https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:38:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1963490 Fri, 28 Nov 2014 21:49:45 +0000 avivoca 1963490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ballerinabee: My bestbottom cover is one of my least favorites, even though it's super cute. I hate their inserts and can only use it over a fitted diaper. I'm glad the strip saved your diapers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1963473 Fri, 28 Nov 2014 21:30:00 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1963473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ballerinabee: Do you dry your flip covers in the dryer? I have 3 that I have been using for over a year and the elastic is still in almost perfect condition and they never leak. I heard the dryer can damage the elastic, as can line drying in the sun (the sun does the same thing). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1957774 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 10:37:36 +0000 ballerinabee 1957774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all for the input! It's really helpful.</p> <p>I think the Fluff Love &amp; CD Science stripping (RLR, super HOT water in a half-full tub overnight) followed by a 30 min cold bleach soak followed by a proper wash cycle (quick cold wash to rinse the bleach out, then hot wash with the right amount of detergent and water) saved my dipes. They actually smell clean now, and they're definitely brighter / cleaner looking!!</p> <p>Fluff Love &amp; CD science has a whole page of detergent recommendations, and it turns out that the tide we had at home has no brighteners or fabric softener, so I think it's ok. </p> <p>The BG and Flips really disappoint me in how lousy their elastic is. My Flips are useless at this point - the elastic isn't very tight anymore and they leak like crazy (the front fabric of the cover is always drenched even though there is no part of the insert sticking out, and I have the leg elastics properly in his thigh-groin juncture). </p> <p>C hates the best bottom covers though, because no matter what inserts we put in there the waterproof inside of the cover (the PUL?) sticks to his skin and is uncomfortable where it comes around the sides of his hips. They also leave crazy red / deep marks where the elastic gussets stretch around his legs. They contain the urine / poop well, but they're not comfortable for him at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1955567 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 21:48:46 +0000 danda 1955567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is all good info! I mostly inhabit Bumgenius groups and maybe they're out of sync with others...our routine generally works well for us but occasionally our overnight fitteds get a little stinky. I'll definitely investigate some of the other detergents recommended by CD manufacturers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1955510 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 21:17:48 +0000 sorrycharlie 1955510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry for typos and incomplete sentences. So tired! Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1955509 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 21:17:26 +0000 sorrycharlie 1955509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@danda: I'm pretty new and jumped headfirst in with tide, lol. I wanted to start on the right foot - and avoid issues from the get go. But there are options that you can use eco friendly, or free and clears, just 1.5-2x more bc they're weaker - although they don't recommend All anymore. But I may use arm and hammer next! I don't love the smell of gain or tide but can't use plant based bc for some bizarre reason my hot water cycle won't work on my washer. Lame. </p> <p>@Mrs. Lion: I was gonna say, rumparooz, nickis pockets, mother ease, GMD, bummis and I think thirsties all recommend mainstream too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1955395 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 19:44:52 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1955395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My diaper manufacturer recommends tide (original powder only). It is what I have used exclusively on my diapers. For me the key is using the right amount of water and right amount of detergent. Enough water to saturate the diapers but not so much that the detergent gets too diluted. Enough detergent to get them clean but not enough to create residue that can cause repelling and stink issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1955385 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 19:32:36 +0000 danda 1955385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: you're absolutely right on how all sorts of wash routines can lead to rashes! I certainly wish it were more straightforward and that there wasn't such a dichotomy in recommendations - just want to paint the larger picture of diversity of opinions for someone who is newer. It seems there is so much depending on your specific water and washing machine which can either lead to problems or things working great. Hmm now I'm off to research Grovia recommendations.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1955378 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 19:29:11 +0000 danda 1955378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Twine: yes, Tide has optical brighteners according to a few different websites. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1955113 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:43:54 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1955113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@danda: Does Tide have optical brighteners? I've been told that it's something to steer clear of when you are looking at extending fabric life. I use the same detergent for our clothes and diapers, but I know there are no optical brighteners in it. Just wondering if that's one potential reason why many say to steer clear of common detergent brands. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1955078 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:28:19 +0000 sorrycharlie 1955078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@danda: to be fair, a lot of people have rashes as a result of cloth diapering company recommendations. charlie's soap, for example, is a huge cause of burns. big name companies such as GroVia wouldn't recommend mainstream detergent if it were to destroy diapers..and GroVia diapers last a lot longer on average than bum genius, ya know? as far as elastic, at least!</p> <p>I'd rather have clean diapers than a warranty, personally! but again, to each (person) their own (wash routine) ;) . </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1955039 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:10:53 +0000 danda 1955039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi! Great thread and I agree your wash routine sounds like it needs changes.</p> <p>I just want to make sure you're aware that Fluff Love &amp; CD science's recommendations are controversial in the cloth diapering community - some people have great success using their recommendations and highly recommend it but others have had bad problems (like rashes). Plus their recommendations may void your diaper warranty. Don't want to scare you, just want to help you make a well-informed decision on how to adjust your routine. </p> <p>As an alternate suggestion - a lot of the cloth diaper manufacturers welcome you to call with questions on wash routine and will provide trouble shooting suggestions which remain within the warranty.</p> <p>(Edit - I don't think anyone has a problem with the RLR/bleach recommendation...I think the controversy is the recommendation of detergents like Tide.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954280 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 10:00:35 +0000 ballerinabee 1954280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: yep, I'm going to follow that mineral stripping process, including the bleach soak. To the T. I'm not messing around this time!</p> <p>@avivoca: thanks! I emailed them to see if they will launder personally owned diapers. It's hard to tell from their website whether they will launder my diapers or only the ones they provide. I'll check around with some of the local shops where I bought my CD to see if they know of any other local services. I had just done a web search and didn't find anything local initially. Then again, I was in newborn-haze, so who knows how well I actually looked. I haven't looked since! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954260 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:54:43 +0000 avivoca 1954260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ballerinabee: This service serves your area! <a href="http://www.moderndiaperservice.com/ourservicearea.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.moderndiaperservice.com/ourservicearea.html</a> They are based in Alexandria, but maybe they would be able to strip your diapers for you? My local cloth diaper shop/service has a stripping service that I used when someone put diaper cream on my diapers and they are good as new. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954247 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:53:00 +0000 sorrycharlie 1954247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ballerinabee: You're welcome!!! I hope it helps. I was afraid to start cloth diapering because I thought washing was the worst part. My cousin corrected me and it is the EASIEST thing ever! Love CD now. Join the fb groups too - I've learned so much just reading other people trouble shooting! :)</p> <p>Eta - just make sure you bleach soak after stripping :) dilute and mix it first before adding the diapers </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954240 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:50:57 +0000 ballerinabee 1954240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a lifesaver!! I love their mythbusting explanations <a href="http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/?page_id=141" rel="nofollow">http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/?page_id=141</a></p> <p>I have a lot of work to do this weekend! </p> <p>@Avivoca: no cloth diaper services around here that I'm aware of - we're in Ellicott City, MD. I searched to see if I could use a laundry service when C was a newborn, but couldn't find anything. My mom used a service for all of her CD laundering, but I had no luck.</p> <p>I'm going to do a mineral strip and then try washing them according to the instructions on the pics above. </p> <p>Thank you, thank you, thank you all!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954221 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:36:28 +0000 sorrycharlie 1954221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>^^^ the mineral strip isn't only for hard water - it's used when stripping after ineffective detergents too. I reeeeeeally recommend posting there and asking for help - they are super super nice and helpful! I mean, there's gotta be something to it - we are 3 months in and haven't had a single issue with stink </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954218 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:35:59 +0000 avivoca 1954218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is there a local cloth diaper service where you can get your diapers stripped? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954217 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:35:27 +0000 sorrycharlie 1954217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p> [attach=1296/14/nfe8j4.507x600.image.jpg] [attach=1296/14/nfe8j6.508x600.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954213 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:34:33 +0000 sorrycharlie 1954213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ballerinabee: You want enzymes - that is what cleans your diapers :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954211 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:34:23 +0000 looch 1954211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ballerinabee: You can call your municipal water department and ask them to come out and test your water. They'll do it for free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954209 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:34:11 +0000 sorrycharlie 1954209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ballerinabee: Nope - myth! Honestly, no rockin green will clean them. FL&amp;CDS would probably recommend you strip with RLR (to get rid of the built up yuck in the diapers), bleach soak to kill that yuck, then wash several times (with mainstream detergent) to eliminate what was brought to the surface. I can get those images for you too. Grovia recommends mainstream detergent! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954206 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:33:16 +0000 ballerinabee 1954206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: yes - we have regular city water, no water softener. So, I'm not sure if it's hard / soft or somewhere in between. I'll look online for a test kit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954204 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:32:33 +0000 ballerinabee 1954204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie: I bought the version that's for regular (not softened) water: <a href="http://rockingreensoap.mybigcommerce.com/classic-concentrate-laundry-detergent-motley-clean/" rel="nofollow">http://rockingreensoap.mybigcommerce.com/classic-concentrate-laundry-detergent-motley-clean/</a> </p> <p>Not sure if that makes a difference. We had the same problem using Country Save (which was originally the recommendation we got): <a href="http://www.countrysave.com/cloth_diapers_detergent.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.countrysave.com/cloth_diapers_detergent.php</a> </p> <p>I'm really surprised that the FluffLoveCDScience recommends mainstream detergents. I thought those would ruin CDs? (Because most of them include fabric softeners, whiteners/brighteners, enzymes, fragrance, etc.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954198 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:30:14 +0000 looch 1954198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you get your water tested? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954179 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:22:16 +0000 sorrycharlie 1954179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ballerinabee: Rock n green is water softeners - so that's likely not getting them clean. Do you know if you have hard or soft water? Extra rinses redeposits minerals into the diapers too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954176 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:20:32 +0000 sorrycharlie 1954176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely recommend going to Fluff Love &amp; CD Science group on fb. They have a new website now too, <a href="http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/</a></p> <p>Here are some of their photos -</p> <p>[attach=1296/14/nfe7u8.364x600.image.jpg]</p> <p>[attach=1296/14/nfe7ua.600x450.image.jpg]</p> <p>[attach=1296/14/nfe7uc.508x600.image.jpg]</p> <p>[attach=1296/14/nfe7ue.600x288.image.jpg] </p> [attach=1296/14/nfe7us.508x600.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-cloth-diaper-stink#post-1954171 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:16:52 +0000 ballerinabee 1954171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Moving a CD stink discussion to its own thread to ask for help.</p> <p>When I started CD, I was told to follow this wash routine, but I have never-ending barnyard stink and when LO just pees the diapers immediately stink. It's awful:</p> <p>1. cold wash cycle with soaked towels thrown in to trick my front loader HE machine into adding more water, extra rinse.<br /> 2. hot wash with soaked towels trick with rock n green cloth diaper detergent with extra rinse<br /> 3. always set the machine to "heavy" soiled and extra spin<br /> 4. soak the towels again before the hot wash</p> <p>My daycare provider says that my wet bags stink as soon as they have 1 wet diaper in them, so she will only put 1 diaper per wet bag (even though the kanga care and blueberry ones that I have will hold several), and she keeps them outside her house because she says they smell so much. </p> <p>I've tried stripping with blue dawn, the rock n green stinky soak, and with bleach, but nothing helps. I can't boil PUL, so I don't know how to fix my problem! </p> <p>Can anyone help? </p>