Urine Smell

Rebecca - posted on 08/25/2012

I see a lot of you are saying switch to Tide. I was told by someone not to use regular detergents because the detergents chemicals will destroy the diaper. Is that wrong? We've been using cloth diapers on our 16 month old for a few months now. Her diapers are starting to smell. I haven't laid them out in the sun so I will try that next. I make my own laundry detergent, borax, oxyclean, and goats milk soap. I'd love any suggestions! We use Sunbaby diapers.

Rachel - posted on 06/05/2010

BTW, I use Happy Heineys. On their website they have a great page that talks about washing cloth diapers.

http://www.happyheinys.com/cloth_diaper_...

Rachel - posted on 06/05/2010

I had the same problem after using them about a month. I wrote to the company and told them what all I had tried (vinegar, sun, extra rinse, baking soda, borax ...). She told me to stop doing everything and change my soap. She said my water was probably not working with the soap I was using. I went out and bought Tide (which she recommended) and it worked. I still add some borax just because it makes me feel better and run an extra rinse cycle to make sure the soap it totally out and like to sun dry them as much as possible, but haven't had any problems since.

Stephanie - posted on 06/22/2009

I have read that a pre-soak w/ baking soda will neutralize the urine. I also sprinkle some in the diaper bin to off set the odor before wash. I have also heard that the synthetic fibers are likely to hold on to the stink.

Karen - posted on 06/20/2009

My grandmother advised (yes one of those old fashioned ideas lol) laying them out after laundering on the grass. The chlorophyl (sp?) will remove stains and odors. then hang on a clothesline in the sun. Works wonders for bed linens also.

Angela - posted on 06/19/2009

Quoting Vanessa:

Tide is one of the best at getting out stains, so I can imagine that it would work well for stink, too, but it is one of the harshest detergents, so be cautious if your baby has sensitive skin! :)

Your right. We had nothing but issues with stink, repelling and stains until we forgot about the "free and clears" and just use plain ol tide. I figured all the extra washes and rinses from constant stripping had to be worse on the enviroment. My kids all have really sensative skin but we've had no issues with tide.

Vilate - posted on 06/19/2009

I second the sun! I would be cautious about the Tide if your baby has a sensitive bum cause tide has enzymes in it and it will eat your baby's bum literally.

I use a few drops of tea tree oil in my diapers along with the sun and I don't have smelly diapers. Works like magic. you ought to strip them once in awhile too!

i have a list of diaper safe detergents with no enzymes on my web page here

http://www.niftynappybyvilate.weebly.com

good luck!

Doreen - posted on 06/19/2009

I had my husband string a clothes line in the back yard for me, and I hang all my diapers out to dry. I use prefolds and Thirsties covers and Bum Genius and the sun works wonders - gets out any stains and there is no smell. I also wash once in cold, once in hot and then do a cold rinse before hanging them out to dry.

Jennifer - posted on 06/18/2009

I've been using Bumgenius for about a year now and once a month I strip them with a 1/4 cup of bleach added to the wash. It also helps if you've had any leaking issues. I've heard about using Dawn but have never tried it since the bleach works so well. It completely takes the smell away. It's amazing!

Dannielle - posted on 06/17/2009

I've been told vinegar affects the PUL.
My suggestion is a hot wash with NO detergents what so ever. Check the wash water to see if it has foamed up. That way you will know if that is what caused it.

Vanessa - posted on 06/17/2009

Tide is one of the best at getting out stains, so I can imagine that it would work well for stink, too, but it is one of the harshest detergents, so be cautious if your baby has sensitive skin! :)

Angela - posted on 06/16/2009

Drop the vinegar. It makes it worse. We've been cloth diapering for 8 years. All our stink issues ended when we dropped the vinegar and special wash routines. We just wash in tide and dry on hot. Done.

I would go ahead n strip them though. Wash and dry on hot, with nothing 2 times. One wash and dry on hot with just a spoonful of dawn. Then one normal wash with plain old detergent, extra rinse and dry on hot. Should end it.

Carrie - posted on 06/16/2009

I use Happy Heineys. I think the smell comes from the terry inserts.

Julie - posted on 06/15/2009

What type of doaper do you use Carrie? Microfiber is horrible for trapping odors!(I use pockets with micro fiber inserts) on rare occasion,twice a year I will use a very small amount of bleach with the inserts only.

Elizabeth - posted on 06/15/2009

Sometimes vinegar does the opposite and instead of getting rid of smell it makes it worse. Try dish soap, RLR, baking soda, or TTO and an extra rinse or two and put in sun. If none of those help splash (literally a really small capful) in some bleach. You can use the dishwasher or even boil them but that is last resort as it makes velcro yucky and wears down the PUL.

Julie - posted on 06/15/2009

When I have this problem I do a rince and spin cycle, then a heavy hot wash with detergentand some borax. Only use 1/4 the amount of detergent reccomended. then I do another heavy hot wash with no detergent and dry them normally. This works for me. The problem may be build up on your diapers. I just read an artical saying the best way to get all the build up off your dipes is put them in the dish washer with out any soap...I haven't tried that tho and really not sure that I will!

Barbara - posted on 06/15/2009

i am having a similar problem and i heard that if you put in a drop of Dawn dish soap and then rinse really well it should help eliminate the problem. i haven't tried this yet but i'm going to tonight. from what i have read it is detergent residue in diapers that the odor clings to.