[HelloKitty]

Someone must help me with my horrible stinky dipe problem. Really this is not funny I am in dire straights here - I'm so desperate that I was actually considering switching to sposies for awhile.

: I am in my first trimester and lots of smells make me sick - but this is the worst. I never had this problem before and now all of a sudden I'm just more sensitive or my dipes have taken on a strong order and it makes me so neatous.

I know there have been posts on this before but someone please just give me some quick advice. Again, I've never had this problem before so I'm not sure why it's happening now. I wash with a cold wash first - no detergent - then a hot wash with a small amount of 7th generation and some vinegar in the rinse water. I then do an extra rinse with just plain water. The last few times I've washed I tried eliminating the vinegar but they actually came out worse!

Should I try baking soda or calgon or what? Please help I'm desperate here!

Kitty

 

[wednesday]

Even though you always hear you should use just a tiny amount of detergent, I have also heard it's possible to be using too little to actually get the dipes clean. I wonder if that could be happening in your case. I always use a small amount of detergent in my cold pre-wash and add another small amount to my hot wash cycle.

 

[Joannect]

I've read that you aren't supposed to use 7th generation (although I know lots of mamas do) because it can cause detergent build up. Try stripping your dipes. Use dawn dish washing liquid & either hand wash (a lot of work, but works better for me) or with your machine use 2 tablespoonsDawn followed by many (3-5) hot washes with no detergent. That should help

Hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[Sherry]

yep, too little detergent is just as bad as too much. make sure your wash water is very very hot, add your detergent, do the vinegar in the first rinse, and add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your final rinse. hopefully that will take care of your stench problem!
if you can...and you have the energy, hang your dipes on the line to dry rather than putting them into the dryer...the sun and wind makes everything hung out on the line smell good!

 

[Joannect]

Yep they are right, if you have hard water and you don't use enough detergent it'll get really stinky too.

:

 

[Miny20]

I thought my dipes weren't smelling so fresh and I put a cup of baking soda in.. and no more smell.

 

[HelloKitty]

I actually tried more detergent the other day because I thought maybe that could be the problem - and they were worse....

:

Going to try the Dawn, the baking soda and line dry them tommorrow! I am desperate! Thanx for your help ladies, great appreciated.

 

[Yarnia]

Well I use mostly pockets and fleece topped soakers but I do a cold wash with detergent - perhaps 2 or three tablespoons? Then I do a hot wash with a capful of sportswash - and sometimes I do an extra rinse.
I also use the highest water level and try to wash every other day so there is not too many at once.

Other than that weird happy heiny funky fleece smell that I have decided will never leave, I don't have any problems. I use mostly hemp soakers too but no smell problems so far.
hth
Elizabeth

 

[Alison]

Yeah, I found that I was using too little detergent. You keep hearing people say "don't use too much, you'll get build up". So I was using too little. When I upped the amount I use (I use half what I do for a normal load of laundry), I found the stink went away. I also often put baking soda in with my prewash/soak. Don't know if it helps or not, but I don't think it can hurt! I have such a sensitive nose for smells anyway, and was the same when I was pregnant--I couldn't imagine washing dipes the way I felt then. Thank goodness DS was our first, so I didn't have to. Not sure what I'll do if I'm the same way again if we have more children! I can totally sympathize with what you're going through.

Alison

 

[crazy_eights]

STRIP THOSE BABIES!

er, I mean, try strip washing, I bet you'll see an improvement.

:

 

[NaturalFamiLEA]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherry yep, too little detergent is just as bad as too much. make sure your wash water is very very hot, add your detergent, do the vinegar in the first rinse, and add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your final rinse. hopefully that will take care of your stench problem! if you can...and you have the energy, hang your dipes on the line to dry rather than putting them into the dryer...the sun and wind makes everything hung out on the line smell good!

What does the vinegar do?