embarrassing question about dirty diapers

[moxygirl]

So, I generally wash wet diapers by hand (along with most of our laundry), and once a week DH takes the poopy diapers to the laundromat because they get cleaner. But the last few weeks, things have happened that prevented him from getting there. Finally (3mo old+pregnancy brain!) I realized how long they've been sitting around and, sure enough, they're crusty and funky with old poo.

How do I wash these?? Do they need to be disinfected? What's the best way?

Thanks!

Edited to add: these are cotton flats and prefolds

[quiminco]

I like boiling my cotton prefolds

I'd imagine you could probably scrape the poo off, wash them by hand until the rinse water runs clear, let them soak in OxiClean (or other oxygen cleaner) to help get rid of the staining and smell, boil them for 10-12 minutes to kill the cooties, and be set to go.

I don't have preggo brain, but I still find diapers that I forgot about...

[moxygirl]

Thanks Kim! Glad to hear I'm not the only one

Btw, Samuel is DS's middle name! I love it.

[cristeen]

I'd probably let them soak for a while to soften everything up, give it a bit of a swirl in the soak water, then get some fresh water and do a basic handwash - nothing too vigorous. Then I'd send him to the laundrymat with the wet dipes.

[ltlmrs]

Scrape off what poop you can, then soak them. Just cold water. Then, scrape off what's left and send them to the laundromat. Maybe put some bacout in the wash water.

If you're going to handwash them, after soaking, wash in cold water then boil them. That's my standard procedure for washing diapers by hand. If I use my mom's machine I always put them on the sani cycle.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Definitely soak first to soften things up. Rinse (with vinegar) and wash normally. Then if they're really bad I'd probably throw in a couple Tbsp of bleach and rinse again.

[asoulunbound]

I would imagine sunning would help the stains- after the other suggestions of course. I'd go easy on the bleach because it might weaken the fibers. I know this time of year sun is hard to come by, but I'd leave them out for a full day if possible. I just did this with dd's dipes after a few months of not being able to sun them and they are white!
Don't feel bad- I know I've tucked a dirty dipe into the diaper bag and forgot it for a few days... oops. But a rinse, boil, and a wash and it's good as new.

[Michigan Mama]

Ditto everything said already. Bleach, boil then sun if possible - whatever your preferred method - and you should be good to go.

[moxygirl]

Thanks everyone! I think I'll apply several of these suggestions.

Right now I'm waiting to boil them until I can beg/borrow/buy a larger stockpot than my itty bitty 6 quart one.