Stinky diapers - All Things Washing Discussions on Welcome!

Yardsyo

Help! Cloth diaper 2 kids 8 week old and 3 year old(bed only) pretty new to cloth about 6 months.
Wash every other day use tide, cold rinse, hot wash extra rinse. Then another whole cyle with no detergent to get out soap residue. I have tried rocking green - got rashes and country save - never seemed to clean well. we have hard-ish water
They are STINKY after being washed Not ammonia just smelly. I have tried bleach, soaking with vinegar, washing with baking soda added. I have tried stripping with calagon and just with hot water (lots of rinses). there were no bubbles left
I am at my end... All I ever do is wash diapers and look online for ideas. I use prefolds, covers, pockets and a couple fitted.

I need 2 things - first a way to get out the current smells. Then a way to keep them away.
If you have any ideas please let me know. THANKS!

autumnbeck

How much detergent are you using? First thing I would do is add more than you think you need and rinse extra. Try that and see if it helps. I too have hard water and I have to add a lot more than one would think I should.

Rlambert6002

I read somewhere that if you have hard water that vinegar can actually worsen a stinky diaper problem. I've had ammonia problems once, but not just downright smelly. I used Dawn and it worked like a charm. I've used Dawn like once every couple of weeks since then. The first time I used too much and had to rinse like 10 times (no kidding!...good thing I don't have an he washer). Now for what I refer to as my maintenance washings I only use like 1/2 tsp. if that much.

ErinGoBragh

I was just getting on here to ask about a similar issue. I too am having stink problems (not ammonia). Only in the fleece in my pockets though, all of my inserts, prefolds, and covers smell clean. I am using tide also with almost the same wash routine. I suspected that we might have hard-ish water too. I've been considering trying new detergents, but maybe I'll start by just using more. Sounds like that could get expensive quickly though. With hard water would you need to use extra of any detergent, or would it help to use one made for hard water?

autumnbeck

I am constantly learning myself! If you have hard water and are not adding a softening agent then the detergent can't really clean the diapers (or anything really). The minerals in the water prevent the soap from getting into the fibers. So adding more detergent which I have done and recommend doesn't necessarily do anything. I have ordered Calgon and am switching back to Country Save for now.

MayumiMom

So by adding softner, does that mean you shouldn't use detergent geared towards hard water, like Rockin' Green Hard Rock and you should use something else? Now that I know I need to get a softner I'm just wondering about the detergent. I am currently using the eco sprout that came with my rental but I had purchased some Rockin' Green Hard Rock to use afterwards.

Yardsyo

Thanks for all the help! I finally got them smelling good after a ton of washes. Then I started doing a half hour to hour long soak in hot water after my cold rinse. That seems to keep them smelling perfect...so far so good.
Also I use to line 2 of tide for a large load

MayumiMom

So at what point are you adding your Calgon? Currently I add my Bac-Out to the pre-rinse, then I wash in hot using Eco Sprout (provided by my 2 week diaper rental company) and then do an extra rinse in cold at the end.
Also I am having a stink in my diaper pail as well. I think it is dirty diapers mixed with the smell of the Burt's Bees diaper rash cream. However I can smell it in my daughters room. I do think though that my trash can may not have the best seal. I am using one that I had outside for recycleables and the way it is designed I think alot of odor can get out, guess I need to go get a new one.

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