Our STINK is back...HELP!

Well, we have the same problem, no matter what I do the stink comes back, so I finally gave in and use a *tiny* bit of bleach once every month or two. It sucks...I hate using the bleach, but I hate the nasty diaper smell even worse(if that wouldn't turn people off cding, I don't know what would). So my advice is, if you have tried everything(calgon, extra rinses, less det., more det., sportswash, stripping)then go for the bleach. I really only need to do it every once in a while, and I use less about an eighth of a cup for a front loader.
HTH~Debi

Guess we were postin at the same time! :LOL

When we had the icky, icky amonia smell a month or so ago, I did try some bleach. But, then DS got a rash from it. I don't know if I had rinsed enough. But, that is what started our decent down into rash-dom. But, maybe I'll try it again.

Remind me, Bleach is NO GOOD for FB's or covers, right?

When I use bleach I only use a TINY bit...1/8 of a cup or less. and then I do 2 hot(short-30 min) washes. I have a front loader so there is very little water. Oh, hey do you have a front loader? I have to add extra water to all the washes when I do dipes...there is just not enough water in there to get them clean otherwise.

todzwife~hehe...I hate to even admit I use the bleach, but seriously after 6 months of trying to figure out a routine, and almost giving up cding because I was so sick of the smell...I broke down and used it. I sniffed my dipes all day!!! LOL Clean, finally!

Oh, and I'm not sure about the covers/fb...I used fitteds, prefolds, and wool, so it wasn't an issue for me. Sorry no help there...

I wash covers/FB with his clothes unless they are pooey...but I'd probably keep them out of the bleach JIC.

I had always been a die hard dreft user because it was the only detergent that didn't give my DD rash or cause my fleece pockets to repell. We ran out and I sent DH to get more and naturally he came home with something totally diffrent. He brought Sun and Earth and I decided to try it. I am in love! I no longer have to do multiple washes to get clothes smelling great, I used to have to wash at least twice on hot now I do one prerise and one ht wash with 1/3 amount of sunandearth then dry the diapers smell so nice and don't have that icky smell right when she pees. Another bonus, I recently got brave enough to try the sample of fabric softener that came with it, and my diapers (tiny tots, ME OS and sandys, Fuzzi bunz, hemp prefolds, kushies AIOs) all came out soo soft and my fuzzi bunz are wicking mositure better than ever. I had in the past tried downey advanced but had repelling issues.

Deanna

Have you tried Baking soda in the cold water prewash? I have been having stinky dipes too (we use fuzzibunz) and that seems to help the most. Also drying in the sun. And putting baking soda in the diaper pail between washings. I'd love to hear what works for you....

Good Luck!

Quote:

I've never heard of it..where do you get it?

I second the baking soda (or vinegar )cold water prewash ... I have stink issues with my hemp when it has sat in the bucket for more than 2 days (three days and I HAVE to prewash to get rid of it). Since I've started doing the prewash /rinse I havn't had any more stinky problems.

He picked it up from a local groccery store a Fry's (a kroger division) I've also seen it at local health food stores.

Deanna

I've been having stink issues w/ my prefolds lately. So I did a prewash w/ extra water (we have a fl), washed with Dawn (1 Tbls) w/ xtra water, and did 1 extra rinse. No smell! Yay! We have hard water, too. I think I'm going to do one wash a week with the Dawn dish soap, just to prevent the stink from building up.

Thanks for all your suggestions mamas. I am going to try some of these for sure. I have to because 1) they stink; 2) we ran out of sposies, and 3) he is all rashy again since we've been using cloth exclusively that last two days.

Anyway, I called the water district just to double check our water hardness and it is 23 grains per gallon.
I just found this info below and it is clear that we have HARD water.

ppm grains/gal
Soft 0 - 1
Slightly hard 1 - 3.5
Moderately hard 3.5 - 7.0
Hard 7.0 - 10.5
Very Hard 10.5 & over