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Current Replies for Smell issues w/ Sandy Stay Dry Liners
 
  Smell issues w/ Sandy Stay Dry Liners (CDM4)
Posted: 10:15:12 am on 9/16/2009 Modified: Never
 
We've been using the Sandy diapers with the stay dry liners for over 9 months (bought brand new).  I use Country Save detergent and do a cold rinse, hot wash w/ detergent and then an extra cold wash cycle w/ no detergent rinse.  I have an oversize washer and do about 16-20 diapers in a load.

My 11 months old has slept 12 hours at night since being in these diapers so at first when the ammonia smell got bad a few months ago I figured its because he sleeps so long (the ammonia smell ONLY happens with the nighttime diapers- not with the Sandy's he naps in or the prefolds we use).  Then @ 2 weeks ago his diaper area would be red in the morning but after a diaper change it would be clear.  So I decided to do the Oxiclean + Vinegar thing that everyone raves about.  And it did work, no ammonia smell or redness in the morning.  However I have 4 inserts that still smell (they don't cause redness anymore just smell ammonia in the morning and not as bad), you can actually smell an unclean smell after they've been washed.  I do remember when I ordered these reading posts about people having issues with stink with the stay dry liners.  Does anyone have any resolutions?  Does the regular inserts have this issue?  Any advise would be great.  
  Re: Smell issues w/ Sandy Stay Dry Liners (KarenC)
Posted: 5:50:58 pm on 9/17/2009 Modified: Never
 

It's probably just that the synthetic fibers in the stay-dry liners are more difficult to strip and hold onto odors a little more. You could always try stripping them again (either using Oxyclean again or just plain hot water, both work) if it's really bothering you. If the smell isn't too bad and not causing rashes then it may be normal to a certain extent. Really bad burn-your-eyes ammonia isn't normal but a strong, slightly ammonia smell is probably normal for older babies/toddlers after a whole night. Some find that rinsing nighttime diapers before putting them in the pail (basically removing the bulk of the urine) helps prevent really bad odors in the long run plus helps the pail not smell quite as bad as well.

Karen.

  Re: Smell issues w/ Sandy Stay Dry Liners (CDM4)
Posted: 3:16:23 pm on 9/22/2009 Modified: Never
 
This is a very strong almost burn your eyes ammonia smell.  I have done again just a vinegar soak and it helps to the extent that my little guys diaper area is no longer red in the morning but still a very strong smell.  I'm almost ready to toss the stay-dry liners but I'm also concerned can it be the Sandy's as well?  I just bought some Bac-Out and I'm going to see if that works.  Its just odd because its not an issue with our prefolds or our Sunseedling diaper or the Sandy's that he naps in- just the overnight ones.
  Re: Smell issues w/ Sandy Stay Dry Liners (KarenC)
Posted: 3:37:34 pm on 9/22/2009 Modified: Never
 

How often did you rinse them? I would make sure to do a good stripping, put them through at least a couple of cycles with the hottest water you can (maybe even up the temp on your hot water heater temporarily if you can). Either with just plain water or maybe at most some vinegar and/or Oxy-Clean, I'd make sure to end with at least one cycle with nothing but water. Really it makes sense that the biggest issue would be with the stay-dry, they're the ones with the biggest percentage of synthetic fibers and those are usually more difficult to keep clean.

If you'd like you can also try a stronger concentration of Oxy-Clean, using up to 4-5 scoops per full wash load (or proportionatly less if you're using a smaller load). Use in hot water and let it soak for at least a few hours and then rinse rinse rinse.

Worse comes to worse I would use a little bleach before I'd toss them altogether. I'm not usually one to advise using bleach but if you're really at the end of your rope then it's probably better than tossing the liners or diapers altogether. Usually it's a cup per full load but you may well be able to get away with less, make sure it's well diluted before it touches the diapers and make sure to rinse very very well. Even if you have to do this once a month or so, it's still better than disposables or throwing out otherwise good liners/diapers.

Karen.

  Re: Smell issues w/ Sandy Stay Dry Liners (CDM4)
Posted: 9:36:20 pm on 9/22/2009 Modified: Never
 
What I did was use 4 gallons of vinegar with 5 scoops of Oxiclean and mixed that together and let it soak in my utility sink for at least 12 hours.  Then I hand rinsed them and then I put them in the washer on the hottest setting and cold rinse (no detergent) and I did this 5 times.  This worked for about a week (this was when the smell was very bad and it was causing a red diaper area in the morning).  When the smell started to come back (but not as bad) I did a vinegar soaking and then repeated with the hot wash and rinse (no detergent).  I've also used RLR.  Now we're back to bad smell but no red area.  To wash, I do a cold rinse and then a hot wash with 1/2 scoop of Country Save (I have a top loader) and then I do a cold wash/rinse with no detergent.  I do wash every 2 days with about 18 diaper in my oversized washer.  I can't use bleach because we have a septic system/leach field so I'm stuck on not using that.  Tonight I'm trying the bac out.  If I order the plain inserts will I have these same issues?  If not, I'm much rather just get the plain inserts and put in a fleece liner.
  Re: Smell issues w/ Sandy Stay Dry Liners (KarenC)
Posted: 10:27:17 pm on 9/22/2009 Modified: Never
 

If you're not having problems with the regular cotton diapers then I'd say it's probably a safe bet that the regular liners wouldn't be a problem either. No guarantees of course, but it seems a safe bet. People do occasionally have these issues with regular cotton or bamboo as well, it's not like the regular stuff is totally immune, just a little less prone.

You could also try rinsing the liners and/or night diaper before putting in the pail, many have found that that helps too. Bac-out is apparently good too. Or maybe using a little bit of Oxy-Clean in every load (or every second?). A little bit here and there might help keep things under control and prevent having to do an all out stripping. Of course it's rather controversial as to what kind of long-term effect that oxygen bleaches have on fabric...

For the bleach you could always try doing it somewhere else or doing it in a plastic container and just dumping the bleach water farther away from the septic. But then that would be a pain if you had to do it regularly. I've heard that a little bleach every isn't too bad as long as it's not too frequently, but I also have a septic system and don't want to chance it so I understand.

Anyway, hope you figure this out and everything works out, I know how much of a pain stinky diapers can be!

Karen.

 
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