newbie q: once-weekly washing-- how to control smell?

[janevar]

Hi there. I live in a smallish apt in NYC and due to our not-very-reliable laundry room we're going to use a diaper service for at least the first 3-4 months of baby's life. We'll be using prefolds and a variety of covers that will be washed/kept separately (the service uses water too hot for PULs).

I'm due in 2.5 weeks so actually have no experience with CDing yet, and one of the things I've yet to do in these last few errand-running days is get a diaper pail/liner system set up. Reading through the posts on this board, i get the sense that everyone is doing laundry every 2-3 days to prevent smell build up. But our diaper service will only pick up once a week! EEK!

What can I do to prevent a massive stink bomb from happening? is this something i shouldn't worry about until we introduce solids in 5-7 months? Should I be considering using flushable liners even w/ EBF poops? Should i just wait and see? Lid? No Lid? Help! My diaper service sells this pail: http://diaperkind.com/Diaper_Pail.html

Thanks in advance, MDC! I sure do love y'all.

[JTA Mom]

The smell is not so much from the poop but the old pee--it turns into ammonia.

Honestly, a well fitting lid should be fine. You can try sprinkling on baking soda with some essential oils each time you throw a diaper in the pail to cut some of the smell. It's not bad, really. It only smells one you open the pail. I haven't had any 'creeping' smell, that scents the house, kwim?

Ami

[cristeen]

Honestly, the smell from a BF'd baby's CDs is pretty minor IMO. For once a week laundry you'll need a good-sized pail with a lid. Go from there. You may find that you don't smell it. You may find going lidless works better for you. You will need to give the pail a quick wash every week, and might want to sprinkle in some baking soda, but really it doesn't have to be complex.