Mama pads washing help

[jorie]

I am having stink but not staining issues with my mama pads.  When they come out of the wash, they look clean, but when I smell them, they don't smell clean.  They smell like blood though really like iron (rusty nails).  My wash routine is: I rinse them in cold water when I take them off then either put them directly in a dry pail or sometimes dry them over the shower rod then put them in the pail.  They don't sit for more than 3 days generally.  I wash them either with towels or diapers so generally getting a cold and hot wash.  Is there something that will address the iron smell directly or am I just doomed to wash, wash, wash?

TIA!!

[kristandthekids]

I soak mine in white vinegar and water instead of a dry pail and I've never noticed a smell.

[jorie]

How much vinegar?

[Sfcmama]

I do a wet pail with new water everyday until I wash at end of cycle. No stink that way.

[kristandthekids]

Originally Posted by jorie 

How much vinegar?

Enough to cover the bottom of my little mini-pail? I don't measure. Maybe a cup?

[jorie]

Originally Posted by kristandthekids 

Originally Posted by jorie 

How much vinegar?

Enough to cover the bottom of my little mini-pail? I don't measure. Maybe a cup?

So do you use the same vinegar water for your entire cycle?

[kristandthekids]

oh no. I change it daily.

[Mommy2Austin]

I've been told to soak in hydrogen peroxide :)

[lunagal]

@Jorie,

The problem is likely due to a build up of soap and other residues on the pads. "Stripping" them is what you need to do to get rid of the smell. Check out this link on how to strip cloth diapers, and it will work on your pads. Essentially, you need to wash them in hot water, with NO detergent. @kristandthekids: I agree, vinegar is helpful.

PS: I'd love it if some of you would share your comments on how you wash your mama cloth on my "Simple tips for washing cloth pads" blog post and video clip.

[briannas auntie]

I change the water in my soaking bucket every morning and wring out the pads that have been soaking all night.  I also add a couple drops of tea tree oil to the soaking water and that seems to dramatically cut down on the odor of the pads. 

Jessie

[mamayogibear]

I don't use a soak bucket because my three year old got a bit to curious one day. Now I just dust the pads with bakingsoda and roll them up. I have not noticed any smell after washing them. I wash with baking soda and either ecover, biokleen or sals suds and then rinse with vinegar. Sometimes I just toss them in with diapers instead of storing them seperatly.