[chilliepepper]

I was just thinking about the recent thread about the theory that diaper stink is not caused, as so many believe, by detergent buildup, but rather by the urine reacting with bacteria from residual poopies that maybe didn't previously get washed out good enough.

So I was wondering, does that mean that unless I thoroughly wash (not just spray) all poopy diapers immediately and get all the bacteria out before throwing them in the pail, that I am doomed to a stinky diaper pail? Because let me tell ya, I sure do have one now.

Since I didn't have a chance to respond to that other thread, I will say now that I'm also dealing with overnight diaper stink. It doesn't happen every night, but some mornings I walk in there and I can immediately tell it's going to be a hold-my-breath-to-avoid-gagging one. And I recently stripped the bejeebers out of our diapers---to the point that they're now really showing a lot of wear---and that seemed to help for a few days, but then the morning stink came right back. The cotton babies inserts seem to be the worst, and they were practically brand new the first time they got stinky. So yeah, I'm thinking that maybe it is a bacteria problem, and I actually need to use more detergent in our hard water.

But anyway, back to the poop-in-the-pail question. What do you think?

 

[amberthesugarcat]

I do think unless you spray or use a wet pail with a bit of bleach you will have stink in your diaper pail. It makes sense since you have pee and poop sitting in there! Think about how much PortaPottys (sp?) stink. But as long as you keep a cover over it you can keep the stink from being so obvious unless you open it up.

I dry pail and don't usually even dump the poop off (unless it is really solid and runs right off) so I now do my laundry every 1.5 - 2 days to keep the stink down. And I have resigned myself to adding a bit of bleach (2 capfuls) to every cold prewash, plus a squirt of Dawn every once in a while. But even my night diapers don't smell now, so it is worth using bleach in my case. I probably should spray the poop off, but I find that gross and I am super lazy...

BTW, my cottonbabies inserts would reek! Microfiber is made to suck in dust/bacteria/fungi/yeast/etc. and hold onto it, that is why it is such a good dusting cloth. So once you make it several layers (like a cottonbabies insert) it is almost impossible to get it clean, thus it stinks. I found that using Costco microfiber towels folded worked better since I could get them clean since they were only one layer. I would have to bleach my cottonbabies all of the time to keep them stink free... But they hold so much wetness!

 

[chilliepepper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amberthesugarcat And I have resigned myself to adding a bit of bleach (2 capfuls) to every cold prewash, plus a squirt of Dawn every once in a while. But even my night diapers don't smell now, so it is worth using bleach in my case.

So in your experience, is it true what I've heard, that a little bleach won't ruin my FBs, PUL and fleece covers and AIOs?

 

[hillymum]

I would substitute Borox for bleach. Bleach will damage your diapers over time.

 

[chelsmm]

chilliepepper- I have that morning stink problem with the cotton babies inserts too. Mine don't stink at all when I take them out of the dryer though. I don't use bleach, but I do use oxyclean or bac-out with each wash. Also tto. They only stink after she's peed in them in the am. It's every morning, and it's awful! Is this the case with you too?

do you think that the inserts aren't clean, or just that there's so much pee in the am that they are bound to smell?