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Stripping smelly cloth nappies

6 replies

JoLucy · 14/05/2009 22:05

OK, please don't shoot me for asking a question that has almost certainly been answered multiple times before - and actually has a current active thread, but I have some specific requests for advice. Please help
Our reusables are very smelly after DD has weed in them. I'm aware that this might be due to teething and/or build up of powder. I have a varied collection including Cotton one size nappies, Bumgenius and Blueberry pockets (with microfibre/micro+hemp inserts), a fleece, fluffle-type (polyester) and bamboo. (Thank goodness I haven't started using the Ella's House I got recently, or that would add more to the mix!)
I currently dry pail for a couple of days, rinse - sometimes with white vinegar - wash on 40 degrees - with either 1/2 scoop Fairy Non-Bio or Eco Balls - and line or airer dry. They smell fine after washing.
The Nappy Lady (and you lovely helpful peeps on here) seem to advocate stripping nappies in a hotter wash and/or multiple washes and rinses.
Question:
What temp would you recommend for washing the different types (I only have a couple of polyester), what combinations of washes & rinses work for you, and what should I do about the outers of the BG & BB? (I'm thinking 'no' to a hot wash for those.)
Many thanks for reading this and helping me crawl out from under the pile of reusable gathering in the utility room!

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JoLucy · 15/05/2009 23:22

Anyone?
Have put them on a normal temp wash with no detergent this evening. Will do extra rinse with vinegar & tea tree & then remove anything that isn't cotton.

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Flibbertyjibbet · 15/05/2009 23:30

I know they say to wash at lower temps now but I usually did all my nappies and wraps at 60 deg. I always ignored the instruction to use 1/2 the amount of washing powder.
I used a pre wash cycle with extra rinsing. Don't put any powder in the prewash, this rinses a lot of the wee out before the wash starts, then the extra rinsing makes sure no powder left in.
Hang outside to dry whenever possible (even on damp days as it still freshens them up).

If a nappy can't be washed at 60 once in a while then its not a very practical nappy imo.

I had two children in nappies for 18 months of my 3.5 years of nappying and occasionally if they smelled a bit I just put them in the above wash cycle then put them through another straight after.

The modern nappies are soooo absorbent that it means the wee is really wel absorbed and hard to wash out.

I tried other fabrics of nappies besides cotton but I always prefered the cotton ones for being freshest after washing.

Flibbertyjibbet · 15/05/2009 23:32

To clarify,

don't put powder in the prewash as the PLAIN WATER rinses a lot of the wee out before the wash starts.

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JoLucy · 17/05/2009 20:05

Thanks I have started doing a pre-wash and that has helped a bit.
I washed them over Fri night/Sat morning & put them out to dry. Then it rained! So I left them out overnight to be drying today, and it rained again!!! Ended up with a house festooned with nappies. Joy!

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HolidaysQueen · 17/05/2009 20:18

I find that a few drops of tea tree oil in the conditioner compartment of my washing machine really helps my bumgenius, as does hanging them outside to air, or failing that on an airer by an open window.

JoLucy · 19/05/2009 17:52

Thanks. Will try the Tea Tree oil; do try to dry outside when possible.
However, have decided that it might just be DD's wee at the mo. When one of the nappies she had on yesterday wicked wet onto her trusers, they smelled as bad as the nappies!

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