you don't need to use dawn. Any dish detergent that claims to be grease fighting will work. I use Palmolive. Don't get the thin, runny cheap-o brands though. I made that mistake once. Those are pretty much watered down detergents. You need the full strength ones.
For the INSERTS & PREFOLDS:
Scrub any cream stains with dish detergent. Let sit overnight to 24hrs.
Next day, toss into washer. If you put a lot of dawn on them, then don't add any. If you have few stains, add about 1tsp of dawn to the wash. CAVEAT: I have a front loader. If you have a top loader you can use a bit more dawn. Set washer to hottest, highest water level. Add 2 pots/teakettles of boiling water. Just pour it right onto the inserts. Wash.
If you are not having repelling issues, continue to next step. If the inserts/prefolds are repelling, continue with above until no longer repelling.*
Take inserts/prefolds. Fill washer to highest water level, warm temp or cool. Add inserts/prefolds (or toss those in first and let washer fill with water). Add bleach (a good glug, 1/4c in a top loader). Add 1/4c of vinegar--it boosts the power of the bleach which will kill all the yeasties left over. Let washer agitate a bit, then stop the cycle. Leave the lid down though. Leave overnight. In the next morning, turn it back on and let it go through a wash cycle. I'd probably let it go through one entire wash cycle with just water to make sure all the bleach residue is washed out. You need to disinfect your diapers--yeast is stubborn and really does need the 'big guns' to get rid of it. Dry on HOT for the same reason.
*Do you know how to test for repelling? If not, there are 2 tests you can do to check:
Test #1:
Take insert/diaper. Wet hands under running water. Sprinkle diaper. The drops of water should INSTANTLY absorb. No puddling or remaining on the diaper. All you should see is a drop of water falling onto the insert and then a wet spot on the insert.
If the insert passes test #1, move on to test #2:
Test #2: Take insert/diaper in one hand. Cup your hands and fill with water. Pour the water in a stream on the diaper in the SAME spot. There should be NO running off of the water, no puddling. Just instant absorption and then spreading of the wetness in the diaper.This best recreates a baby peeing.
For POCKETS:
Scrub the fleece liners with a toothbrush and dawn. Let sit overnight to 24hrs. Toss into wash with hot water. Let go through an entire wash cycle. If there are still stains, let dry and repeat above. When the pockets are 'clean', move on to the next step.
Next step: Fill washer with warm/cool water. Add pockets. Add in a couple tbs bleach and a couple tbs vinegar. Let sit for 30min. Wash. Wash through another cycle to rinse everything away. Dry on HOT.
I have never had yeast issues, but I have had ammonia/diaper cream issues. I've used the above methods to strip my pockets, fitteds, etc. As far as I can tell, my diapers were not harmed at all in doing the above.
Ami
)
