Dirty Diaper Laundry is having another CLoth Diaper Carnival! This is my first ride on the “carnival” and the topic is washing diapers.
It is a super fun topic cause it is a SUPER FUN past time…
…but that didn’t used to be true…there was a time when we had ammonia stink and it was NASTY!
I would take Lizzie’s diaper cover off and be nearly knocked on my face by the horrid smell. It was embarrassing. I didn’t want anyone else changing her diaper for fear they would look at me and say “so why do you do this cloth diaper thing again? it STINKS!”
The culprit…
I had read that this was the best detergent for cloth diapers – rinses clean, no residue, no baby skin reactions. But only if you don’t have hard water.
And we live in the country, no water softener.
So after reading about TIDE (shock and awe) I tried it.
First I had to strip my diapers – in other words super duper clean all the nasties off. I have heard of other ladies using Dawn dishsoap, I used Ivory. It took a BUNCH of rinses but my dipes were super clean!
Now all I have to do is put my diapers in the dry pail then wash them on washing day.
One cold wash no detergent, one extra long hot wash with 2nd rinse and 1 scoop Tide! Then I dry on full power.
But I always pull out the PUL
Drying any covers or pocket dipes on high heat will wear them out faster….so I lay them flat to dry
Simple, fun, no stink!!
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I use Chaarlie's but we do not have hard water. I tried to strip my diapers once with Dawn and it took only one extra wash to get all the bubbles out. I have never figured out why.
I used to use Tide but I switched to detergent meant for cloth like Tiny Bubbles. I do have ammonia stink also and I just can't get rid of it. It is only really bad in the morning but sheesh. It can knock you over!
Don't forget to come get the McLinky code later tonight or tomorrow.
-Kim
http://www.dirtydiaperlaundry.com
I have hard well water and have had no problem with Charlie's. Sometimes it's a combination of things- diaper material, washing machine, kiddo's food, drying time, minerals in the water. I do get the OCCASIONAL blinding ammonia diaper, however. 🙂
I only have ammonia smell after the diapers have been sitting in my hot garage for a day!
A mother earth – maybe it was more than just the Charlie's. I switched detergents after reading on their website that their soap doesn't work as well in hard water and haven't had a stink since, hooray 🙂
Melissa – I have had that same "sitting too long" ammonia stink. Oh it is bad!
I'm not sure if I have hard water or not, but I really like Rockin Green…it says it is formulated for hard water.
I've only ever had trouble with microfiber stink & Rockin Green took care of it in one wash.