i was just given a TON of prefolds!

[myk]

a friend was getting rid of her stash and gave me a ton of prefolds! i'm currently trying to strip the smaller ones. she also gave me a whole lot of huge ones - 14x18" washed. they look rather cheap and not nice and quilty so i'm not sure they're very good. what size kid will they fit? they seem toddler size - but my small prefolds seem to be getting too small for the Medium Bummis wrap she fits now, though she hasn't had any leaks. she's 16lb and 6 months old. what should i be using? 

also, the bummis wrap i had been using is great. she gave me a bunch more, and they have a slight basement funky odour. how do i clean them thoroughly? i know neither super hot water, nor bleach, is very good for them.

i'm quite excited that she gave me them, though. i have several pocket dipes that i love but not enough to do cloth full time. i had a few small prefolds and a couple wraps just to try, and they're easy enough too. i just have to strip them thoroughly because they were dingy grey and full of buildup from the looks of it! luckily i have super hot water for the cotton dipes to go in.

[lkvosu]

As for sizing, just try both and see what fits. There is quite a bit of wiggle room with prefold sizes, in my experience anyway. I have a 9mo and several different size prefolds that we use regularly. They all work, meaning they soak up everything and no leaks, but some are just a bit bulkier than others.

For the odor, have you tried adding some borax to the wash? That works for me. Also, sunning them could do some good, too.

Good luck!

[myk]

no, i don't have borax on hand. i have tide regular, country save, arm and hammer super washing soda, oxy clean, calgon, and bleach :)

[ZakareyasMama]

DS has worn the 14x18 size "premium" since he was like 4 months old. When I first got them I thought they looked so big ("He'll be potty trained before he's THIS big!") I fold down the backs about and inch and a half because the length still is too long and that traps in the poop. The small size just wasn't big enough to make it around his thighs. 

Only advice I have about the wash is to add Baking Soda to your cold soak. That's what I do.