Ammonia Smell

[4JMJ]

Lately, when DS has a pee diaper it smells VERY strongly of ammonia.  Does this mean it's time to strip them?  I wasn't sure because they smell clean when they come out of the dryer (I have read that it's time to strip when they still have stink when they come out of the dryer).  They have only been stripped once, and that was probably 3-4 months ago.

I also recently switched detergents from All Free and Clear (which we use for our regular laundry) to Rockin Green, so I wasn't sure if that was causing the issue?  I always use extra water and an extra rinse when I wash them (we have an HE front loader).

thanks for any advice!

[alyadri]

It wouldn't hurt to try and strip them....I'm guessing that's the problem.  I've found that my fitteds are the worst for that - they don't smell when they're dry and clean until ds soils them.  Holy crap, watch out cause the stink is awful!

You might also try sunning them....I find that my diapers stink a whole lot less and I do much less stripping just by letting them sit in the sun for a few hours. 

[4JMJ]

Thanks, I'm going to try to strip them!  The stink is so bad it almost knocks you over! 

[blessedwith7]

The *best* and quickest way to keep away all smells and rashes I have found after tons of trial and error is to use just a smidge (1-2Tbsp.) of bleach in your hot wash.  I have a dispenser for that purpose on my top loader but you could add a diluted solution once your washer has filled.  Truly it saves so much work and frustration.  I have two in dipes so I do the special bleach wash about every couple weeks but I would think once a month is a good rule of thumb.

Good luck!

[4JMJ]

I wish I could use bleach but my dipes are all different colors (we use pockets).  That would be so much easier than the whole stripping thing.  I've never stripped in our front loader, so I'm a little scared!    I'll probably start with just a little bit of Dawn (like half a teaspoon or something).  Hopefully it will be enough to strip but not damage the washer!!

[Mom2M]

I have an HE front loader also and have to add extra water for each wash too and I do a quick wash with only water first to get all the pee/poop rinsed out, then a regular hot wash with detergent and an extra rinse.
I also tried Rockin Green and had to go back to A&H free. Unfortunately, we had terrible smelling diapers with the Rockin Green, I guess maybe because of the HE washer?
As for colors/bleach, I use bleach sometimes and have lots of different color pocket diapers. None of them have any discoloration or even fading with the bleach!
I also tried stripping with Dawn and it really didn't seem to do anything except take lots of water only washes to get all the suds out.
Good luck! I love our front loader but it is kind of a pain with diapers!

[4JMJ]

Originally Posted by Mom2M 

"I have an HE front loader also and have to add extra water for each wash too and I do a quick wash with only water first to get all the pee/poop rinsed out, then a regular hot wash with detergent and an extra rinse."  This is exactly how I wash my dipes!

"I also tried Rockin Green and had to go back to A&H free. Unfortunately, we had terrible smelling diapers with the Rockin Green, I guess maybe because of the HE washer?"  So maybe the Rockin Green is the problem?  I think I'm going to go back to our All F&C to see if that makes a difference.

"As for colors/bleach, I use bleach sometimes and have lots of different color pocket diapers. None of them have any discoloration or even fading with the bleach!"  How much bleach do you use?  Do you dilute it at all?  Put it directly in the dispenser when you do your hot wash?

"I also tried stripping with Dawn and it really didn't seem to do anything except take lots of water only washes to get all the suds out."  I think I am going to try the bleach.  I'm afraid the Dawn is going to somehow ruin the washer!!  Thank you so much!

Good luck! I love our front loader but it is kind of a pain with diapers!

[Mom2M]

I do put the bleach in with the hot wash but I don't really measure it, I think it is probably about 2 capfuls, I did diapers today and used bleach. I don't always use it but it has been a few weeks and I try to remember to do it before there are any stink issues!

[4JMJ]

Thanks so much, I added bleach to my last load of dipes.  I think the bleach, plus switching back to our regular detergent, really made a huge difference!  I'm going to try to remember to add the bleach every couple weeks!

[Rejoicing]

Switching to RnG is what started ALL our laundry woes! :(  Nothing but problems since.  No amount of stripping or additives or detergents have been able to make them "right".  I had to go to prefolds and flats only for washing ease and back to tide (one scoop not half).  If anyone knows how to correct the stink issue I'd be forever grateful!  Maybe I could bring those diapers back into rotation!

ETA: and dawn ruined my washer.  Pump ran dry, motor burned out or something like that???  I went to just washing in dawn because our ammonia buildup got so bad.

[lindsayinnc]

I love our RnG, but we have really hard water and I use Hard rock.  I think it really depends on your water and you will find what works best for yours.  

I used to bleach occasionally when the stink got really bad (before RnG).  

If you don't want to bleach often though I found that boiling them worked fantastically!  It stinks up the kitchen but it was worth it because my diapers were like new.  I just used a big pot on the stove, boiled the 4-5 inserts at a time for 10-15 minutes, put them in a colander in the sink, changed the water after 2 rounds.  Glad you had some luck with bleach and your old detergent, there is nothing worse than stinky dipes.

[jdg]

I really like the Rockin Green, and haven't had any more stinky diapers with that than with any of the others I've tried. The company makes an "Ammonia Bouncer" that I use once every couple months when I strip all the diapers. I've also found that sunning the diapers makes them go longer between needing stripped.

[crunchysamma]

We use RnG here too. 

[ShannonBFCDAP]

It looks like you've gotten a lot of great advise here already but I just wanted to add that a 1/4 cup of white vinegar in the rinse and a 1/3 cup of baking soda in the wash can help neutralize ammonia stink and leaves no residue behind. Plus a little time in the sun can freshen them and kill any possible bacteria that might cause odor.

[TreeRose]

I am so glad I found this thread. We use BumGenius and a couple FuzziBunz and the stink lately is awful. We thought it was DD! Now that she's 11 months and eating so much solids and drinking water, nursing less, etc., we just thought her fluids and poops were getting stinkier but I really think it's the diapers! I might try boiling them too! That's a great idea. I need to do another round in the sun but it hasn't helped much. I have yet to use bleach (been using cloth dipes for 9 months) because it's so harsh of a chemical but maybe once in a while it's just worth it.

I would normally try vinegar / baking soda but bumGenius specifically says not to use that on their dipes... go figure. Boil, sun, bleach - that's the new plan of attack for me!

[TreeRose]

Lindsayinnc,

I assume they're clean when you boil them - could I just take them straight from the washer and do it? And then did you put them straight in the dryer or on the clothes line?

Just trying to make a step-by-step in my head before I do it! Thank you!

[abiyhayil]

you can bleach just the inserts so you don't ruin the PUL part of the pocket diaper

ETA I strip on the heated wash cycle of the dishwasher!