Would you bleach and/or boil your AIOs?

[momma_unlimited]

So I got some really cute AIO's for my 2 yo that DH can handle (he watches my boys when I run errands or need a bit of "me time"; I need diapers that he will agree to!)

I CANNOT GET THEM CLEAN!

I've tried a wet pail (scrubbing off any poop before putting them in and only soaking overnight, with baking soda and bac-out).

I've tried a dry pail, scrubbing out the poopy ones first and spraying them all with bac out and tea tree oil diluted in water in a spray bottle.

I wash them TWICE- cold with a double rinse, then hot with a double rinse.

I've tried no soap (stripping, til no suds), I've tried a tiny bit of soap, I've tried the recommended bit of soap.

I have a front loading energy efficient machine. *SIGH*

So I add 2-3 GALLONS of water to every wash and rinse (THAT IS 6 TIMES I have to stand next to the stupid thing and add water! Two washes and 4 rinses!).

I've tried vinegar in the rinse. I've tried no vinegar. I've tried vinegar & baking soda.

I don't know what to do, the kids smells like a stale fish every time he wets! My husband and 4 yo run away from him and yell about how he stinks! I do bathe him like 3 times a day (he likes to play in the tub and takes his own bath, takes a bath when I shower, and he hops in the tub at night with big brother), so it's not *him* that is stinky.

The diapers generally are washed within 24-36 hours. I don't leave them to sit long.

My water is HARD, is there something I need to do to compensate for that?

I started off using Charlie's Soap, but ran out and am using "Simplicity" non-toxic biodegradable stuff my husband got at walmart. After that I'll probably use BioKleen.

I used Borax once, in the wash cycle, didn't do anything...? Does it take time to work?

[MoonStarFalling]

Since you have hard water I would wash them with calgon water treatment in the isle with laundry detergents. This should get rid of the smell. We have extremely hard water here. I do the calgon once a month. I don't know about your detergents but All free and Clear is the only one that doesn't give me stinkies.

[JTA Mom]

Maybe try Tide?

I know the powdered version gives less 'issues' than the liquid. And you have tried EVERYTHING.

Do not boil your AIO, ruins the pul. Bleach only works as a soak method when it's got that bad. And you shouldn't soak PUL in bleach.

I have hard water too. It's why I switched over to all cotton/natural fabrics.


Ami

[desertgirl01]

I have hard water and was having stinky issues too. I used one treatment of RLR and then started to use Calgon with every wash. Like you, I also add 2-3 gallons of water to my front loader. Haven't had stink in over a month. I do one cold "quick" wash (add extra water) with low drain; then one prewash/regular wash (with Calgon and extra water)/extra rinse cycle with hot water.

Oh, and I did use a tablespoon of bleach on my AIOs a few times, because the stinkies were so bad. Would get the stink out for that load, but would be back after the next wash. Calgon and the extra water seem to be the key for my dipes.

[My3guys]

I have super hard water as well and a front loader. One thing I have learned is that if I do a cold wash I MUST use cold water detergent. If I use hot, I MUST use hot water detergent. Otherwise, it doesn't all get out and makes everything dingy and stinky.

I also use very little. Too much causes too many problems.

Good luck. Laundry issues are the worst.

[redvlagrl]

Hi there,

stinky diaps are a PITA. We had similar problems, only it was contributing to an ongoing, year long yeast rash problem. In the end I bleached all my diaps, including my BGs because we weren't able to use them because th rash was so bad (rx creams and sposies). I soaked them in VERY hot water (turned the water heater way up) with about 3 (!) cups of chlorine bleach in them. It didn't affect my PUL, but the elastic on the BGs was shot. It cost me $2 per diaper to have them replaced - in my mind much better than replacing diaps or styaing in sposies! No more stink! No more yeast!

Before this I had tried everything you've mentioned and more. We also switched to Tide free and this works better for us. We also crank the water heater before we wash each time. Also, check the temp of the water that your washer is filling with. Even when mine was set on 'hot' it was adding cold at the end for some reason, so my diaps were only being washed in luke warm water. We now turn off the cold tap while the washer fills. We also have hard water, but the calgon didn't help at all.

[momma_unlimited]

I am seriously starting to think I could clean my diapers by hand much easier than the washer- maybe just use it for the spin cycle. A huge kettle on the stove with very hot water & a bit of soap, a canning pot on the counter with cold for a rinse. !! You think??