee was messing with me. But still, I didn't want to get in any trouble because I just moved in. I do prefer to hand-wash because I live on the 30th fl. and the laundry room is in the basement. The soap... I used to use All Free & Clear, he would break out with a rash. I didn't want him to suffer anymore since he already has eczema.

We use Fuzzi Bunz and we have two JamTots AI2, they have a hemp insert.

I was thinking about buying Allen's, but they don't sell it anywhere around here - at least around where I live. I think they sell 7th Gen detergent, would that be okay?

Thanks for the link. I'll definitely check it out.

[luckygreen713]

What do you wash his clothes with? I'd try using that for his diapers. I use Arm and Hammer sensitive skin or Purex Free and Clear. One of my daughters has very sensitive skin too and has always been ok with those. You really don't need much detergent, just add a little.

If you really can't use detergent with him, I've read about using olive oil soap. Get a bar, such as Kiss My Face Olive Oil Soap, grate it with a cheese grater into a jar, add water and shake until the soap dissolves. Rinse the diapers in cold water, then wash them in hot water with the soap solution and rinse again. It's supposed to be very good for sensitive skin that can't handle detergent. I'm assuming that since you live on the 30th floor, sunning your diapers isn't an option. To sanitize them you can add a little oxygen cleaner in the hot wash. I use Oxiclean Free and Clear or OxiClean Baby. That will sanitize them which should help with the stink, just make sure you rinse very well. I think it's ok for synthetic diapers, I know it's fine for cotton, which is what I use.

[MommaShark]

Maggie's Soap nuts might be good. Seventh Generations only got 2 starts on this chart:
http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html
it has enzymes and softeners......
you could try it though. The fuzzi bunz are synthetic so will have more build up issues from what I hear.

[MyBoyAramis]

Thanks Mamas! You guys are awesome!

We usually use Tide w/bleach for his clothes. I know, it's strange - his skin doesn't get irritated with that detergent. For being on the 30th fl, we get a decent amount of sun. Our clothes rack is by the window in the kitchen where most of the sun comes in.

If I were to get a liquid soap how much is a little? What about a powder? (tsp, tbsp, etc...) I really don't want the ammonia smell as well as his bum getting irritated.

The fuzzi bunz are synthetic so will have more build up issues from what I hear.

I hope that doesn't happen with his fuzzi bunz. It's all he has besides the Berry Plush.

[MommaShark]

1/8 c. to 1/4 cup detergent according to the handwashing site I referenced earlier......
Does plain Tide give him a rash???? Some people have success with Tide even though it has some things that aren't supposed to be helpful to cloth......the bleach might shorted their life span....but by how much I don't know...

[MyBoyAramis]

Sorry I checked the site after I posted that...

No regular Tide doesn't give him a rash and I've never washed his dipes in Tide.

Thanks for all the help!

[MommaShark]

I'm curious now - let us know how it works out!

[MyBoyAramis]

Well last night I washed his smelly dipes with a little bit of soap. (Hubby went out and bought detergent that said it was good for cloth diapers.) They dried overnight. I put one on him and when I went to change him, I noticed he had little bumps on his bum. They seem to itch because he would scratch them as I was putting another diaper on.

So... 1 plus - they no longer smell. The downfall, his bum is a little irritated. -sigh-

Btw, it's SUN detergent. I checked the link above and it was given 3 stars...

[rhiandmoi]

I think you are not rinsing out the soap completely because you are hand washing. What I would recommend is getting a small RV/Tabletop washing machine if you can't use the building's machine. Or if you want to continue hand washing, triple rinse.

[MyBoyAramis]

=/ See that's the thing, I can't have a washer in the apartment. If the corporation finds out, we'll be hit with a fine. (I live in a community... it has its own specific rules.) I guess I'll just rinse more thoroughly. Whenever we get some more spare cash (hopefully Friday), I'll wash them in the machines downstairs.

[MommaShark]

I'm sorry this is such a pain for you!!! If this continues i'd sell the fuzzi bunz and buy flats and thirsties covers - flats are so much easier to hand wash and dry and aren't as picky about detergent........they are cheap too - you can get 12 for $14 from nickisdiapers.com. Either way - good luck!

[luckygreen713]

Have you ever considered that it might be the syntheitc fleece that's causing the rash? When I started using cloth with my oldest dd, I started with FB's. No matter what I did she had a rash that always went away when we switched back to sposies. So for a little while I gave up on cloth. Then I read that some people are sensitive to the petroleum in fleece, and I decided to give cotton a try. I had been avoiding cotton because I liked the "stay-dry" feature of fleece, but it turns out that cotton is easier to care for, some rash products can be used with them (lanolin-based) and my dd's skin looked totally healthy in cotton. We now use prefolds and flats for both kids (only at night for my pl'd older dd) and rashes are very rare. So, I second MommaShark's suggestion to sell the FB's and get flats if you can't figure out a way to make your FB's and JamTots work. There easy to wash, easy to rinse (which is important for you since you're handwashing!)they dry fast, they fit all babies, and they're very cheap. Just thought I'd throw that out there. Good luck with whatever you choose to do!!

[rhiandmoi]

Originally Posted by MyBoyAramis

=/ See that's the thing, I can't have a washer in the apartment. If the corporation finds out, we'll be hit with a fine. (I live in a community... it has its own specific rules.) I guess I'll just rinse more thoroughly. Whenever we get some more spare cash (hopefully Friday), I'll wash them in the machines downstairs.

The RV washers are like 10 gallons, they are tiny so you might ask the building management if those are included in the ban.