Help me get the stink out!

[SamiPolizzi]

My AIOs smell fine when they come out of the wash, and then reek of amonia the minute they get peed in. I have a couple BGs and a couple GADs. I do a short, cold wash with vinegar and an extra rinse, and then a long, hot wash with detergent and an extra rinse.

What should I be doing differently?

[ExuberantDaffodil]

could be one of two things. Either detergent build-up (which are you using?) or not using enough detergent. I recommend trying RLR -- removes build-up really well.

[SamiPolizzi]

I kind of switch detergents based on where I shop. I use the trader joes brand a lot. Right now I have ecos, and I also just picked up some charlies soap which I haven't used yet.

[tanyam926]

I'm having this problem too, what is RLR? And how do I use it (once I know what it is)?

[ExuberantDaffodil]

here's a link that explains it

RLR Laundry Treatment
Or here's a longer explanation

[justice'smom]

I'm having the exact same issue. Only my diapers have never smelled until now. I have always loved cd, but now I'm getting really aggrivated. My son stinks and he is waking up wet almost every day. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

[lalemma]

I should change my signature to say "Bleach Disciple".

I believe that in non-natural-fiber diapers (especially in non-natural fiber diapers with many layers, like AIOs), you sometimes get a bacterial load too heavy to be completely removed by a regular wash. Before I started any complicated wash routines, stripping, etc, I would do a hot wash with a quarter-cup of bleach and see if that worked.

[detroitgirl77]

I've eliminated the diaper stink in our house. For our wash routine, I fill the tub with cold water in the rinse cycle and 1/4 cup bleach and let soak for awhile. I then finish the cycle and start a hot wash cycle with some homemade powder detergent and a small squirt of Dawn dish soap, with an extra rinse at the end, with some vinegar in the fabric softener compartment. Comes out smelling like nothing!

[Aries1985]

I do bleach too, every 4-6 weeks for my microfiber inserts. It works great and gets rid of the stink.

[tanyam926]

I'm not opposed to using bleach every once in a while and then rinsing well but I was always afraid to use it on my colored PUL pockets. It won't ruin the color?

Thanks!

[justice'smom]

I think my stink problem was due to me washing too many diapers at a time. oops.

[SamiPolizzi]

Originally Posted by tanyam926

I'm not opposed to using bleach every once in a while and then rinsing well but I was always afraid to use it on my colored PUL pockets. It won't ruin the color?

[erratum]

i had that problem and a SMALL amount (a little squirt) of Dawn dishwashing liquid did the trick. took away the oil build up and, along with it, the smell.
made them absorbent once again.