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I switched to soap nuts about 6-8 weeks ago after reading great reviews on this forum. I thought they were working wonderfully at first but now about two months in I am experiencing very very strong overnight ammonia smell to the diapers. And the daytime diapers have a foul odour (though not ammonia, more like a dirty diaper smell when they are not dirty, just wet) as soon as they are peed into.
I understand that the smell problem I am describing is typically attributed to detergent build up. I was of the understanding that soap nuts wash without leaving residue. The ammonia smell has actually only appeared after starting soapnuts. Before I was using Nellies and switched because I was having to rinse a zillion times until no bubbles appeared. Even with the soap nuts I do four rinses each wash, two warm and two cold.
Does anyone have any advice to overcome my ammonia/smelly diaper problem. Thank you in advance for any replies!! |
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How many nuts are you using and how often are you reusing them? Maybe you need more nuts or maybe you're using them too often so that they're not effective enough at the end...
Also I'd stop the extra rinses. Soap nuts rinse totally away (some even say you need no rinses at all!) so at best they're just a waste. The problem is unlikely to be build-up from the nuts so I can't see where they'd help. In fact, they could be making things worse by causing the nuts to be 'used up' much more quickly since the warm water will activate the release of more saponin (the cleaning agent in the nuts). Then the next time you go to reuse them, they may not have adequate cleaning power because it's more like they've been through 2-3 loads, not just one. If you find the extra rinses necessary I'd make sure to remove the nuts first.
If all that doesn't work you could try adding a smidge of washing soda (maybe like a tablespoon or so) just to boost the cleaning power of the nuts. Not necessary for most people but everyone is different.
Karen. |
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Karen, thank you so much for your reply! Now, to answer your questions. I put four soapnuts into the little bag, then I brew them into a "tea" in a mug with boiling water. I steep for about 20 minutes (while diapers are in a pre-rinse) then I add just this liquid to a hot wash - I do not add the bag with soap nuts into the laundry. It seems to me to be a very concentrated liquid. I will re-use these four soapnuts for a tea about three times.
Before, I was using Nellies. I switched because I wanted something more natural and kinder on my daughters skin. It is SO much nicer to her skin, but the stink problem is getting me down. I didn't get stink using a conventional detergent (nellies, nature clean) but I did have other problems like repelling on my overnight pockets.
I will try the washing soda, as you suggested. I am hoping that will help. I was so in love with the soap nuts as an all natural cleaner for the diapers, but the stink issues have really taken over in a big way! Thanks again, Karen, for your reply and suggestions. If you have anything else you may be able to suggest, including perhaps an alternative to soapnuts  I would love to know. Thanks again!!! |
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Hmm, well there goes that theory... It's possible that by the third time the nuts are pretty much spent since you're using boiling water. The hotter the water the more saponin is released so while hot tap water normally extracts enough for them to last 3-4 loads, boiling water might use them up quicker. But then you'd probably notice that visually so that's probably not much of a theory.
Only other suggestion would be to use the nuts in conjuction with a little detergent. Enough to boost the nuts cleaning power while still being so little that build-up wouldn't be an issue and you wouldn't have to rinse a million times. Probably be about the same as the washing soda but maybe easier to access and perhaps an actual detergent might have something that the washing soda alone wouldn't.
HTH,
Karen. |
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Oh and if you do find yourself back with a detergent, you probaly already experimented with the quantity you were using but maybe you could add it in the pre-rinse instead of the hot wash. If you're having real problems with it rinsing out then this might help. Would still do a lot of cleaning in the pre-rinse (without hot water to set the stains), there would still probably be enough in the following hot wash to do yet more cleaning and it would serve as an extra 'rinse' to help avoid more rinses at the end. You could also experiment with vinegar as a rinse aid or maybe with baking soda/washing soda as a detergent booster (so you could use less detergent while not sacrificing cleaning ability).
Karen. |
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If you can find washing soda in your local stores, it really makes a perfect combo with soapnuts. I've used them for more than a year for clothes & dipes. I think they work great, but things were not as "fresh" smelling as I'd like just using soapnuts. I added washing soda to the mix and it is perfect! I am currently out of washing soda as my 1 place in town is out, so I definately miss it right now! I use 2 whole nuts in a bag with scented baby powder oil. I've only used the soak(tea boil) to make handsoap with.
Anyway, I'd try the washing soda & see if that helps the "funkies".
And if you can, drop the rinses. Gradually if it scares you too much. I never even do a pre-rinse. Just a straight heavy duty wash on hot, rinse on cold. That's it. Like a load of towels! Easy! |
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Thank you, both, so very much for your replies. I did diaper laundry last night and added 1/4 cup washing soda along with the soap nuts tea. I must have added waaaaaay too much washing soda because I had to do 10 rinses before there were fewer bubbles. I hung the diapers on the line this morning and they really smell strongly of washing soda.
Karen, that is a great suggestion - to add the detergent/washing soda in the pre-rinse. I think I will be trying that instead because I would really like to avoid all these extra rinses. Great idea, thanks!
Nakedbabytoes, how much washing soda do you add to your wash, please? I will have to experiment forsure, but just wondering what you typically add. I have an older top loading machine.
Also, I did a dawn strip after washing last night and hopefully I am starting from square one with the new routine of soapnuts + washing soad. Fingers crossed! Thanks again for your replies. I will be back to update how things are going after I've had a chance to work out this new routine. |
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I use about 2 kitchen soup spoons full with each load, along with 2 whole new soapnuts in a bag. I do reuse the same soapnuts, but on my other laundry. I guess I wanna be sure I'm getting them clean. My son has sensitive skin.
Since soapnuts don't have any buildup associated with them, even if you didn't get all your previous detergent buildup out, you will eventually just by continuing to use the dipes & using the nuts. Of course, about once every month I do a hot wash & rinse with nothing but water ***just in case*** there might be any potential buildup. Only because my boy has such sensitive redhead pale skin. He just reacts to everything!
But honestly, soapnuts are heavenly. I briefly wondered about switching back to regular soap since I have such a problem locating washing soda locally. But then I remembered how my son's skin dislikes regular soap!
I guess I'll be buying the case when Russ's finally gets it in!
Good luck!
I hope you like them! I highly recommend the baby powder scented oil for diapers! |
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Hope you figure it all out. Wish I could take credit for the idea of adding detergent/washing soda in the pre-rinse but it was actually someone else's idea (sorry can't recall who to give proper credit).
Karen. |
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