Mould & rot on nappies. What will get rid of this?

[TokenFemale]

Hi. I'll post this in the nappy section too, but thought the ladies here might have advice.

Have just been to visit my friend who is suffering from PND to help her clean her house. She had started using cloth/reusable nappies with her DS but when the PND took hold it all became too much so she is now using disposables. In the midst of this she had forgotten that she had a nappy bin full of soiled nappies.

I discovered it, and the contents are grim to say the least. I tried to handle them as little as possible whilst placing in the machine, but all were covered in fur and greeny mould. I have put them on a boil wash - do you think that will suffice? I am going back over there after tea, so can clean them further if required.

Also, you don't think maggots will have grown in them? I didn't look too clearly at them but on the way home I wondered about this.

[TheProvincialLady]

Just boil wash them and hang them out on the line for a few days. That should see to most things. You can always soak in napisan if they still look grim. What kind are they, do you know?

What a kind friend you are. I hope your friend feels better soon.

[TheProvincialLady]

BTW I think maggots are unlikely but the boil wash would kill them if there were any.

[TokenFemale]

That's good to know that a boil wash will kill off maggots.

Most of the nappies were like terry towelling material but shaped. There were some which she said had inserts in, that were more waterproof material on the outside. I am not sure if I should have taken the inserts out first, but I just bunged everything straight in the machine!

I think I'll pick them up from hers tonight and take them round here to wash again/soak in Napisan. Saves taking over her washing machine with them

[TheProvincialLady]

Next wash, take out the inserts first (it shouldn't be too grim!). Leaving them on the line will be better for them than napisan. It sounds like they will be fine though. I was admitted to hospital once and came back to a bucket full of black and green furry nappies and they survived (no thanks to DH)

[TokenFemale]

I'll definitely take the inserts out for the next wash.
Thanks for all your help and reassurance.

[mathanxiety]

Boil and bleach, then wash again to take out the bleach.

[crokky]

I would personally send them to the clothes recycling bank (my council collect clothes in kerbside recycling) after having washed them. I wouldn't put them on my baby after that. If she is struggling, wouldn't it be better for her to stick to disposables anyway? Sorry if this sounds negative, just my opinion, feel free to ignore.

[BooBooChicken]

what a nice friend you are tokenfemale.

[crokky]

Oh, and I would run something through the washing machine. Such as a 90 degree empty wash and then a cooler wash containing bleach.

[TokenFemale]

Thanks all. I have taken them home. They turned out not too bad from the first wash - all mould is gone, but there are quite a few poo stains remaining. Am going to wash again with white vinegar and bicarb, then get them out on the line tomorrow (hopefully there will be some sunshine). So hopefully bleach won't be needed.

Crokky, I completely understand where your comments are coming from. Tbh, I'm not sure what she is planning to do with them, but I kind of feel that if I get them looking nice it will at least make her feel a bit happy. I remember how excited she was when they were arriving in the post when she was pregnant. She was mortified when I found the bin. She had completely forgotten about it. I just want to get the nappies clean, to make something 'right' for her, iyswim.

[reallywoundup]

maybe i'm a total slattern {grin] but its mould not toxic waste- a boil wash will kill anything that lived in them without bleach, and why run the machine on another boil wash and then with bleach?

What you are doing is lovely- rest assured they will certainly be clean and safe after a boil wash- sunshine will get rid of any stains, hopefully she will be able to appreciate them soon (PND is not an inability to cope ) hopwfully she is getting the treatment she needs and will soon be fighting fit and raring to go