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OK, after I said that the Simple Green recipe was working fine for us (in our European front loader), the NEXT DAY - promise - our diapers started to smell a bit musty. The second load was even worse. (sigh) The diaper gods must have read my post! 
I have been using a dry pail and washing every other day, prewashing in cold water, washing in warm (60 degrees C) water, rinsing in 40 degree C water, and doing an extra rinse. I use about 2 TBS washing soda and 3-4 squirts of SG. Yesterday I tried adding vinegar to the fabric softener bin, but no luck. Diapers smell worse than ever. Currently I'm re-washing that load on hot (95 degree C) water, with vinegar and baking soda, with vinegar in the fabric softener bin. I've tried to follow the advice I've found here, but I am apparently missing something.
The smell has a note which reminds me of clothes that haven't dried fast enough, and have developed a "soured" smell. (I'm from the humid southern USA, and this is a smell I know well!) It's more than that, but maybe drying is part of the problem. Our Sandy's diapers usually take 1 1/2 days to dry on the line, even on a sunny day. Is this normal? Maybe I need to partly dry them in the drier, though I hate to do that.
All advice is welcome! |
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| What kind of spin speed do you have on your washing machine? Ours is 1200, and all of my diapers, Sandys and OS, are usually dry after a day on the line. Inside, I usually figure 24 hours (depending, of course, on season, humidity, etc). If they do take longer, like during the rainy spell we've been stuck in, they can get that too-wet-too-long smell and I have to put them in the drier. Anyway, 1.5 days to get dry on the line with sun seems a long time to me, so I wonder if your machine is leaving them pretty wet (so maybe you will have to partially machine dry them)? |
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Hmmm, I'm pretty stumped too. All I can think of is the two things you've mentioned already. Try washing in hot and drying at least partway in the dryer. I wouldn't think that being on a clothesline would get diapers stinky like that but who knows. If it's a musty type smell (like you get from leaving wet clothes sitting for too long) that's not ringing any detergent build-up warning bells for me but nothing is impossible.... Could it be that they spent too much time in the washer waiting to be hung on the line? I know that here if it's humid out (we're not in the south, but in Canada actually, but the humidity can still get pretty high on hot summer days) and I wait a half day or more to get the clothes out of the washer they smell funny as well.
Other than that I'm at a loss too, sorry.
Karen.
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| Wow, my diapers usually dry in a few hours in the sun. If they aren't dry by evening, I usually throw them in the drier for a few minutes until they are dry. The woman who introduced me to MEs said she put a tablespoon or two of bleach in every wash (and she was on her second child). So, another option might be using a little bleach once in a while and really rinsing if you see any reaction. HE machines are very stingy on water - I have read of people adding extra water to the machine (although I'm not sure how you would do this). One last thought, are you sure that it isn't the vinegar you are smelling? Do they still smell once they are completely dry? |
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Thank you all for the input, and I'm sorry for the delayed response. It looks like the washing machine spin may be the issue. I don't know what spin speed we have (too lazy to look it up), but the washer is 10 years old (though it was hardly used for the first 7). Having never washed cloth diapers before, I don't know what they're "supposed" to feel like. I've noticed, however, that some of my regular clothes seem excessively wet. I've continued washing on hot, just in case, and have used vinegar a couple more times. Most importantly, I'm now partly drying the diapers in the machine. The washer repair man has been scheduled, but we're also considering buying a new machine. I hate to spend the money, but in the long run it will be cheaper than running the dryer so much!
To answer your questions, no, the smell is definitely not vinegar. I had that smell once, but I did an extra rinse and it was gone. This smell is basement-like-gross-smell (if that makes sense!). I try to get the diapers out of the washer as soon as I think of it, but that can be a couple hours late. (I'm a bit forgetful!)
I plan to try washing in warm again, but I'll probably wait until the washing machine issue is fixed. Maybe the hot water will kill any cooties left behind! Thanks again! |
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In the on-going saga of stinkies, here's my update. Our front-loading machine works "correctly," but the spin speed is only 500rpm. The repairman didn't recommend a higher speed because it supposedly wears out clothes too quickly. Anyone have comments on that??
I'm now continuing to wash on hot (95 degrees C), then mostly dry in the dryer. Unfortunately, I still have a residual stale smell in the diapers. Out of desperation (and thinking there might be cooties), I added a touch of bleach to the wash, but it barely helped. Any ideas on how to remove a stale smell? The diapers smell fine out of the wash, but even in the dryer they start to stink.
My DS is on the last snap of his small Sandy's, and I'm trying to decide what to do about large diapers. If I'm going to have the same issues, I don't want to invest in Sandy's. I hate the thought, b/c I love them!! Also, machine drying is really cutting into our cloth "savings" over disposables. Any suggestions?? |
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Hmm, what exactly are you using to wash them and how much of it?
One thing I'd try to really get them super clean is to wash them as hot as possible. Turn up the water heater if you have to or put some boiling water into the washer (I think I read you have a front loader? If so, then nevermind that advice, too dangerous). If you have a steam or 'sanitizing' cycle on the machine, use it. Or if you suspect the machine is the cause, bring the diapers to a family member's or friend's house and do it there. You'll be bringing otherwise 'clean' diapers so I wouldn't think it would bother anyone and you'll know for sure if the washer has something to do with it. Or bring them to a laundromat (try to pick one that has nice, big & efficient machines, but not necessarily front loaders). Then wash the heck out of them with nothing but water, see what happens.
Also, maybe before stripping them, you could soak them in hot water and lots of vinegar (like at least a couple of cups) overnight. Or soak them in hot water and Oxy-Clean. It's basically hydrogen peroxide so pretty safe and could help with any 'cooties' (LOL!) plus it'll help get rid of any stains that might still be there.
If you think it will help, do a load with a cup of bleach. Normally I wouldn't recomend that but if the choice is that or quitting cloth, it might be worth it. Just make sure the bleach is well diluted before it comes into contact with the diapers. And then rinse really well to get the bleach residue out of the fabric so it won't irritate skin.
Consider wether you might be using too little detergent. Typically most problems come from using too much but it's not uncommon for people trying to avoid build-up to go too far the other way.
HTH,
Karen.
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Thanks for your ideas. I'm still using the Simple Green recipe, with hot water, as above, though I have even tried adding a sprinkle of Amway SA-8 for good measure, and/or vinegar in the fabric softener bin. I live in the Czech Republic, and all machines here are front loaders, unfortunately. I opened the machine the other day during a hot cycle, and steam poured out. Thus, I think the "hot" cycle is working properly. One time I tried adding extra water, but I only remembered it in the wash cycle. Didn't seem to help much. I even ran one batch through an additional complete cycle (warm, I think, 60 degrees) with no soap.
I'll try the vinegar soak. I need to find out what Oxy-clean translates to. I'm sure we have it in our stores - just not sure about the name.
The diapers are better, they just aren't completely smell-free yet. Maybe it takes time and many washes?!
Thanks again!
Tami |
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Maybe try increasing how much Simple Green and washing soda you use. The recipe I got it from recomends using up to 3 tablespoons of washing soda and about 4 squirts of Simple Green. Might help... In really hot water the washing soda should rinse out fairly easily so I don't think you need to worry about using too much (unless you start going nuts with it, LOL!).
Try the soaking and running through a couple of cycles in a row to see if it helps. Oxy-clean is the brand name but it's an oxygen bleach. It's basically hydrogen peroxide (when the powder mixes with water, it forms hydrogen peroxide), so it might be a peroxide bleach or something like that.
HTH,
Karen.
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The vinegar soak solved the problem! Wahoo! I soaked them in about 2 cups of vinegar, with enough water to cover them in the sink, for a few hours. Then I ran them through a hot wash with no detergent or anything else. No smell coming out of the washer. I almost completely dried them in the drier, to make sure the smell didn't return. Guess I'll have to continue drying them except on really sunny days. Now, I just need to soak the other half of the stash!
Thanks for your help! |
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Glad to hear the problem is solved!
Karen.
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| Re. your 500 rpm spin speed, our machine is 1200. I've only been using it for 4 years, but can't say that I see it wearing out the clothes at all (esp. since there's no agitator), since I'm still wearing the cotton tees I moved here with. The higher the spin speed the more expensive the machine when we were shopping, and I've got a couple of friends without dryers who were shopping for machines and wouldn't even consider anything less than 1000. Just for what it's worth. |
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| You might want to consider getting OS for the next size up, instead of Sandys, since the extra absorbancy of the L Sandys is going to take even longer to dry. |
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Thanks for the info. I wondered about the higher rpm, but my only info was from the repair man. I'd love a new machine, but unfortunately it's just not in the budget right now. 
Re: MEOS, if you add a liner, do they work as well as the Sandy's? And what about at night - can I add 2 liners?? I love my Sandy's and I hate to give up on them. However, drying them in the machine all the time won't work for us.
Thanks for the input! |
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I've always been a Sandy's fan and am now using the One-Size. I'd have to say they definetly perform as well, though they are a little less absorbant. They're not sooo lacking that you'll definetly need the liner all the time, but it's a possibility. For my girls I only use a liner at naptime or if going somewhere I won't be able to change frequently (or am likely to forget). For nighttime I find that stuffing with two liners is too much so I use a Toddle-Ease. I figure they'll outgrow the One-Size before being dry at night (my two older children took a long time to be dry at night, I can only assume the twins will as well) anyway so it's not really an 'extra' expense since I'll need them eventually anyway. I could manage to put two liners in there if I had to, it's not impossible or anything, I just figured I may as well get the Toddle-Ease now and make my life a little easier (plus they're a little more absorbant, which is good for nighttime).
I have indeed noticed a considerable difference in drying time in my Toddle-Ease (which is the same thickness as the Sandy's, just a little longer in the rise) and the One-Size. The One-Size always takes a noticeable time longer...
Karen.
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The OS is only 2 oz less absorbant than the Sandys, but the dry time difference is noticeable (Karen, you said your OS take _longer_ than the TE? This isn't right for cotton, although I think you have the bamboo OS, which could take longer than your cotton TE???).
I have used mostly the OS, but have generally used L Sandys for nighttime, for those 2 oz. When we travel, however, I have taken only the OS for simplicity's sake, and found that an OS with one liner was fine for nights, and DS#1 was one of those kids who for a while needed a liner with every diaper because he was a fairly heavy wetter (most people don't have to do this, which is why the packages have fewer liners than diapers). If you found you needed more for nights, you could get two liners in there for sure now (if baby is about 20 lbs), but it could get tight later, as Karen said (although now with DS#2, I am discovering that at x-weight, my boys fit into things completely differently, so it may come down to build). By that point, however, baby might not be soaking night diapers as much anyway, since the bedtime nursing/bottle probably isn't there anymore. Or by then maybe you have a few TE, or a new washing machine, or . . .
Related to wanting to reduce dry-time, here's a link to a diaper I find really interesting-sounding: http://www.thenappylady.co.uk/public/productdetails.aspx?id=53&cat=1
I haven't tried them, but I think Karen has tried their bamboozle? If you can get your ME diapers in $, then obviously TotsBots are going to be a lot more expensive, given where the pound is these days, but just thought I'd throw that in there. :-) |
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Oops!! My bad!! I meant to say that the One-Size dry FASTER than the Toddle-Ease!!
I've tried the Bamboozles and I did like them. They're no trimmer than a cotton diaper though, which is why I'm getting rid of them in favor of the ME bamboo... It was almost like too much absorbancy, more than I needed for just daytime diapers. I don't know about drying time though, they do have the soaker sewn on only one end, so I'm sure that helps, but then they're thicker/more absorbant so...
I got them locally though, there are a lot of retailers in North American carrying them... Still wayyyy more expensive though!!
Karen.
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Oh man, I just noticed that the link wasn't actually to the Bamboozles (should have known, didn't pay enough attention!) but to a brand new fabric diaper!! This is NOT good, you know how I love to experiment and try different things.... I thank you, my wallet - not so much! LOL!
Karen.
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| Oops, sorry Karen . . . but if you do end up trying one or two of these, will you post a review of them? I'm very curious about them! |
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I'm definetly going to try them, just too curious. I've emailed them to ask about purchasing it, not sure I'll be able to as it looks like they're only available in the UK... But I'm definetly going to try!
Karen.
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