anyone have tips about diapers?

[lucky_mom]

I use cloth and lately I noticed they don't smell as clean. I used to hang them on a clothesline, but the apt complex said they will evict people for doing that, so now I dry them in the dryer. Is that why they smell bad?

[Odilia]

There is nothing like drying them in the sun to keep diapers smelling fresh and looking bright. That really stinks that your complex won't let you hang them to dry anymore. Are they against all line-drying or just diapers? Could you dry the diapers on a stand on your apartment deck (if your apartment has a deck).

Adding vinegar to the rinse cycle is helpful for eliminating odor and also helps soften the diapers a bit without affecting absorbancy like commercial fabric softeners.

[PrairieRose]

I always mixed up a solution of Biz and water for the diaper pail. Then I just added the whole thing to the washer, prerinsed in cold and then washed with bleach, hot water with cold water rinse. Mine were always clean smelling and I always used the dryer.

[druidessemily]

What type of soap do you use? Try washing your diapers in hot water, with no soap added. Check while it's agitating and see if there are bubbles. If there are, it means that your diapers have acquired some soap buildup. That can cause them to smell a little. You can also add a little amount of borax (sold right next to the laundry detergents) to the load.

If you really need to sun a diaper, place a towel on the back dash of your car, and place the wet diapers on that!

[missyali]

I rinse, to get the uckiness off, soak in baking soda water, wash in baking soda and Baby All, rinse with vinegar and rerinse (Diaper Pin directions). Most of the time I dry on the line (mostly for energy purposes and sunlight bleaching) and regardless how I dry they smell pretty good. Good luck!

[proudofmykids2006]

When my kids were little I would always wash the diapers in bleach and hot water. I would also let them soak for a bit in the washer. I also had to use the dryer on them because of where we lived so I would use a dryer sheet with them or the dryer balls but that isn't what they were called back then.

Mine were always white clean and fresh.


Hope this helps.
Elizabeth

[druidessemily]

I've heard that using dryer sheets with diapers is a big no no, because it can reduce their absorbancy. Proudofmykids2006, did you ever have any issues with that?

[mommy4ever]

lucky mom, can you dry them out on a folding drying rack? Even inside infront of a sunny window with itopen? Or could you screen the balcony area and set it out that way?

Get one of the washing stones and toss the diapers in with no soap a round and beat the soap out of it. That's all those "miracle" stones do is take out hte extra soap. But a good idea!

Yes, dryer sheets lessen the absorbancy so not a good thing.

[inneedofhope]

I didn't use cloth diapers, but this works for sheets when ds has an accident- I put white vinegar in the fabric softener slot and add borax to the water. It seems to cut the odor quite well.