Ugh. The ever-returning pee smell. Help!

[merebella]

So, DS is 11 months. Our stash is mostly fb, some bg pockets and a couple aio org, a couple swaddlebees pockets, kushies, prefolds and hemp doublers.

My problem is the recurring pee smell that I CANNOT get out of these diapers. You can smell it faintly out of the drier and strongly after he wets in the diaper. I used to sun them out, and think it was a little better then, but it's 15 degrees here today, and the sun only occasionally peeks out.

I use a dry bag, wash in my toploader with Allens on a cold, hot, cold, put bac-out in my first cold rinse and have tried vinegar in there, too. I have also used RLR laundry treatment in my hot. I only use a magic stick for diaper cream.

I recently realized I wasn't using enough Allen's and upped it, but that only helped a little.

What can I do? And more importantly, once that pee smell is dried in a drier, is that it? Is there anything that can be done to get it out once it's "dried in?"

Please help, mamas!

[Katie T]

I would try 2 things. First is when your dipes are in the washer on the hot wash w/detergent I would let them soak for like 30 minutes then restart the washer where it left off. If that didnt help I would try boiling the inserts and see if that helps. Good luck. How long do you go between washes?

[merebella]

Thanks, I'll try that. So, when people talk about boiling diapers, they aren't talking about boiling anything with pul, right?

I usually do dipes twice a week, sometimes 3. Like probably every two-3 days.

Do you think pee smell that's been dried is there forever?

[Katie T]

No the pee smell isnt in there forever. I have never boiled anything with pul but pul was made for the medical community and can hold up to high temps so I bet it would be fine though I would try 1 pul item first and make sure all is well. That said I dont think you need to boil anything but the liners. The microfiber is hard to get clean IMO. Bring your water to a boil add a couple liners depending on the size of pot and let them boil for about 20 min stiring occationally, then take them out put in washer threw a spin cycle and into the drier. Good luck if you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

[Ifluffedthree]

The Allen's & the toploader are in your favor.It sounds as if your routine holds a strong front.
I never had any success with the synthetics when it came to keeping out the smell. I ditched them completely for my oldest son and my youngest just could not tolerate the synthetics period.
My personal suggestion would be when your sizing up to begin your replacement with natural fibered diapers.

[Chryseis]

When I used to have stink problems on my synthetics I would run a wash with detergent and plenty of Calgon water softener added, then a wash or two with just the Calgon water softener. I found that this was a pretty quick fix for the stinkies.

Unfortunately, I've never had a lot of luck with natural detergents and synthetics. Actually, I've never had a lot of luck with natural detergents and our slightly hard water in general. I had to make the switch to a more mainstream Free & Clear (Tide) and I've really not had a recurrence of the problem.

[Pumpkincat]

The pee smell is typically due to not using enough detergent. I personally have found Tide Free to work the best for diapers, and that would be the powdered. I do a cold prewash, very hot wash, cold wash with a cup of vinegar. In the summer i sun dry, winter air dry in the shower or the dryer without any fabric softener. i do not have stink problems much. The sun really helps, too bad it is so darn cold out!

[smpayne]

Baking soda should counteract the urine. Put baking soda in the wash cycle (after a soak), then 1 cup vinegar in the final RINSE cycle. This assumes a top loading machine. The vinegar will help with the hard water and get all the detergent out.

I agree with maybe a little more detergent and an additional rinse cycle, until smell is gone.

[merebella]

I got rid of it! Update!

Thanks for the ideas, gals. I got the Rockin Green soap sample in soft rock that I ordered and gave the diapers a good soak for about three hours......the pee smell is gone! Not even a little trace (and I have a sensitive sniffer.) I'm so excited! I've been fighting this battle for a while and am so excited to finally have clean-smelling dipes. Ahhhh. Since then, I've returned to my Allen's, and they're still coming out clean. I'm thinking I'll just use the Rockin Green as needed.

On a side note, I had read some about a few mamas having real sensitivity issues with the Rockin Green. I ordered the soft rock because of this, with no scent. I was nervous, because dh does have a sensitive little heiny. After several days in only diapers washed in Rockin Green, so far so good! (And no, I have no connection to Rockin Green.)

[Katie T]

Glad you found something that worked! I had to LOL your post says DH had a sensitive heiny, I know what ya meant but it gave me a smile.

[merebella]

Ha! I don't think dh wants me discussing his heiny on here, sensitive or not.

[Kimbokarrie]

Originally Posted by merebella

Thanks for the ideas, gals. I got the Rockin Green soap sample in soft rock that I ordered and gave the diapers a good soak for about three hours......the pee smell is gone! Not even a little trace (and I have a sensitive sniffer.) I'm so excited! I've been fighting this battle for a while and am so excited to finally have clean-smelling dipes. Ahhhh. Since then, I've returned to my Allen's, and they're still coming out clean. I'm thinking I'll just use the Rockin Green as needed.

On a side note, I had read some about a few mamas having real sensitivity issues with the Rockin Green. I ordered the soft rock because of this, with no scent. I was nervous, because dh does have a sensitive little heiny. After several days in only diapers washed in Rockin Green, so far so good! (And no, I have no connection to Rockin Green.)

I was going to chime in with my advice, but looks like you fixed it.