Rash, Hard Water, Stripping Diapers

[zoe77]

My son has a horrible rash. I have determined that it is definitely his diapers. I have well water and I'm pretty sure my problem is that I have hard water and was not using a water softener so I have mineral buildup. I bought some Calgon and I'm going to wash all my diapers with Calgon and then strip them.

I've read about a few different ways of stripping diapers. Is it necessary to use dawn(dishwashing soap) to strip? I think my course of action is going to wash them all in hot water with only Calgon (they are all clean, non are currently soiled with pee or poop). Then keep running them through a hot cycle until there are no bubbles.

I just made the switch to cloth a little over a month ago and I REALLY want cloth diapering to work for us.

[JTA Mom]

When he pees his diapers, do they smell just like pee, or ammonia?

I'm trying to figure out if it's more than just minerals.

With hard water, you really want to use lots of washing soda and borax (or Calgon, which is a mix of those two) to soften the water with each wash.

Where I live I have hard/very hard water. I find that even with commercial detergents, adding more washing soda/borax really boosts the cleaning power.

What detergent are you using?

Ami

[zoe77]

The diapers smell really strongly of ammonia when he pees, especially first thing in the morning. But it's more than just ammonia, it's just really stinky. They smell fine after being washed.

I've been using planet detergent, but I just bought something new to try. I can't remember the name but I think it starts with a V. I also bought some bac out, I want to cover all my bases

How often do you use the Calgon? Every wash?

[JTA Mom]

If it's ammonia after he pees, they aren't getting clean.

With hard water, the minerals interfere with the ability of a detergent to really clean. The minerals in the water attract the surfactants, leaving less to work on the soiled clothes. This is why, with hard water, you need to add more softeners AND increase the amount of detergent used.

Most commercial laundry detergent is made for average/hardish water. However if, like lucky me, your water is practically in the super hard range, even that won't work well.

I don't use Calgon, since Calgon is just washing soda/borax. Basically, I try to use a 3:1 or 3:2 combo of 3 parts detergent to 1 or 2 parts washing soda/borax. I mix up a big batch of equal parts washing soda and borax. Then add the recommended amount of detergent (depends on the detergent, really) into the wash and add the appropriate ratio of my softener mix. So, say I need to add 4tbs detergent according to the box, I will add anywhere from 1.5 tbs to 2.5 tbs of my 'softener mix' to the wash as well.

With hard water, you do NOT want to use less than the recommended detergent. There's just too many minerals in there that will grab onto the soap. If you use very little, most of it will attach to the minerals and, in effect, not do any cleaning.

Also, because it's been a while that you've had ammonia issues, you might have an issue with ammonia bacteria as well. To kill them, use some bleach, or if you don't feel comfy doing that, a generous amount of oxiclean (any type, generic or not). Oxiclean turns to hydrogen peroxide in water, so a good disinfectant.

There are 2 causes of ammonia stink:

1) Ammonia salts--this is washed out with plenty of water and detergent.
2) Ammonia bacteria--these eat urine and the byproduct is ammonia. Hence the ammonia smell when the diapers get wet with pee. These get killed with high heat AND a disinfectant. Detergents do not disinfect. Bleach and oxygen bleach (ex. oxiclean) do this.

Also, because I'm curious, are you using a front loader? What's your wash routine?

Ami

[zoe77]

I have a top loader. I was only using 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent. At first I thought I was using too much detergent and that was causing the build up. But it sounds like the opposite is happening.

I'm going to pick up some oxiclean tomorrow.

So my plan is wash with oxiclean and Calgon, should that take care of it? Do I still need to do multiple hot wash cycles to strip the diapers?

My usual routine is a hot wash with detergent and then I'll do a second hot wash cycle with no detergent. I have fuzzi bunz, grobaby, and some prefolds.

[JTA Mom]

Originally Posted by zoe77

I have a top loader. I was only using 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent. At first I thought I was using too much detergent and that was causing the build up. But it sounds like the opposite is happening.

I'm going to pick up some oxiclean tomorrow.

So my plan is wash with oxiclean and Calgon, should that take care of it? Do I still need to do multiple hot wash cycles to strip the diapers?

My usual routine is a hot wash with detergent and then I'll do a second hot wash cycle with no detergent. I have fuzzi bunz, grobaby, and some prefolds.

Your wash routine sounds great, actually. I'd just up the detergent amount and add in the water softeners. And the oxiclean to kill the bacteria.

It might take a few more cycles to fully clean and disinfect them right now, but I would do one wash with the full amount of detergent, a good amount of Calgon and oxiclean and your hot wash cycle afterwards as a rinse. Then check them.

Btw, I am totally jealous of your top loader. I have a front loader so not only do I have to deal with hard water, I get to deal with too little water too.

Ami

[zoe77]

Thanks Ami, you have been so helpful. I have a pretty old washing machine and probably won't replace it until it breaks. I've heard mixed things about the front loading machines. It is nice to be able to open the door to add things once the wash is started

Hopefully by this weekend I'll have my son back in his cloth diapers. I want to make sure his rash is totally cleared before I try them again. The rash clears pretty quickly once he isn't wearing the cloth dipes. Another reason I'm sure the diapers are causing the rash.