how to troubleshoot pee smell with new PE washing machine?

[indigosky]

We've been using cloth diapers, mostly BumGenius these days, for 3 years. Recently we got a new HE top-loading washer. We've reduced the amount of detergent we're using (Allen's) to 1 tsp instead of 2 tsp per load. But DP and I have noticed that when DD pees, the diapers smell much more right away than they used to. We didn't used to be able to smell that her diaper was wet, but now we can.

Any advice on what we should do to troubleshoot?

[cristeen]

Increase the detergent would be my first step. You know the previous amt worked in the old machine, see if it works in the new one.

Then id check the water level. Im not familiar with HE top loaders, but i know most FLs try to get by with not enough water for cds.

[MsFortune]

I'd try running a load on your normal setting but don't put in a full load - put in maybe 1/2 the diapers you normally do.  So they get lots of water on them, and you know they get a good soak.  Then if they smell better, you know it's the water saving functions of the washer that's doing it.

I put white vinegar in my diaper wash every other load.  It got rid of the pee smell.  I have a he front loader. 

[clovergirl]

I would also recommend going back to the original amount of detergent.  I know Allen's is super concentrated, but I highly doubt 1tsp is enough to get cloth diapers clean, even in a HE washer.  Try 2tsp again and see what happens.

[Gingercat]

Borax is the only thing that helped us get rid of the pee smell on my son's diapers.

I also tried vinegar, soda and TTO.

Now I use borax in combination with soda and everything's fine.

But sometimes if I do not use enough borax the smell comes back  .