Posted by KarenC on September 29, 19103 at 21:13:34:
In Reply to: hard water and poopie smell posted by tracy on September 29, 19103 at 19:04:22:
Hi Tracy,
Hmmm, I don't know if this will help or not but... First I wouldn't bother with tea tree oil *before* you've at least rinsed your diapers. Tea tree oil is a natural disinfectant but I can't see it doing much good if it's in really dirty water (and that first soak is likely pretty icky). Second, I wouldn't bother rinsing twice before you wash... One pre-rinse is a good idea, especially if you dry pail, for getting out as much of the nasty stuff as possible before washing. But two pre-rinses probably isn't doing much other than wasting water... I would pre-rinse once then use the tea tree oil in the wash or first rinse... That might help the tea tree oil be more effective.
As for the odor problem directly.... Have you checked your final rinse cycle for suds? Maybe you're using too much detergent and getting a build-up? Most people find they need only about 1/4 - 1/2 the recomended amount of detergent. Too much and you end up with build-up that will actually retain odors.... Your final rinse cycle should be pretty much free of suds, if it isn't you need to lower the amount of detergent and/or rinse more. This is the major cause of most lingering odors with cloth diapers.
Other ideas.... Check your water temp, it has to be a certain temp to kill germs (I think that's 50 degrees C but don't quote me on that...). Do you get rid of enough poop before putting the diaper in the pail? If you don't like dunking, try liners or the shower spray device... Maybe consider a wet pail, if only even for the poopy diapers. It isn't this way for everyone, but I personally have had more odor problems when using a dry pail.
That's about all I can think of for now... Maybe someone else can throw some ideas in there. Just know that this is NOT something you just have to live with. Cloth diapers should not have a single odor when clean (and this is even regardless of the type of diaper, good quality or bad even!). I can stuff my nose directly in my diapers and not smell a single thing!
Karen.