I don't think I can keep at using reuseables....

[SparklyGothKat]

Callum is 15 months and been in reuseables for 14 months now. He has terrible nappy rash (being treated with Canasten), he get a sore willy, his urine is very strong, and his poos are very smelly. The nappies come out of the wash smelling. I have tried a 95 degree wash, soda crystals, vineger in the rinse. And they still smell really strong. The bin smells within 2 nappy changes, so 2 days later when its full, the smell is overpowering.. it burns the back of my throat. not sure if I can keep doing this? Why are the nappies still smelling after being washed. I have just done a load on 95 degrees, with vineger, and put them in the tumble dryer and its making my house smell...

No idea Have you tried Metanium on his rash? My ds looked a bit sore yesterday and one lot of this overnight seems to have cleared it up. Coud it be that you need new nappies? Maybe the old ones have had it? It was me who started the TK Maxx thread a few months back, would you like me to see if they have any cheap packs in tomorrow? Alternatively, could it be a problem with the washing machine? Maybe a blockage or something?

Also, wrt to the strong wee, have you tried offering him more to drink? (easier said than done I know)

I'm guessing it's thrush/fungal as you've got canesten for it...did the doc prescribe it? Just asking because I took dd to the docs thinking she had a fungal nappy rash and the doc said it wasn't. She gave us some different (v strong) cream to use just on the rash bits with her normal cream over the top. That cleared it up really quickly and once it was cleared up her nappies stopped smelling.

Also are you sure your machine is getting up to the right temp (i.e. thermostat not broken or anything) cos 95 degrees should kill any nasties off. You could always try ironing the nappies too - use a cloth if they're delicate though

He is breatfed and has cow milk and water throughout the day. I have just replaced a lot of my nappies (he is just going into size 2). and my washing machine is fairly new, and I check the filter regularly.
I have switched off the tumble dryer and am going to put them on the line tomorrow if not raining to air them

oh its very hot when they are being washed. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. Its so strong, its horrible.

Do you pre rinse before the wash? Bicarb is also good for neutralising whiffy nappies.

no, because i don't know if you have to put power in on a pre-rinse

Does your machine have a plain rinse and spin cycle? Thats what i do and then put the washing powder in, a build up of powder can also make smally nappies, have you tried stripping them?

Can you wash everyday instead of every 2 days?

Have you tried running your washing machine empty on a hot wash with vinegar? Gives it a good clean? Often improves the quality of the wash?

stripping them?

Stripping them removes the powder build up, put a bottle of white vinegar in the nappy bucket and top up with water, soak the clean nappies in it overnight and then wash them without detergent and keep rinsing until all the bubbles have gone

I had this with dd1 when she was in nappies.

All was fine until she was about 16 months old, then all of a sudden, her nappies stank - really strong ammonia smell, etc.

Sadly, other than double washing them each time (so do a rinse to get most wee out, then a wash with powder, then a full wash without powder) i didn't find much that helped, and even that only helped a bit.

It went again, by the time she was 2 or so but it was really eye waterig while it lasted!

are you wet or dry pailing?

dry pailing. have put them on again.

I remember this happened to me too. Sadly can't remember how I fixed it, but I do remember phoning the manufacturers who were very helpful. It must've worked tho cos I'm still using the same nappies for dc4. Hope you fix it soon.

glad it not just me, I thought I was going mad, couldn't for the life of me work out what was wrong. I am going to try the stripping thing and see what happens.

[whispers] try a one off soak in some milton if they are non-coloured nappies, a generous glug then fill the bucket with cold water and soak for at least 6 hours or overnight- wash on 60 with a miniscule ammt of detergent then do an extra rinse then line dry or tumble.

what nappies are they- if microfibre that could be your trouble.

they are cotton tot-bots. Some in bright colours, the second wash seemed to help, but it doesn't seem very ego. to be washing them twice.

Try washing them a few times with no washing powder at all, it is fine to use them in between washes.

Then wash as normal with half or even a quarter of the powder/liquid you would normally use, nappies smelling of amonia imediately after washing is almost always caused by washing detergent build up.

All about washing nappies

There is really no need to be washing your nappies at 95, tbh 40 is fine with an occasional 60 to sterilize them, but 95 really is overkill.

Ds wore real nappies and never had nappy rash once. Dd has it constantly, to me this means that the nappies are not to blame, some babies are just very sensitive and prone to rash, when he potty trains he will grow out of it. Just change him often, use a barrier cream, leave him nappy free as much as possible and try not to worry about it.

BabyDragon was like this. Horrendous nappy rash and strong smelling nappies. Unfortunately I did switch to disposables and the problem was solved, although she was always prone to nappy rash if I wasn't careful, nothing like the reusable rash she had though.

I am also in a very hard water area, will this affect the nappies?

I used to put a spoonful of PHP nappy soak in with washing powder when our nappies got stinky like this - that may help to shift any lurking fungal nasties in the nappies too.

These days I just put a tiny amount of washing powder in the prewash and a tiny amount in the main wash - they come out fine. I wash at 60deg, I don't think 95deg is recommended.

Maybe put a washable wipe with some tea tree or lavender oil on in the bucket with the nappies - that will really help with the ammonia smell coming from the bucket.

It shouldn't no, I am in a harn water area too.

I know it sounds harsh but disposables have been around for such a short period of time, and babies surived fine without them.

I really think your problem is from overuse of detergent, it may even be causing his rash. Please try my suggestions above.

My DD went through phases of really stinky wee with all the eye-burning ammonia clouds and smelly buckets. It would last for a week or so then go back to normal. I did do pre-rinses and hotter washes during those times, but mostly I just waited for whatever was in her system to pass. Fortunately she never really suffered bad nappy rash. I think some of it was related to diet - certainly eating broccoli gave her stinky wee (and she loves broccoli), also garlic and cabbages.

I should also mention that DS1 was prescribed all sorts of creams and lotions for ongoing fungal infections in his nappy area etc. which didn't work - it turned out to be his eczema flaring up. All he needed was lots of emollient cream instead.