More on Ammonia in the Diaper Pail

[Loves2bGreen]

Hi. I know there are lots of threads there about this, but I haven't found the answer yet that I'm looking for. They don't smell out of the wash or when he just pees. I have stripped my diapers with blue Dawn (am having leaking issues, I think are related to diaper fit but not sure). I use a recommended detergent (Country Save) in the recommended amount (diaper company recommendation). I've tried vinegar, and baking soda, and just water stripping, and I still have horrible diaper pail ammonia smells. It is so bad that when I go to wash them it almost overcomes me it is so strong!

I recently switched diaper pail liner bags because my first set leaked, however, with the leaky first set I didn't have an ammonia problem. Now they don't leak and I have an ammonia problem. Don't know if that is related. It only takes 1 diaper in the pail and it already smells! I wash diapers every other day. Anyone have any ideas?

[alyadri]

The only time I've had an issue with a large ammonia smell is when I had my wetbag near the heater in the room.  I didn't even think about it at until I opened the bag and had to quickly retreat the room.  Could it be that your wetbag/pail is in a warm area and that is the cause of the smell?  

Other than that my only other suggestion is to buy a solution you spray on the diaper before you put it in the bag.  I've heard from others that they really work but don't have any experience with them. 

Sorry you're having these problems and I hope you get it solved!!

[Beauchamp]

I had/have problems, too, with ammonia and also some weird blue staining on my dipes at the bottom of the pail (and I, too, still haven't found a solid solution...) but what I'm doing now is trying to wash more often (although every other day seems like that should be fine) and use more detergent. I use what I'd use in a regular load of clothes, NOT 1/4 of the recommended amount, or only 2 TB, etc. When I use less, the dipes seem stinky.

What kind of diaper pail do you have? i.e. can it breathe or is it airtight?

[somegirl99]

For me leaving the pail open (no lid) all the time seems to help a lot with reducing odors.

The blue stuff at the bottom of the pail sounds like mold.

[mumkimum]

Do you wipe/dry the actual pail when you take dipes out to wash?  (you do wash the liner too, right, do you do that any differently than the diapers or not?)  What kind of liner/pail?

Heat has always made the smell worse - so with summer coming, that never helps.  For me, washing a bit more often, wiping the pail out with vinegar spray and tossing a wipe in with some essential oil on it helps keep stink down more than anything else I've done.  I have seen in the past that sometimes people need a bit more detergent when dealing with extra-stinky diapers (even when they seem clean at other times), so that couldn't hurt to try.