Help! My flexitots are a bit whiffy!

[DomesticGoddessInTraining]

We've probably been using these flexitots for about a year (had to have them replaced because an earlier batch was faulty) and they definitely don't smell as fresh as I would like them to when they come out of the wash. I dry pail and wash every two to three days.

At the weekend I did a maintenance wash in the machine then put the nappies on a pre-wash (no detergent), put them through a normal 60C wash (I used to do them at 40C) with a 1/2 recommended amount of bio detergent, did a quick wash with no detergent to make sure all the detergent was gone and then put them through another quick wash with a couple of capfuls of white vinegar. Then had them out on the line for hours.

Initially I thought they seemed ok, but when I put them away there was still a very slight smell.

Any suggestions? DS is two next week and just starting to show an interest in the toilet, tells us when he's got a dirty nappy etc so it's likely we'll be starting on toilet training at some point this year and I'm loathe to go and buy new nappies. Washing more frequently might help, but I need to get rid of the smell first I think!

I'd hate to come this far and resort to disposables, but I'm regularly having to put the nappies through a second wash, which just takes hours. I do need to wash other stuff occasionally

Any ideas would be most welcome.

microfibre nappies have a habit of building up pongs unfortunately, and if teething is going on (is he cutting his 1st molars) then it can make it worse as wee is stronger then.

If the problem is bad then they may need a bit more TLC.

Try soaking overnight in a 50/50 watrer vinegar solution, then washing with a full dose of bio detergent with as many rinses as needed to get rod of the bubbles.

I used to have problems with my microfibre nappies, but then started doing a cold rinse prior to the main wash, and adding a glug of vinegar once a weeks as a maintenance regime and it seems to have worked. Still need to strip, but not as often.

Thanks for the reply LackaDAISYcal. I've been doing a cold rinse before washing them (although I didn't always), so I'll try the soaking in 50//50 vinegar before another stripping exercise and see how that goes.

When you add a glug of vinegar each week, do you do that with your cold rinse?

I have such a love/hate relationship with these bloody flexitots - on one hand they're a good fit on my DS, never had a leak and never have any problems getting bodysuits or trousers to fit over them, but on the other hand I've had constant problems with them!

I always add the vinegar to the fabric conditioner drawer.