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I have been using CDs for the past 6 weeks with my BF newborn, and I have noticed for the past couple of weeks that when damp and/or warm, the diapers smell, and so does my dryer and my other clothes when I take them out of the dryer. I don't think it's detergent build-up since I'm using Charlie's Soap for all my laundry and have been for past 2 months.
Here's my wash method for my front-loader washing machine:
* dry pail, washing every other day
* diapers and a wet towel go in the machine
* short-wash on cold-cold (no detergent), normal spin (so they'll weigh more for next cycle)
* whites "heavy wash" on hot-cold, extra rinse, with half a scoop of Charlie's Soap and the fabric softener slot filled with vineger; fast spin
* dry on med. heat for 30min-1hour depending on time of day and the amount of sun to hang them after a little drying.
**just thought of something; I bought some XS Sandy's new, but all my MEOS were bought gently used. I washed the used ones with Charlie's a couple of time beforehand. Should I strip them?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks. |
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If the washer, dryer and other clothing smell then I would suspect it has nothing to do with the diapers. Washers can sometimes get littly musty smelling (apparently front loaders are more prone to this, have no idea if it's true or not, just something I heard), I think that's fairly normal and has nothing to do with washing diapers. Could it be you're not using enough detergent and that's why your clothing smells? Even if there is something wrong with the diapers or your diaper washing routine, I've never heard of that transfering smells to both machines and other clothing.
What kind of smell are we talking about here? Just a not-so-clean smell? Or a strong, burn-your-eyes ammonia smell?
It could be the OS have build-up, you never know how the previous owner washed them. Try stripping them and see if it helps them smell better but I wouldn't expect it would do much for the machines and other clothing though...
Your routine seems fine to me, I don't see anything obviously wrong with it at all. You could, however, try a different detergent just to see. Charlies doesn't always work for everyone (not that I've tried it, just basing that on what I've read here and other boards - some love it, some hate it).
You could reduce your initial cold cycle to just one rinse (if your machine doesn't have a setting for that just set it to start mid-cycle at the rinse part) to save water & energy but that won't do anything to help/hinder the smell issue.
Karen.
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I agree with Karen. I was speaking with an appliance repairguy recently and he warned me about the problem with mold and front-loaders. If you google it you will get lots of info.
HTH |
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I wish it were as simple as mold in the washer, but is that possible if I always leave the door to the washer and the detergent drawer open when not in use?
The smell is light-medium strength, maybe ammonia? (I haven't used ammonia in so long and DS's pees don't smell that strong). |
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I wouldn't think it would be the musty washer smell if you're making sure it's open between uses.
Ammonia smell usually indicates buildup, which could be possible on the older diapers, but that smell (which can make your eyes tear) would be strongest when the diapers are peed on (or have been stewing in the diaper pail, I guess), and should not be something that would transfer to other clothes, the dryer, etc., since it's a problem with detergent trapped in the diapers themselves.
Your washing routine doesn't sound that off, so at this point I would wonder about trying a different detergent. |
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Leaving things open should help, but it is no guarantee. I found this link that you may find helpful.
http://housewares.about.com/od/laundryappliances/qt/preventingmold.htm |
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Just wanted to report my "findings". I think I've fixed my problem--instead of the extra rinse in with my soap-ed cycle, I do a regular "heavy" wash, with normal spin, then run an additional short cycle on cold-cold with the fast rinse. This seems to be doing it--I guess the extra rinse just wasn't enough to get out the vinegar that then went into the dryer too--also, had husband change hot water heater from eco-friendly lower temp to diaper-friendly 150F (as high as it goes).
Thanks for all the advice!
Stephanie |
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| I've had problems with smell too, so I always rinse my diapers out in the sink and sometimes soak in the toilet if it's very wet or poopy. I use a dry bucket and can leave it with the lid closed for a few days without a problem. I was also having a problem with the diapers turning colours (orange and/or purple), which I think was a mold issue, but I never have that problem anymore, as long as they're rinsed in warm water. I also fill my bucket with hot water and bleach when I'm washing to get rid of anything remaining, then rinse really well with hot water before putting diapers in again. |
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Stephanie
I was just going to tell you we had the same thing happen [DH noticed it more than I--- about his clothes smelling "off"]. We do the exact same routine too [heavy duty, extra rinse]! I was also having a residual smell of BioKleen, eventhough we only used it in the presoak/no spin at the beginning.
Like you updated, we also upped the temp of the heater. I also started using a LITTLE more charlies than a half scoop. Every so often we also do the sanitary cycle which steps up the heat temp as the cycle progresses.
When DH said, "I think we need to stop using cloth" I cound't figure out a solution fast enough! Anyway, glad you figured it out too!
*Joh |
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