Help me with ammonia/build-up please!

[tjsmama]

I feel like I've tried almost everything, and I'm getting so frustrated that I'm about ready to throw in the towel and go to sposies, but I *really* hate to do that when we're (hopefully) close to potty training.

We use prefolds, with hemp doublers for overnight or if we're going to be out and about. PUL covers during the day, fleece at night. We've had some stink/build-up issues for several months. I've washed and rinsed and rinsed and rinsed. I've used calgon. I tried bleach. It just keeps getting worse. I used to only have ammonia smell after a few days in the diaper pail, today I noticed it when taking off DS's wet diaper! And to make it worse, DS told me today that his penis hurts, and it looks a little red, so I think he's getting some irritation from the build-up.

What else can I try? I have a FL, I use a small amount of Tide HE (what we've used since day 1, never had a problem before) with a small amount of Calgon (tried both with and without, definitely helped initially but is not helping now) and vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. I run a rinse/spin, and then a whitest whites (hot wash/cold rinse) cycle with an extra rinse. The past couple of times I've washed, I've even run an extra wash cycle with no detergent.

I don't know what else to try. I can't afford to buy a whole new batch of diapers, especially when I hope to PT in the very near future, but I also can't really afford to go to sposies, either.

[poppan]

Have you tried boiling yet? Since you have prefolds and hemp doublers it should be safe to boil (no elastic or PUL to ruin). That should give it a good sanitization.

[nathansmum]

I wonder if your ds's wee is a bit stronger lately? Is he drinking as much? Re the red/irritated skin, perhaps he is holding on for longer and then letting it go at once which could mean straight concentrated urine against him unless it's changed right away.

I would try to do a manual/hand wash of them. Fill a bucket with the hottest water you can, add some vinegar and aggitate around with a stick or plunger or something and rinse.

[YesandNo]

Have you tried the trick of letting it sit overnight in a mix of vinegar and OxyClean? Works miracles for microfleece and might work for you too.

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by YesandNo

Have you tried the trick of letting it sit overnight in a mix of vinegar and OxyClean? Works miracles for microfleece and might work for you too.

This is a good idea. Vinegar is only really effective in the prewash, not in the rinse. Also, try tricking your washer into putting more water in by putting it on delicate or permanent press - more water is better and front loaders try to use as little as possible. And maybe you are not using enough detergent. Tide gives my kids a major rash, too.

[joshs_girl]

Try just switching your detergent. I had major ammonia smell too (although we use mostly MF pockets) and with just switching detergent, it fixed the problem instantly.

We went from All F&C S&M to Allen's

[tjsmama]

Originally Posted by YesandNo

Have you tried the trick of letting it sit overnight in a mix of vinegar and OxyClean? Works miracles for microfleece and might work for you too.

I haven't tried this, but it sounds like a potentially cheap and easy fix, which I like!

What kind of ratios for water/vinegar/oxyclean?

I *really* don't want to switch detergent unless I have to, since I have about 4 Costco containers sitting in my garage.

I haven't boiled anything, and I'm not even sure how I would...it would take me forever...I just don't have a pot that big. I could only do a couple at a time!

Thanks for the replies and ideas, keep 'em coming!

[lilysmama1124]

I'm having the same problem and DD has a rash now too! Dipes are very stinky. I have boiled yet because I don't have a huge pot and it would take forever. I thought about pouring boiling water over them in a big plastic tube but was concerned the water would melt the plastic and ruin my dipes. I did switch to biokleen liquid detergent awhile ago so maybe I just need to switch detergent again as well. I have read her that a small amount of Dawn original dish soap will take care of build up but I can't find original Dawn anywhere. I can find the orignal "scent" but it is concentrated...does anyone know if that works? Also does anyone know if it is okay to put into a front loader? My plan now is to do a vinegar soak in a bug bin then do a hot cycle and add boiling water to the washer and do a few wash cycles with no detergent.

[YesandNo]

What kind of ratios for water/vinegar/oxyclean?

I use a LOT of vinegar, a very generous scoop of Oxyclean and just a little hot water. You can read 200+ posts / experiments / experiences on this DiaperSwappers.com thread.

[poppan]

If you want to try boiling, this is how I would do it:

1. Use biggest pot you have, fill up with water and bring to boil. Find a pair of tongs.
2. In separate container -- sink? a big bucket? -- fill with hot tap water and put the prefolds in (or just as many as will fit) -- this is just to get them saturated with water so when you put them in the boiling water it doesn't absorb all the water in the pot
3. Working in batches, transfer prefolds to the stock pot and boil for a few minutes, then remove with the tongs. Your pot might only fit 3-4 prefolds or even fewer, but you only need to boil for a few minutes and then you can take them out and add in the next batch so it shouldn't take TOO too long.
4. Spin out water in the washer?

[tjsmama]

Originally Posted by YesandNo

I use a LOT of vinegar, a very generous scoop of Oxyclean and just a little hot water. You can read 200+ posts / experiments / experiences on this DiaperSwappers.com thread.

Cool, thanks! Sounds like a trip to Costco for industrial amounts of vinegar may be in order, lol. I've got 2 dozen prefolds to be treated!

I think I'll give this a shot, and leave the boiling as a last resort. I just can't wrap my head around boiling 2-3 diapers at a time right now. I just don't have time for that!

[joshs_girl]

Originally Posted by lilysmama1124

I have read her that a small amount of Dawn original dish soap will take care of build up but I can't find original Dawn anywhere. I can find the orignal "scent" but it is concentrated...does anyone know if that works?

The customer service people at BG told me the concentrated is just fine to use - but I haven't tried it yet (although I'm running out of options so it may be what I try this weekend....)