Just wonder I cloth diaper my girls & am sick of the ammonia smell?

Linda - posted on 02/25/2009

The ditergent you use should have less then 5% soap in it and use a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar in the compartment for fabric softner, that will get rid of it as well ans keeping them soft.

Laura - posted on 02/25/2009

Never had a problem like this, I soak in water with tea tree oil and then wash @60 with eco balls and a magno ball. NO DETERGENT at all. And they smell fresh as a daisy, not to mention the benefits to the environment by not using a detergent.

Seriously ecoballs rock!!

http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/product...$ja=kw:ecoballs|cgn:Ecoballs|cgid:592988491|tsid:6255|cn:Cleaning+-+Products|cid:12916531|lid:2774336541|mt:Exact|nw:search|crid:2319060271&gclid=CJb71qiP-JgCFUM-3godJnaynA  

Beth - posted on 02/24/2009

Well I have washed my diapers again & used a small amount of calgoon, also less of the charlies soap!  Yeah no more  burn your eyes ammonia smell!  I would say they are 99% better!  Thanks for all the info also as some other posts suggested I did also check out the pinstripes and polkadots website, that site does have a lot of info about different kinds of soap and also a section about hard / well water!    

Chantel - posted on 02/24/2009

I use several types of pockets as well as Kushies I don't use vinegar and in 6 mths have never stripped my diapers!!! I rinse my diapers as soon as I change DD and then I toss into the dry pail (without a lid). I wash on hot on the longest cycle with baby all liquid and rinse in cold and spin twice to shorten the drying time. ppl don't even notice the pail in the bathroom...and they never smell!!!

Helen - posted on 02/24/2009

Im having thgis problem with my peapods at the moment too....... so will wait and see what advice comes along

Chelsea - posted on 02/23/2009

I use 1 1/2 cups of bleach and free and clear detergent.  Wash in hot water and second rinse to get all the bleach out.  Dry on high heat.  

Jennifer - posted on 02/22/2009

The biggest thing that worked for us when we hit the ammonia battle is take your diapers an soak them in straight vinegar for a couple of hours.

THe reason for the ammonia is you have bacteria festering in your diapers, Vinegar acts a bleach and will kill the bacteria..
Also if you are using microfiber as your inserts in your pocket diapers that can be a problem as well. Microfiber holds stink. Try using natural materials.
Flats and prefolds are great ways to stuff pocket diapers.

Beth - posted on 02/21/2009

So far so good...used the calgoon!  After their nap changed them and they weren't too bad!  Yeah!!!  Maybe  just our hard water!  Will see how the next couple of days go!

Heather - posted on 02/21/2009

I wash mine in only one round on heavy duty...we have a front loader and it seems to work fine. The sun...AMAZING. We don't hang them outside, but we get a lot of sun coming in and we just hang them up in the window...works like a charm for keeping them white.

Rachael - posted on 02/21/2009

Its the brand their should be no smell after washing look into what they are made out of. And vinegar and natural detergent should work only a tablespoon of  vinegar.

Vilate - posted on 02/20/2009

So, i second the sun bleaching!  Even if it is freezing.  hang them out if the sun is shining.  The sun kills the smell and gets rid of your stains. 

i also suggest using tea tree oil when you wash.  3-8 drops a load.  It is anti-bacterial and kills the smell!

Beth - posted on 02/20/2009

Today I went out and bought some calgoon since we have hard water, washed all my diapers, still using my charlies soap!  After 2 extra rinses still had a little suds??  Does any one still have a little suds after the rinse cycle, as I even used less soap thinking that could also be my problem!  So tomorrow we will see if after we use them if they stink or not!  If so then I will be trying different soap.  I did see that ALL Free and Clear and the Seventh generation so I guess that will be my next step along with trying the the dawn to strip them!  Thanks for the info!!     

Erin - posted on 02/20/2009

I do a pre-rinse and then use seventh generation laundry soap and dry in the sun.  I wash almost everyday.  I haven't had any problems!  I hope that helps.

Jessica - posted on 02/20/2009

You probably need to strip your diapers. I get that stink occasionally, too. I usually take clean diapers, squirt in some Dawn for the 1st wash, then run it through a full wash cycle 2 or 3 more times.

Beth - posted on 02/18/2009

Our water is well water which is hard!  I think I will try changing soaps as i was reading other posts,  I think they may just have build up from the soap beacuse even after 3 extra rinses there still is some suds! That or try adding something to soften the water...calgon!  Thanks I didn't know there was this cloth diaper site before I posted this question.  I think I was just worried to try anthing since the fuzzibunz site says to use the charlies soap or allens!  Thanks     

Allison - posted on 02/18/2009

Depending on your water, Charlie's Soap may not work best for you. Try a different detergent: I use Wintree but have also used All Free and Clear and have heard really good stuff about CountrySave. In any case, try something that has no additives, no optical whiteners or brighteners, and is fragrance-free. You can also try vinegar in the rinse cycle - I do that about once a month. I've also used baking soda when it's been really bad. You can also try stripping the diapers with Dawn dish soap - just a couple drops and then rinse until gone. You shouldn't have to do this all the time, though, just once every month or couple months to get rid of build up.

You definitely shouldn't have a smell, so try some things to see what works best with your water. Depending on what kind of water you have and what's in it, different things will work better and only trial and error can figure it out. I'm sure you'll find something that works well :-)

Ildiko - posted on 02/18/2009

Firstly I never soak only dry pail. If they are really messy I rinse them off but put in dry bucket with the others. I only use enviro friendly washing powder to wash mine (use mainly Bum Genius, also Baby Beehinds and terry cloths) and do an extra rinse at the end.
I've read that regular laundry detergent is no good for CDs as it reduces their lifespan and leaves a buildup but I switched to enviro friendly stuff years ago anyway. I never use bleach.

One thing I swear by is putting them in the sun to dry. The UV rays really do wonders in terms of getting rid of all stains and any smell causing bacteria. After 2+ years of use the nappies are still white and fresh smelling.

Stephy-Lynn - posted on 02/17/2009

Hey I was in the same boat I use BUM GENIUS 3.0 and after a couple washes the cd's  smelled foul. After research and asking around I realised I was doing it all wrong, somewhere along the line someone told me vinigar BUT it doesn't help it make it worse. There is this stuff called AMAZE its in a blue box with a baby on front. Use only AMAZE with you CD's let them agitate for a few minutes then leave the lid up and have them soak in there for about an hour. It helps I promise. Now that is all I use they say normal household laudry leaves a build-up which contributes to the fol smell. AMAZE really truly worked for me, hopefully you have the same results!