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Howdy mamas!
Okay, I talked to Erika at ME at 1 on Tuesday about bamboo spots. It was a very friendly casual conversation with alot of exchanging information. ME is aware of the situation as far as bamboo bald spots and are continuing to monitor the situation. Ericka had actually just gotten to her office after visiting a chemist about this issue, so she was reading stuff we mamas had posted as she and I talked.
The bald spots that seem to come from nowhere are called "splash marks", they are exactly like they sound. They come from something being splashed or spilled onto the dipe. Based on the info I gave her about my washing routine and any chemical exposure, she couldn't specifically tell me what chemical and I also cannot think about what it might be either.
The "wear" spots are also just as they imply. The terry is wearing off in certain areas, from friction or rubbing against baby or clothes or cover, etc.
Ericka did say that ME is beginning to wonder if bamboo is durable enough to take the punishment of being a cloth diaper. The daily wear, harsher environment of what it's used for(urine, BM), the washing, the drying, etc. Which is why they are continuing to monitor the situation, along with this forum and our experiences(way to be informative mamas!)
While they DO NOT think this is a manufacturing defect or admit any responsibility for what is occuring, Ericka did say that ME is prepared to replace any balding ME diaper(I assume reasonably new?, purchased from ME directly?, this I forgot to ask specifically....I'm sorry!) with your choice of either bamboo or poly/cotton. All you need to do is send your old ones in and request a replacement.
My spots aren't that bad so I'm gonna wait and see what happens. Personal choice.
Ericka did say that they are still concerned that environmental detergents and soapnuts might not be strong enough to clean the diapers effectively and this in turn causes us to rely on other "additives" to make up for what our detergents are lacking. No, she wasn't insinuating that we use things we don't list, but that since the soap isn't doing as good of a job, then we use this to make the smell go away and that to soften the fabric and this for stains. Pretty soon you have a nice soup bath going on of all these things acting together in who knows what way. Like chemistry....
And diaper cremes also could possibly add to that chemical soup bath in a way that is hard to pinpoint.
She could not specifically tell me what I had done wrong to cause my spots. She suggested a few laundry soaps to use instead of what I had been using. Soaps that over time, they have seen much success with in keeping dipes in good shape.
Ivory snow.
Kind detergent.
I tried as best I could to be sure she had all you mamas' info at her disposal. I did not feel as if she was dismissive at all. She said she appreciates the seriousness of our issues and is still trying her best to trouble shoot what exactly is going on with our dipes.
Even mentioning that the chemist thinks that we'll never know exactly what is doing this for sure. But the toilet bowl cleanser got them a new angle they hadn't thought of! If you find anything new that might help, please continue to post.
In a way I feel like I've maybe helped but at the same time, have little to say.
ME knows this is an issue. They are trying to solve it. They will replace your balding (newer?) dipes.
Ericka is right, this will probably generate more questions than it answers. I have tried to remember as much as I could about all the talking points, but an update or two might be required.
If I don't know the answer, I will refer you to ME or Ericka said I can contact her directly.
Thanks again mamas!
Cheers!
Jamie g. |
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Thank you so much for your efforts and information!
Although I do not currently have bald spots, my entire (large) stash is bamboo so I am starting to worry a bit. Especially since it took a year of wear for the binding issues to appear on my first set of bamboo diapers, the defective ones that ME started replacing much sooner than that. I received a brand new stash thanks to ME's awesome customer service, but I am afraid that if it is really a bamboo issue, the balding could appear on my diapers later than on most and be dismissed as normal wear and tear, even if it happens much sooner than I would expect (I hoped these diapers would last through two children).
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you on behalf of all of us mamas here who are worried about our diapers and glad to know that someone is monitoring the issues. |
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THanks for your efforts! I don`t have any balding issues, but I hope if I do, they will come up soon. i would hate for these dipes to not last through at least 1 child! Hopefully, we will be spared...the toilet thing is definitely something to consider, but as far as splash marks...not sure I buy it, particularly if you know what you have imn your laundry room. Splashing is rare, even when it does occur.
Anyway, thanks again and I hope that ME can do something for those with the trouble. Also, I hope ME defines what they mean by `newer`dipes that are affected. How long does this mean?
Thanks again! |
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My reference to the newer? bought directly from ME? is just because I didn't directly ask her what the perameters are for the replacement. She just said "ME is prepared to replace all balding ME diapers with either new cotton/poly or bamboo, your choice. All you have to do is send in your old diapers with a request for replacement." I assume newer since she said some "wear" spots are normal with all types of clothing & materials after a while. And that's where ME is beginning to question bamboo's durability as a diaper material. So if you have some 6 year old cotton ones, don't expect a replacement. But my 8 month old bamboo would be, since the wearing is pre-mature. Bought directly from ME is purely my speculation. So they can prove the dipes age, my mind says. But this I honestly don't know. I would have to ask.
They keep records of all this, including if you got a new stash due to a prior issue. You would need to cross that bridge when you get to it, I suppose. You might be fine.
They have sold thousands of bamboo over the past year. It is possible that some of you will get through your "one child to PT" with what you have. Ericka has said they have seen bald spots before over the past 20 years, so it's nothing new. But there is an unusually high frequency of problems with bamboo over a short amount of time. Which is why they are looking into it and monitoring the situation.
I don't know if I helped you or not, but I would cross that bridge when I get to it. Don't worry until there is something to worry about. |
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I have asked ME specifically to clarify their offer of replacement for the balding issue. I felt too unsure of what I was saying about it. I will let you know what they say, unless they respond directly to this forum ?.
I won't be able to post their response until later tomorrow evening. My son has a neuro appt in Omaha, so we'll be out most of the day. FYI
HTH. |
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Is it possible the splashing has something to do with urine? Since most of us have boys with our bald spots? I know mens restrooms stink worse than ladies.
Just a thought. |
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| Could the splashing be caused by the detergent/borax sitting on the diapers full strength? Like if you put your diapers in the washer and then threw in your detergent on top before the water was in to dilute it. Just spit-balling ideas. |
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No, please do spit-ball!
Erika said that in 20 years of diapering, she'd never thought about toilet bowl cleanser, even though some of us dunk-n-swish. So new ideas are great! Keep them coming! If we can help her figure this out, that's great!
Believe me, she wants this to stop as much as we do! |
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While we're spit-balling ideas... My husband was wondering yesterday if splashing could have happened in the factory, on the actual fabric, before it was turned into diapers. I don't know if it is possible, because I don't know if it would have shown right away or if it could have just eaten away at the fabric slowly, but I thought it was an interesting possibility. There's bound to be some chemicals in a factory, so I suppose accidents could happen - you only need an employee who doesn't fess up to his mistake or who doesn't think it's a big deal. And it could explain why some people would have only one diaper affected (if they got only one made from this "bad" batch of fabric that had been splashed somehow) and some would have more.
By all means, I'm not saying that to accuse ME, I'm just throwing a new idea out there for consideration. I assume they would do some quality assurance before the diapers leave the factory, and I'm sure we all looked at our diapers closely when we got them, so it wouldn't be possible if that kind of splashing really happens overnight as someone would have caught it right away. And I hesitated before posting this as I don't want some people to jump on this as a possibility to absolve themselves of all fault. So I repeat: I have absolutely no idea if it is at all possible. But I thought I'd mention it just in case... |
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That would make sense. Mine did not start until I started dryer drying. I always dried the Organic, UB cotton and AIO, but not my bamboo. Too many, too long to dry until it got so cold out and I think I have been drying a month or so and now this is small and showing up.
They emailed me asing what toilet bowl cleaner I use. I use method. What do you all use? Just wondering?
Also tonight I was inspecting my dipes after line drying them and my thin/bald spot is not noticeable. I am confused. I think it may be how the fibers dry? |
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I don't use any toilet bowl cleaner. I don't dunk-n-swish, I diaper spray with a potty pail bucket so my dipes never touch the toilet or the water inside, only the sprayer spray which comes from the toilet inlet valve, before going to the tank.
Erika just meant that she's learning new stuff all the time. Not that it couldn't cause issues, mind you. |
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| Did you get a specific reply yet about the replacements? I'm sure mine would qualify, they are only 9 months old, but just want to be sure... |
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No, still waiting. Erika did ask for my original email to be sent to a different addy, so I know she got it. Give it 'til Friday. I did ask about new vs old, organic vs bamboo, used vs directly bought, so I hope I'll have all the answers you need to get replacements soon.
I'm sorry I didn't ask originally. I was just thinking about my own stash and that they weren't that bad yet so I wasn't gonna ask for replacements yet. But I should have realized by seeing other mama's pictures that I am in the minority on that part.
Sorry.
I hope to post her answer soon though! |
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| So what do you clean your toilet with? Just curious. |
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On Sundays, my whole tribe spends the am cleaning the whole house top to bottom, we use Comet powder cleanser and sprinkle the toilet bowl with that, toilet brush it, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then the toilet is flushed and sponged off everywhere else with all-purpose spray cleaner.
So the diapers don't have any contact with the toilet or water, I don't dunk-n-swish and I have "the potty pail" bucket system. I think Erika and I might be thinking incorrectly that you were referring to an extended release type of tablet cleaner that you place in your tank or under the bowl lip once a month, so that cleanser would be continually released into the water?
If so, you might need to clarify for her so there is no mis-understanding. |
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Oh don't be sorry! Its no rush really.  I was just wondering. Thanks again for doing all this to help all of us Mamas out!! |
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See "survey" thread about replacement guidelines.
Erika says age, "don't know how old they can be, results of the survey will determine."
Erika says used, "at buyers own risk, but cases will be taken on a case by case basis."
Erika says material, "bamboo is the fabric at issue."
I think that's it ladies.
Hope I did you guys some good anyway. The rest is up to you.
Cheers!
Jamie g. |
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