Ideas to help you get rid of the STINK!

One of the major issues with cloth diapering can be a sudden onset of stink.  It is normal for your baby to go through output changes as they grow and change their eating habits so sometimes the routine you had before may not work anymore.  Some other issues may be your laundry detergent and rinsing.

First, the detergent may be your biggest culprit.  Many detergents, even "free" detergents will have chemicals in them that will build up on your diapers, in turn you will get a stink to them.  This is why I carry Crunchy Clean products.  It is a product that is made by a WAHM and is specially designed for cloth diapers.  She has not only her detergent but a oxygen cleaner that has absolutely no chemicals that will ruin your cloth diapers or lead to a stink buildup.  At an affordable price that is less expensive then most "free" detergents on the market today and several great scents to choose from.  

At $11 for 80 loads (160 on an HE washer) it is not only safe for cloth diapers, its great on your wallet! 

The Pure Oxygen is $7.50 for a 32oz container, which will get you 32 loads! I also have a couple recipes for laundry detergent that I give to my customers that are wanting to do something at home.  I don't think that it works as well as getting diapers clean as the Crunchy Clean but it will do the job!  Contact me if you would like the recipe for that.

Another issue is the rinsing.  This is usually an issue more with HE machines than it is for normal washers, however I think sometimes people have this issue even with a normal machine!  I recommend this routine for your cloth diapers:

1 cycle cold wash/cold rinse with detergent

1 cycle hot wash cold rinse with an extra rinse cycles with detergent

1 extra rinse cycle (if you think it is needed)

A good way to trick an HE washer is to put 1-2 wet towels in the wash, this will think its heavier than the load is.  Some people have also found that if you start the wash, allow it to fill a little and then stop and reset it this will help trick it as well.  I don't know that that will work on every brand but if you would like, fill free to try it! 

Lastly, Changes in your child's output.  This may mean you will need to try new routines.  You may need to do an extra rinse, change your detergent, or you may need to try some extras.  If you can separate the covers or shells from the absorbent material I would start by doing this!  This will allow you to try things like vinegar, peroxide and bleach.  I don't recommend using bleach more then once a week AT THE MOST!  And know that most manufacturers will void your warranty if you have used vinegar, bleach or peroxide.  If you use vinegar or peroxide I would place it in your rinse water on the first cycle through.  Bleach goes in the bleach dispenser on the first cycle as well.  This will allow it to rinse all of the products out.  Also, never try multiples of this at the same time (ie: peroxide and bleach) You don't know how a combination of these with the cloth diapers will react.  Lastly, I HIGHLY recommend the oxygen cleaner I mentioned above before using bleach, this is safer on the environment as well as on your diapers!  It can also be used with your covers so you don't have to separate your cloth diapers!

If you have any issues or if these suggestions aren't working contact me for further options!