My pop ins smell terrible - what am I doing wrong?

[ladyandthechocolate]

Dear All,

I've been using pop ins for a while on DD who is 16 mo and a very heavy wetter. I can't get on with some other types of nappy (blueberry, bumgenius, baminex wrap + flexitot) as they wick at the legs terribly.

Anyway, the pop ins now really smell of ammonia and have for a while and I just can't get rid of it. I've tried bio, non bio, napisan, vanish oxi action, washing at 60 and 40 and nothing shifts the terrible smell. When I open the machine after a wash they smell as bad as when they went in. I don't use much detergent and I don't overload the machine.
I've emailed close parent but they haven't got back to me yet.

Any suggestions?

Hang them on line for couple days?
Do you dry pail? Add few drops of tea tree
Run through wah with no powder

These are all things i do with mine, Sorry no other suggestions if you've tried these.

I assume you don't use fabric softener? If you do, stop.

If it's not that, then I'm stuck too. Hopefully one of the real nappy ninjas will be along soon.

Hiya, - I'll try and be a nappy ninja for you!

From what you have said it sounds like your nappies could be overloaded with detergent residue. The smell comes about by the Ammonia sticking to the detergent in the nappy fibres and as its not ever compleatly washed out and so the smell hangs around.

I'd suggest a strip wash to remove residue and then see how they smell. - By that i mean a few hot washs with no detergent followed by a few rinses until the water is clear. If you watch the machine during the washes with no detergent you will see a load of bubbles - thats the detergent in your nappies coming out.

Then maybe look at the amount of detergent you are using - you say not alot but how much is alot? I recommend using 1-2 formula milk scoops of powder in soft water areas. Hard water will need a bit more.

I hope that helps, if you need any more advice email me from site.

Thanks - I'll try a few washes at 60 with no detergent then pop them on the line for a day or two to air. I usually use bio - is that ok or is non bio best?