[webjefita]

Does anyone know what causes this? I'm so upset that I keep losing diapers. It happened to me last baby, too, and now this one is two weeks old. When I first get the diapers out of storage, they're fine, I use them and wash them once or twice and they come out with the elastic all stretched out.

I need to know what causes it because I just lost two BSWW covers this morning and I don't want it to keep happening? Anyone? Any info out there? I did a google search and didn't come across anything useful (except how to repair them).

 

[snt88]

This started happening to me and I think I had two causes.

1. I was using vinegar in every wash cycle (I started when DD had a yeast diaper rash).

2. I was putting my covers and pockets in the dryer.

I stopped doing both of these things and my elastic stopped breaking. Incidentally, I was totally intimidated my replacing the elastic that had broken, so I took my diapers into a seamstress. She was a little surprised, but she fixed them for something like $4 a diaper. Totally worth the hour it probably would have taken me to fix one diaper.

 

[Mrsboyko]

I lost a bunch of diapers when I was taking them out of hte dryer when they were still hot. Laying them out when hot was causing the elastic to stretch (while hot) then it never returned to it's contracted state. I also noticed it with the constant vinegar useage. I still use it, but now only like once every 2 weeks or so.

 

[gwen's mom]

This happened to me too and I had to somehow "save" them. I sewed fold-over elastic on all of them and they are now usable again.

 

[webjefita]

Okay, I did some reading and I think it may be my dryer that is the problem, either it's getting too hot, they're getting stretched out in there, or I'm inadvertently stretching them when I take them out and they're still hot. I've never used vinegar or bleach or anything else on them.

Sigh.

I was thinking about doing foldover elastic on the covers, I hadn't thought about using that on fitteds too.

I think I'll stop drying any of the covers.

 

[Mrsboyko]

The heat of the wash water can be the issue too. No so much during washing, but removing them from the washer you could be stretching hot elastic. I do a warm rinse so as not to shock them (after a hot wash).

 

[AngelBee]

 

[Ifluffedthree]

using detergents with enzymes and breaking them down quicker. I personally don't think vinegar does anything, but I do think oxyclean type ingredients do. (just my two cents)
removing from dryer/handling hot.
I am also noticing that this is happening more and more since I have seen the HE frontloaders come into play. Many of them have additional settings that I think might be contributing to elastic failure. Hot water and constant washing.

 

[mommaof5]

I am constantly replacing elastic. It is really easy and no big deal but it seams to be happening more often, especially on my large FB. I stopped using vinegar and really don't miss it but I think I will go back to line drying. My dryer is probably hard on the elastic.

 

[webjefita]

thanks for the tips! i do a cold short wash with Purex and then a long hot wash with just water. I will see if I can do a hot wash/warm rinse, I will have to check my washer, and it is a front loading HE type.

i was able to replace the elastic pretty quickly in four of the kissaluvs. the rest are too small anyway (homemade newborn dipes) so i ordered some new ME sandy's and covers.