staining issues - washing routine?

[Mrs.aLifeofReilly]

nak

We're currently using Kissaluvs fitteds (and sometimes prefolds)with DS2. Washing every other day or every 2 days.

The Kissaluvs always come out of the wash completely stained! The areas that had poop before are clean in that they don't smell like poop - but are bright yellow! This never seems to be an issue with the wascloths and prefolds though.

Do I need a different was routine? Currently doing a cold prewash/soak, followed by a hot wash w/ detergent (purex free and clear) and a cold rinse. Sometimes I throw in an extra wash w/ no soap and just a bit of vinegar.

I'm just bummed that these brand new diapers are already so completely stained after just a couple weeks (I expected some, but not nearly this much).

[Llyra]

Honestly, after three kids through diapers, my experience has been that with those yellow breastfed poops, staining is unavoidable. It's poop, and poop stains. I haven't found that wash routine matters much. But I haven't found, either, that the stains matter much either. As long as the diaper smells clean, the stain is just a stain.

I think that the terry fabric on some fitteds makes them more prone to stains than prefolds, which have a flatter, less textured surface.

What you can try that's worked for us:
1. Just live with the stains. You'll notice they gradually fade with washing. And they're nothing compared to the stains you get when baby's been eating blueberries, or pumpkin, or pickled red cabbage!!!

2. Try sunning them. Put the wet diapers out in the sun for a few hours. It's like magic.

3. Occasionally take them out of the machine after washing, give them a squirt of oxygen bleach (oxi-clean will work great) and throw them back in for another short wash cycle.

My personal thing has been to ignore the stains until it's time to pack the diapers away for the next baby, or sell them. Then I bleach them.

[Woolly Meredith]

I have to agree with the pp. Stains are something you will learn to accept. They do tend to fade with use so don't stress too much. It is hard at first though, you have paid a lot of $$ for them, when they're new they are so soft & clean, but they are still diapers.

It sounds like you have a good wash routine. Like the pp, you can lay them in the sun on a bright day, that will help.

[Gabes Mommy]

It is unavoidable, just do your best. Make sure to rinse/spray/dunk them after you've changed them. It sounds like your wash routine is fine.

[DevaMajka]

Are you using enough detergent?

Stains do just happen, though. They lighten after a few washes.

[heatherweh]

Glad yo asked! I do the same wash routine and while my prefolds get some very light staining, my AIOs took a beating and all look crazy stained from my breastfed baby's poo. Baby oxyclean didn't help so I'm just trying to ignore it, as pps said as long as they smell clean they are clean.