Embrassing nappy problem :(

[lisad123]

Need advice.
I have been using washable for about 3 weeks now (since had to stop in hospital) and noticed when I did last wash that nappies and wrap still smell, very slightly of urine
I have been washing on 40 and used one tablet (as told to use 1 tablet)
Am I doing something wrong?? Do need to strip wash? (no idea how to do that?!)

Sorry, still fairly new to this. I proberly should say that nappies have all come 2nd hand.

Lisa

Is your filter clean in your machine? It might not be rinsing it all out thoroughly.

do you soak nappies first or if not run an extra rinse cycle? also make sure youre not overloading the machine - how many do you wash each time?

I think you need to wash at 60 at least, and then every 4-6 weeks you could do a boil wash. I'm not sure what strip wash is! I've also read that microwaving the nappies for 2 minutes each will get rid of all bacteria, but haven't done that myself. You're right about using one tablet - the recommendations I've read say that you should use approx. half the rec. detergent dosage to reduce the risk of nappy rash.

I'd try doing a boil wash on your next wash, and then def. 60 from then on

thanks so much. I wash about 10 nappies and wraps in a wash. Will do a 90 wash first then and then wash and 60 from now on. God there is so much to learn about nappies

Im not soaking before as still trying to find bucket with lid!
I do have a pre wash on my machine so will use that too

L

I know what you mean! I've had a 'weak' day today - we were away all day visiting relatives, and I reverted to disposables to save me bringing home a load of washables (it was just this once, honest). I hate to admit it, but they were far easier to put on a wriggly, crawling 8 month old . I'll probably go straight to hell now....

id check if your nappies will stand a boil wash first, dont know many people who do them myself, definitely dont boil wash the wraps though
i wash mostly on 50, a lot of people wash at 40 no probs so i wonder what else it is causing the prob. 10 nappies doesnt sound much. is it a quick wash/economy wash that doesnt use a lot of water to do the wash? you could use white vinegar or tea tree in the wash as well if you want to spruce them up a bit

I thought 60 was the point at which all the bacteria were killed? If you soak them first does that kill the germs instead?

60 is the recommended temp for washing nappies at to kill bugs etc but a lot of nappy sellers say you can wash just as well at 40, esp if you ever get any sun to dry them in cos that sanitises them anyway
they only go back on their bums anyhow has always been my attitude and weve not had any particular probs with it
i dont think soaking as such kills the germs altho i soak with a few drops of tea tree as well which is supposed to sanitise but im not sure how effective a few drops in a big bucket of dirty nappies really is

I have the same problem.
bumping so we can find a solution...

Oh I thought it was the 17 year old nappy-wearing boy back again.

Bugger. was going to give him a right royal roasting, too!

colditz

Glad i read that, had just put on a boil wash at 95!!!
Have now reset to 40 wash with a pre wash.
I am using tots bots.
Can I wash at 60 then? Will I need to wash wraps seperately if i do that?
Its a new machine and know that they use less water than older machines, maybe its that

The what???!

17 year old wearing nappies , i must have missed the fun of the nappy board LOL

Lisa - I chuck the wraps and the nappies in at 60 (I've also washed the wraps at 95 by mistake, and no harm came to them, but prob. not the best thing for them). I've also got a new machine - the kind that alters the amount of water according to the load - and never had a problem with smells when washing at 60 (also know I've killed the bugs, which appeals to me).

bunnyhunny glad its not just me

It's most likely a build up of detergent.
I have been using the same (totsbots, too, by coincidence!) nappies for two years for my two children and recently they started holding oudour. I washed them a few times without detergent and they are now fine.
Normally I run a rinse and spin first then a 40 wash or a 60 if they are a bit pooey,but I also select super rinse for the rinse of the main wash.HTH

ps I don't soak, I did at first but found it to be waste of time, so I stopped.

thanks.
I would ask my sister but she wasnt online and it was too late to ring her . I f i dont ask while i remember I will forget must be the baby brain

what is breadsoda? and how much do you use?
someone also said something about white vinegar, but I can't find it anywhere in the shops

You will find breadsoda or baking soda in the home-baking section in the supermarket near the flours and icing sugar etc. White vinegar is also known as distilled malt vinegar, that should be readily availabel somewherer near the ketchups and things, do you live in the UK?

thanks chipmonkey. I was looking for 'white vinegar' and couldn't see it anywhere. I nearly used white wine vinegar instead thinking that may be it!

Don't boil wash your nappies!!!

that will really shorten the life of the fabric and any elastic/stretchy parts.
I used to soak nappies but after a few months have drypailed with the lidded bucket kept outside.
Up till recently I washed on 60 (with no-detergent-pre-wash) as recommneded if your children are sharing nappies, and they were always good and clean. Have to say though that I use more detergent than most nappy people say, if I don't then they don't come out clean.

Now I do mostly 40 deg but do find that they sometimes smell a bit after. So I alternate a 40 wash with a 60 wash. Use pre pre wash first but no detergent in the prewash so they get rinsed first.
Sometimes if they still smell a bit (night nappies can sometimes still smell) I just wash again, with the extra rinsing button pressed.
White vinegar you can get from Morrisons.