WAHM AIOs not absorbent -- why?

[AmyKT]

With my first baby, I bought some AIOs from a new mom who had bought them from a WAHM. She had never used them because she had decided to go with the one-size kind. I washed them a few times and tried them on my daughter, but they leaked right through.

Is there something special I need to do to make them absorbent? Maybe several more hot washes? Since I bought them 2nd hand, I don't even know who made them and can't ask her questions about them. Maybe I had contact info at the time, but that was years ago. The outside is not slick at all. It seems cottony to me. Is it possible that they are just not well made? Should the outside be slick or plasticky, or is there waterproof material that feels cottony? I didn't have much success with CD that time, so I never learned as much as I should've.

Thanks!

ETA: changed my title to make it more descriptive

[AmyKT]

I've done a bit more reading and the PUL could be the second outside layer, right? Maybe I just need to wash a few more times. Do you use detergent for initial washes, or just water?

[DevaMajka]

Is the outside fabric prints? If so, then there could be a hidden PUL layer.

What is the inner layer? Is it fleece or cotton? If it's fleece, is the fleece repelling?

Are you SURE they are AIO's and not fitteds?

If you answer those questions, I can probably help you more with an answer

I recently bought (used) some AIO's that didn't work at all. They were waterproof, but the inner fleece repelled pretty badly. I ended up taking one apart, and the WAHM had used layers of fleece and a few layers of cotton for the soaker. Ummm...fleece doesn't absorb anything! lol. Needless to say, those were a waste of money!

oh, and I've always used detergent for the initial prep washes.

[AmyKT]

DevaMajka -- thank you for the info. I'll dig them out of the attic and inspect them a little more closely. I may come back with follow up questions, but you've given me a good bit to go on.

[DevaMajka]

Feel free to contact me if you think I can help any more

[Pinoikoi]

What brand are they? I have found the wahm aios that have the snap in absorbant layer are more absorbant than other types..