nappies still stinky ~ how to strip wash...

[TwoBlue]

Some of my MCN are getting a bit woofy ...

Would it hurt to do a one time hot soak?

[KarniF00l]

I would try other things first before soaking. Actually soaking is a big no period. Unless of course you just want to soak inserts and boosters, but never soak the actual nappies because you could ruin the elastic.

I would try and find out what causes the nappies to smell. It could be too much detergent or not enough, not enough sunlight, leaving the nappies to sit for too long, not rinsing the nappies properly... there could be many reasons.

Wash the nappies again in hot water (I don't like using hot water normally but if they start to smell the odd hot wash wouldn't hurt), in the rinse cycle put 1/2 a cup of white vinegar in and then hang them out. If that doesn't work then you might have to try a strip wash. A few drops of dish washing detergent in the wash cycle.

HTH Tracey

[TwoBlue]

Thanks for that, I dont have hot water hooked up to my machine though....

I'll start rinsing them more thoroughly .... and this last lot did sit for a bit longer because Ethan was having nappy free days whilst playing with TT.....

They were in the sun for aaaaaaages though...

I'll run them through the machine again and see how I go...

Thanks :D

[KarniF00l]

You might have to do the good 'ol bucket trips Trace. If there's only a few nappies then do a 1/4 - 1/2 load.

[TwoBlue]

You might have to do the good 'ol bucket trips Trace. If there's only a few nappies then do a 1/4 - 1/2 load.

Seems so mate.. oh well ... as long as my nappies dont pong I'm happy :D

[pookiesossige]

Mine get whiffy without hot water in there for a wash or rinse every now and then (actually, about every 2nd day). I don't have hot water hooked up to my machine either, but there is a hot water tap with a hose on it, and I just flop it over the side of the machine and fill'er up that way :)

[mumofsam]

mine are starting to get a little on the nose too. going to have to try some of these things...

[TwoBlue]

Ok so they are STILL a bit woofy....

How do I strip wash? perhaps I need to do one....

any other tips/ advice??

[KarniF00l]

Is it the actual nappies that are smelly or the inserts ?

With the inserts and fitteds you can boil them or alternatively you can do a hot water wash with NO detergents but with half a cup of bicarbonate soda in the wash cycle and quarter cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. Keep washing until the water runs clear.

Seems as though you might have a residue build up which are causing them to smell.

Taken from Oz Cloth Nappies:

Residue and Strip Washing
A caution if you use your normal detergent is to watch for residue build up which can cause nappies to smell or repel liquid, or cause an irritant nappy rash. To fix this you can just rinse until the nappies do not produce suds - keep on checking the washing machine outlet. If you're in an area with severe water restrictions and are using flats or prefolds, you might consider boiling the nappies instead. I've even heard of people who have put them in their dishwasher, but watch that you don't use dishwasher detergent, you rinse well, and that they can't fall onto the outlet filter or element.

Strip Wash: If you get a particularly bad buildup of wash product residue, you can "strip" your nappies with very very hot water and a little bit of plain (non-moisturising) dishwashing liquid. Don't use dishwashing liquid in a front loader, and check care instructions before using extremely hot water on modern cloth nappies. Watch for over-foaming, and rinse nappies very thoroughly afterwards until absolutely no suds remain.

Another way to strip wash is to add bicarbonate of soda to the wash, and vinegar to the rinse. Warning: Some nappies cannot be washed using these products, so please check with your nappy manufacturers carefully before trying this.

Some people rotate through two or three different kinds of washing detergent to keep residue issues down. In general, using well under the recommended amount of detergent helps stop residue from bulding up in the first place!

Another possible cause of buildup on a nappy is the use of thick barrier creams. These are generally unnecessary if the nappy is changed often enough. If you do experience this problem, you may need to scrub the nappy inner with a nailbrush and a little washing-up liquid before continuing with the strip wash procedure above.

It can also be a case of working out what is right for your baby. If your routine is working, stick with it!

[Mrs J]

To strip wash them, put them in the washing maching on warm/hot wash as normal and put washing detergent in instead of washing powder this will strip them and be all nice again. Thats the instructions i got with my bubble bubs, i have also heard u can use dettol.

[mumofsam]

i did an extra rinse today at the end of the wash cycle and they smell a lot better. :yelclap:

[HoopDeeDoo]

I think you are definately going to have to use hot water. If I don't use hot water my nappies smell instantly :yes:

[TwoBlue]

Ok so if I dont have hot hooked up to my machine then what...? Fill it manually with hot water??

Also its mainly my AIO's (magic alls) that are woofy, the pockets seem ok.. so is it ok to strip wash them?

Sorry for all the dumb questions I just dont want to ruin my nappies :o

[HoopDeeDoo]

A strip wash shouldn't do any harm to any of your nappies every now and again, you just can't to it all the time, and even then I'm not sure realistically how much damage a bit of bicarb or vinegar would do.

Is your washing machine next to the laundry sink? Could use go one of those shower hose thingos and use that to fill the washing machine manually? It might take while but you wouldn't have to fill the whole washing machine, unless you have as many nappies as me :laughing:

[TwoBlue]

Thanks Emma and everyone else too

I am off to strip wash now .. I'll let you know how I go

[stellaj]

Stick soem tea tree in there too. And some bi-carb... and do a long wash, that'll fix them.

[alexiasmum]

Mine have been drying outside. I think some may be strting to smell a little. Is it ok to use them if they are a bit smelly? And then strip wash them next time ??? I washed them in warm water and washing powder and are drying them outside, but it's been overcast.