The WORST smell-what's wrong?

[RubyOrganique]

I've been cloth diapering my 19 mo old since day one. 85% prefolds 15% all-in-one training pants. Recently, my doublers and AIO have an unbelievably bad smell when DD wets them. DH thinks it is something dietary. I believe it's non-cotton elements of these reacting to the urine or possibly soap build up. Is there a way to get rid of it or is it the end of the road for these pricey (but much loved) training pants?

[Michigan Mama]

What's your washing routine? Detergent? Have you ever stripped your diapers?

Don't give up yet - with a little troubleshooting, you should see some improvement.

To strip my diapers, I scrub them with a little blue Dawn dish detergent and a toothbrush. Then I wash them on super super hot (I turn up the hot water heater, carefully!) and keep rinsing on hot until I don't see any more bubbles.

[Vancouver Mommy]

I found the waterproof covers simply have a finite lifespan, afterwhich they begin to absorb urine and smell funky. In my experience, they covers last about 100 washings or so before I have to replace them.

[lalemma]

Do you use bleach?

I feel like I'm the Bleach Disciple... but my theory is that diapers made of non-natural materials (or even lots of layers) eventually build up a bacterial load that you can't get rid of with your normal wash/dry cycle. But a laundry cycle kills enough of them that they seem fine when they come out of the dryer.

Honestly, I would try a hot wash with some bleach to kill the bacteria before I tried anything else. A quarter cup should do it.

[quiminco]

I've heard that Cadie's RLR works well for stripping the detergent build up out of diapers (that detergent build up is what traps elimination ickies, thus causing the stink). Boiling natural fiber dipes work, as does OxiClean. Rinsing over and over until there are NO more bubbles is key, regardless of the method you use to strip the diapers.

What I do- I don't know if this will help, but I've never ever had to strip my diapers- is wash in hot water with soap nuts and an extra rinse, then dry on hot. I don't do a "pre-wash" or anything. I put a scoop of OxiClean in when they start looking gross. That's it!

[Mommy2Austin]

On the other end of the spectrum, make sure you are using ENOUGH detergent and not too little.

I second the Bleach Disciple

[junipervt]

sounds like bacteria. you'll need to use something that will kill the bacteria for the smell to go away. a little bleach will work.

[RubyOrganique]

I think I'll give the oxygen bleach soak a try. I tried multiple plain water soaks and switching detergents (from BioKleen to Ecos F&C) and am a bit neurotic about not over-doing the amount. [My DD got a rash/burn type thing once and I still don't know if it was from a diaper grandma washed with reg soap, or what.] We did go from commercial w&d to home high efficiency units(which I couldn't be happier about given I used to walk my dipes 2x a week to the laundromat) so maybe that's part of it. I'm grateful it's not the prefolds, just the 5 AIOs.