Cloth Diapering 101?

[Figwit]

[Nemesis]

I need some help with my washing routine. The dipes smell a bit when wet...they smell fairly clean when dry, not like brand new clothes, and not like laundry detergent smell. When my son pees in the diaper though, it smells almost mildew/moldy. His pee in a disposable doesn't smell at all.

This is what I have to work with - formula fed (this is not by choice, please no lectures), 3 month old, brand new washing machine, HE top loader with water from a city system. Diapers are fitted/contour microfleece on the inside, microfibre on the outside. Covers are mostly PUL, but some vinyl coated polyester. Wipes are flannel and are in a solution of mostly water, sometimes with a few drops of baby shampoo, sometimes with a few drops of sweet almond oil and sometimes with a few drops of tea tree oil. We rarely use any diaper creams, and use a paper liner on the diapers if we use the creams. I occasionally use baby cornstarch powder.

This is what I am doing - After 2 or 3 days, I throw all the diapers, covers, wipes and the laundry bag in the machine. I put it on the 'rinse and spin' cycle, which is 25 mins. I'm not sure what temp the water is b/c I can't change that function on that cycle. Then, I add detergent (Arm and Hammer right now, but I have tried Ivory as well) and wash on the 'normal' setting (55 mins), hot water, heavy soil level and medium spin level. I add detergent up to the '1' line on the cup. Then, usually dry in the dryer. They have been out to sanitize in the sun at least twice. I've also put them through the 'sanitary' setting on the washer, and tried the 'heavy duty' setting. I've tried adding oxyclean to the mix as well. I've boiled the wipes on the stove once and that seemed to really clean them - they lost their funky smell when wet, but promptly gained it back after I washed them with the diapers again. Boiling the wipes was a LONG process that I don't really want to do that often.

I read somewhere that if there aren't enough diapers in the washing machine they won't get clean as they need to rub up against each other to agitate and help clean. (same goes for overloading). My son doesn't produce many dirty diapers - maybe 6-8 in 24h? Only one of those would be poopy. I've tried adding in other items to the washing machine after the rinse cycle and I've tried washing them just by themselves.

After all of this trial and error, it seems to be all error - my dipes still have a funky smell! Suggestions?

I'd really prefer to not buy a fancy detergent made just for diapers - I'm willing to switch detergents, but I want to use whatever it is for all of my washing - there just isn't any extra room in the laundry room to store multiple detergents.
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Everyone thinks I do it to make people stare, but really, it's to keep them from looking too closely.

[delqc]

Things I would try...

1) change your cold rinse to a cold wash on the normal cycle to make sure the solids are getting off

2) change wash cycle to heavy duty

3) I know some people with HE machines add a wet towel to get more water in the load. HE machines are actually not that great for diapers because diapers need to MOVE in the water.

4) Try Tide free and clear. It is getting lots of love in cloth diapering communities these days, is easy to access, and not crazy expensive. Many people have reported switching to tide solved their diaper issues.

5) You can totally bleach microfiber inserts and PUL covers. Add a tbsp or two of bleach to a hot wash. You will not ruin your diapers. If you had a bunch of fancy printed fitteds this might not be a good idea but for microfiber a bleach every 2-3 months is helpful, and is actually recommended by some manufacturers (like bummis).

FWIW a mildewy smell usually means diapers or wipes are sitting around too long wet either in between washes or when drying. While bleaching will solve this, make sure you are promptly doing your washes and getting them to the dryer / sun without them sitting in the washer all day, which can make them funky.[/img]
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Tsé qu'la vie est parsemée de p'tites misères
Faut pas t'en faire...

[Nemesis]

[delqc]

I have bleached my PUL covers repeatedly (we had an issue with never-ending diarrhea and related bleach when my daughter was about 14 months old. UGH.) and they have never been affected. I have had one cover come separated (like the plasticy layer come apart from the cloth-like layer) but I think that was from use - it was on it's second kid - and not the bleach. YMMV of course, and bleaching the covers is less important than the absorbent parts, but I would do it.

I occasionally leave my dipes 3 days, rarely, and I do find it is harder to get them clean then. I think four days is really pushing it too far. Better to do smaller loads more often and control the funk!
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Tsé qu'la vie est parsemée de p'tites misères
Faut pas t'en faire...

[Nemesis]

I did all the washing yesterday (all of the diapers, while my son wore some AI2s that he rarely wears) and they actually smell really clean. Now, to test them out while he's wearing them!

I also finally put up for sale some of my extras - I have SO many fitteds, never mind the G diapers and AI2s. Funny that not even 2 months ago I didn't have enough diapers! *fingers crossed* that they sell, would be nice to have extra cash on hand.
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Everyone thinks I do it to make people stare, but really, it's to keep them from looking too closely.

[Nemesis]

I bought some used PUL covers and 2 of them leak regularly. (bummis brand). I've put them in the dryer to 'seal' the layers...is there anything else I can do, or are these just for the trash?
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Everyone thinks I do it to make people stare, but really, it's to keep them from looking too closely.

[Pearliepie]

[dance]

I found this cool post and thought of the cloth diapering mamas here. I'm making these right now:
http://itsourlongstory.blogspot.com/2012/01/diy-cloth-training-pants.html

E is 22 months and doing pretty well on the potty. She poops at nap in her diaper, but will stay dry during the day if I take her often enough. I think this will be cool for errands and stuff though...I was looking at the cute Blueberry cloth trainers, and they are so pricey! I mostly just want to protect the car seat and her shoes, cause pee+shoes=PITA.

Surprisingly, now that I am basically using 2 diapers a day, I am feeling more annoyed with cloth diapering. Maybe because it takes longer to build up a load of diapers to wash? Or maybe I feel less guilt about using just a few disposables? Probably more that I pretty much know she's going to poop in the nap one, and I kind of hate poopy cloth diapers :)
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[killr]

hello friends.
I have a few questions about wool soakers. I made one with this pattern http://withatangledskein.blogspot.com/2008/02/little-fire-crochet-soaker-pattern.html and it seems so small. I admit I dont have much experience with itty bitty babies so I guess they are small but a baby + prefold must be bigger than this. I made the small size and did check my gauge.

Its crochet (I dont know how to knit) so it doesnt have as much give. I imagine it would stretch over a prefold but I was warned against compression with wool soakers so I dont want it tight.

I have looked at 1 commercial wool soaker and it was huge and stretchy. It was a one size, so maybe thats why.

Also, if I have to be careful about compression with wool soakers does that mean I cant swaddle. Thanks for all your help, I have very few mom friends and those I do went disposable all the way.

[Pearliepie]

A slightly bigger wool cover should be able to be swaddled nice and tight without the wicking from compression, so you might want to make the next size up. But are you using the smallest prefolds? The littlest ones from bummis and sweet pea aren't very bulky at all. (I mention those two brands because those are the ones we carry at work and I know for sure what they look like after washing and shrinking. I'm pretty sure any newborn prefold will be small enough)

Did you lanolize it already? The lanolin will really help it not to leak.
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We are none of us alone
even as we exhale it is inhaled by others
the light that shines upon me shines upon my neighbor as well
in this way everything is connected

[killr]

[Pearliepie]

[bella5]

Please let me know the best baby diapers companies in area. I need urgently your views.
honest diapers

[killr]

Hi again, its me, nervous nelly.

I now have 36 newborn prefolds, 24 infant prefolds, 2 thirsties duo covers, 1 thirsties x-small cover, 3 snappis, and 1 finished wool soaker (have yarn to make more). I have a queen flannel flat sheet to cut into wipes (im guessing that is enough fabric to make several dozen wipes). I have a length of PUL I plan to attempt to make a travel wet bag. I dont really have a "budget" other than cheaper = better.

Am I totally overlooking something? Would you feel comfortable with this stash? If I should invest more, where would you put the money? More covers? Having a couple fitted or pockets? Buy a commercially made wet bag? <- not feeling overly confident in my sewing abilities.