Diaper Washing_: Smelly Diapers
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Thanks to Julie for this Frugal Baby Tip!
After much experimenting and fiddling around there are many things I have learned when it comes to washing diapers.
1. There is no *one* right way. Everyone's water is different, diapers are different, and quite frankly every baby's poops are different! Even within the same city water can vary. Katherine and I are both in Metro Atlanta, but she has city water and I have county. She gets great results with just Dr. Bronner's, I get horrible results. You will have to experiment with what works best, what follows is my opinion.
2. I really do not think it is necessary to soak the diapers. I do think a cold rinse/spin cycle is important.
3. Soap is not bad for diapers. Some notice a decrease in absorbancy when using animal based soaps such as grated Ivory (Ivory Snow is no longer a soap product by the way, it is a detergent). Fabric softener however is a no-no, it will decrease the life-span and absorbancy of your diapers.
4. Do not wash too many diapers at once!!!!! This, in my opinion, is the most important thing to remember. I have found that anything more than 2 dozen at a time will not get them clean.
5. Do not wait to long between washings. Anything longer than 2 days for me gives a horrible ammonia odor that is near impossible to get out, and the longer stains - set the worse they are.
6. I HATE WASHING SODA!!! Yes, I was yelling that! It pilled up my diapers something terrible, makes them horribly rough, and grey. I can't say enough bad things about washing soda. Try knocking it out of your routine, you may find the same thing. Those of us with really hard water have the worst time with washing soda.
After much experimentation the best way to get my diapers clean is:
• Wash every 2 days. (For example, I will wash on Monday, Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday)
• No more than 2 dozen prefolds, plus my wipes
• Cold rinse/spin
• Longest cycle hot with 2 scoops Ultra Freshbreeze Laundry Soap, and vinegar in the final rinse
• Extra cold rinse
That's it! Rarely a stain, and if there is one I lay it in the sun and it's usually gone.
By the way, you can get Ultra Freshbreeze through www.thesoapworks.com , or Trader Joes if you have one near you.
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Category: Diaper Washing
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