https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:26:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791443 Tue, 12 Dec 2017 10:26:05 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2791443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jennlin821: interesting! That makes it more complicated for me to make my washer full. Ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791440 Tue, 12 Dec 2017 09:52:13 +0000 jennlin821 2791440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky I know you are getting A LOT of conflicting advice here. I know that all of us momma's are just trying to help. I am suggesting following Fluff Love because they are scientist momma's who have extensive backgrounds in this. So based on a few of your comments above, I'd like to add a few more things:<br /> -Please get the test strips for you water. you have to know the hardness number in order to figure out if you need a water softener(borax/calgon) it will make a different in the type of detergent you use. If you don't soften the water, you will get mineral build up and your diapers will stink and repel. If you use too much then your diapers will not agitate propertly and the feces will not get removed.<br /> -Please follow the directions for your washer on the Fluff Love website. Using extra rinses or not measuring your drum/getting stew will cause serious problems. Do you have a front loader or a top loader? Is it an HE?<br /> -Bulking the laundry is extremely important. As is using the recommended detergent amounts in the index. Many people use regular old Tide, I personally use Tide Free &amp; Gentle so that I can use it on all of our laundry. </p> <p>@Mrsbubbletea I bulk with gerber prefolds (burp cloths) and flour sack towels. I received so many gerbers at my baby shower, I can keep a stash in my laundry room just for bulking. Then I don't have to worry about syncing up other laundry with the diaper laundry (can't ever get on the same page!) Don't use any towels larger than a dishtowel - nothing should be larger than a mans L T- shirt. As for bulking the prewash - I think this depends on your type of washer. I used to have a regular plan non-HE agitator top loader, and yes I bulked the pre-wash, just to eliminate the step later. But I believe if you have an HE toploader or a front loader, you shouldn't bulk until the main wash - because the wet diapers will make a difference in measuring to get the exact 2/3-3/4 full that your machine needs. </p> <p>@desertdreams88 - I think you need to look up your washer on the website, the size of the load has to do with your kind of washer, not how many diapers. This is especially important for HE and front-loaders. </p> <p>@lilyofthewest - bleach all the time! that's so hard on your diapers!! sounds like you need a better routine too. </p> <p>I am not affiliated with Fluff Love, I just have successfully followed their advice for a year in two states with two different washing machines. </p> <p>@Becky, let me know if you need more help - I'll happily answer any questions (I've done the strip/bleach once) and can ask or look up questions on the FB group for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791409 Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:27:12 +0000 peaches1038 2791409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: you shouldn’t add anything bigger than a dish towel bc the larger items can wrap around the diapers and prevent them from being properly agitated and rinsed 😊 I personally never add any other items and my diapers come out perfect </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791373 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 20:25:05 +0000 Nonimouse 2791373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Fluff love usually recommends way too much detergent and can be really problematic!!</p> <p>Your routine should be a rinse cycle with no detergent (just drain and spin, many use a quick wash--this gets out most of the pee), then a heavy duty wash on hot with the same amount of detergent you use for a regular load of laundry (I have soft water and use 1/8 cup), then one more rinse.</p> <p>With barnyard stink, I'd do a bleach wash. Basically add 1/4 cup of bleach to your regular wash cycle and then do extra rinses till you don't smell bleach. Microfiber is probably part of your issue, it tends to hold stink after a while.</p> <p>Please don't waste time and money on all the crazy stripping stuff! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791371 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 20:21:50 +0000 Becky 2791371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My washer actually has a “water plus” setting so maybe I don’t need to add stuff (I’d prefer not to especially as it gets confusing if someone else is doing the diaper wash, and there is no way I would wash regular clothes with the diapers—ew!).. Also according to the suds test and my mom our water definitely isn’t hard so that’s good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791367 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 20:17:27 +0000 DesertDreams88 2791367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: oh bummer, that stinks! but yes, the prewash gets all the main stuff, and since the 2nd wash is on hot anyway, I wouldn't worry. I mainly stick to combining just with LOs clothes bc they're easier to hang-dry anyway (and I'm already hanging the diapers, so no need to sort) but I'd feel fine combining it with anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791352 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 18:26:20 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2791352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: mine doesn’t have those settings, that’s great! According to fluff love my particular washer does best if it’s super full... which is tough!i mean I am constantly doing laundry, but I wasn’t sure about adding everything to the diaper wash. I guess the idea with the prewash is the yucky stuff is gone mostly? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791351 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 18:24:10 +0000 birdofafeather 2791351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we had to bleach to get rid of stink and then used fluff love's recommended detergent and washing process for our actual washer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791350 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 18:21:21 +0000 DesertDreams88 2791350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: On my washer I can select small, medium, and large for water amount/laundry load size. I just set it to the appropriate setting so I don't *need* to add in extras. </p> <p>BUT, I do often, just to conserve electricity &amp; water. I wash twice a week. I do the diapers on cold prewash on a medium setting, then throw LO's clothes in for the 2nd round, hot regular wash, on the large setting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791349 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 18:19:06 +0000 DesertDreams88 2791349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: it's a powder-based detergent, I get it at Target. I chose it because it was inexpensive and okayed for people with eczema / allergies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791348 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 18:14:25 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2791348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: what’s FOCA? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791347 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 18:14:00 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2791347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jennlin821: and others :)</p> <p>Rather than making a whole new post, question I’ve been wondering as we are a few weeks into cloth diapering baby number two! I am adding any blankets, baby towels, and bath towels I can to bulk up my CD laundry. Do I need to add those in to the prewash? Or just the main wash cycle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791335 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 17:07:18 +0000 lilyofthewest 2791335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bleach! After much trial and error we ended up just doing a bleach load once every 2-3 weeks/every 6-8 washes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791334 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 16:59:48 +0000 DesertDreams88 2791334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In regards to water hardness, you can use pool test strips to figure it out:<br /> <a href="http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/how-to-wash-cloth-diapers/dealing-with-hard-water-and-cloth-diapers/youve-done-a-water-hardness-test-now-what/" rel="nofollow">http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/how-to-wash-cloth-diapers/dealing-with-hard-water-and-cloth-diapers/youve-done-a-water-hardness-test-now-what/</a></p> <p>or use this poll:<br /> <a href="http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/original-experiments/participate-survey-time/water-hardness-by-area/" rel="nofollow">http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/original-experiments/participate-survey-time/water-hardness-by-area/</a></p> <p>In regards to stripping, MF stink, fluff love, etc....<br /> I stripped all used diapers before LO came. All of our system is MF pockets or AIOs. We've been CDing for 22 months consistently, one kid only though. No stink or stains or any issues at all using Fluff Love's routine.</p> <p>We use a quick cold pre-wash with 1/2 cup Foca &amp; a hot regular wash with 1c Foca &amp; 1/2c Borax. That's what was recommended on FL's website based on our washer, water type, and skin type (need free &amp; clear options). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791327 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 16:26:46 +0000 jennlin821 2791327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: Good luck, I really hope you can get enough out of the fluff love website files. If you are ordering the mighty bubbles off of amazon, order a water hardness test strip too. You'll need to know your water hardness in order to figure out how much (if any) borax to use.<br /> The strip and subsequent bleaching will take all day, and you will probably need to do the soak in a bathtub (most washing machines drain out water after a time). </p> <p>I really think that you should get on the facebook group.<br /> I don't mean that they will make you try several things - they have you answer a series of questions and will walk you through the strip/bleach and will then create a recommended routine specifically for you. The take into consideration your exact washing machine, your detergent, your water hardness, etc. </p> <p>I promise this will be much easier than trying to do it yourself, and ending up with the same problems in another month or too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791325 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 16:14:33 +0000 Becky 2791325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At this point I have too much of a mental load to try a thousand different methods, and piles and piles of laundry all around my house. Wah! I’m going to Amazon Prime the Grovia Mighty Bubbles then bleach, and tweak my wash routine based on what Flufflove’s website said (really just doing a speed wash using a little detergent instead of using the prewash setting, fluffing things up before the regular wash and adding some receiving blankets, and eliminating the extra water and extra rinse). Thank you for recommending Flufflove and hopefully it works! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791316 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 15:35:37 +0000 jennlin821 2791316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: I'm glad you checked out Fluff Love. I believe your first step will be to strip &amp; then bleach (you have to do both)</p> <p>Then get started with a new routine. The actual water hardness number is very important, so get your water tested (pet store or test strips from walmart/amazon) </p> <p>I know it sounds crazy, but could you get back on facebook just for this? The FL &amp; CD Science group is designed specifically for trouble shooting these laundry problems, and you will be connected with an admin who will work through each question and step with you. </p> <p>If you don't want to do that, let me know, I'll try to message one of the admins to see if they will work with you through email or something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791314 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 15:32:26 +0000 avivoca 2791314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We ended up switching to Ecos Free and Clear as our diaper (and main) detergent and didn't have to deal with barnyard stench a lot. I mean, yes, sometimes you get there and need to strip, but it wasn't regular. I used a local to me stripper available at a cloth diaper store, but I would check out fluff love and try their routine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791313 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 15:29:57 +0000 Becky 2791313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the input. No idea if I have hard or soft water—it just seems regular. I grew up with well water and now have city water and they seem the same. No mineral deposits. I haven’t tried Flufflove’s stripping method so maybe that’s next. Their wash method is also different than what I’ve been doing so i’ll Try it. It’s tough because my easy peasy method worked so well with DD1!</p> <p> I got rid of Facebook a few months back so can’t post to groups ☹️</p> <p>Also it’s barnyard stink. So stinky. It’s embarrassing when she’s at daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791300 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:50:58 +0000 skipra 2791300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with Fluff Love. </p> <p>My microfiber inserts stunk awful and I followed their instructions for stripping and they haven't smelled at all since. I used Grovia Mighty Bubbles and bleach.<br /> I use regular Tide now with no Borax because we are on city water and it is already soft. With Tide the water can be harder before you need to add Borax so you might be over softening. Each load gets washed twice with detergent. And if your water is actually hard, you need to make sure not to do an extra rinse.<br /> I have heard really bad things about Charlie's Soap too so you might want to stop using it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791298 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:47:27 +0000 Nonimouse 2791298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What kind of stink do they have? Ammonia or barnyard? What is your current wash routine?<br /> I recommend the cloth diaper tech support Facebook group, not fluff love (I think their advice is often problematic).<br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Justlaundry/" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/groups/Justlaundry/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791291 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:23:17 +0000 jennlin821 2791291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Visit Fluff Love University <a href="http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/</a>, and join their facebook group Fluff Love &amp; Cloth Diaper Science. They will get you straightened out. </p> <p>I can see a few problems you probably have:<br /> 1) Charlies Soap is not a recommended detergent<br /> 2) Are you doing two full washes? Your diapers are probably not getting clean.<br /> 3) Do you know your water hardness? By adding borax you may be over-softening your water which causes problems getting all the gunk out. </p> <p>Don't throw in the towel, they will be able to help you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791276 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 13:47:23 +0000 SwanSong 2791276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We would regularly do a white vinegar soak, rinse, and then normal wash. We basically use vinegar to get smells out of anything... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/stinky-cloth-diaper-help#post-2791272 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 13:39:49 +0000 Becky 2791272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our microfiber inserts STINK and I don’t know what to do. </p> <p>This is the second kid using these and she’s 19 months old (almost 20). They are the Best Bottom medium inserts so she’s probably been using them for about 10-12 months, and DD1 probably used them for 8 months. We had a stink problem around age 1 with DD1 but switching to Charlie’s Soap completely solved that. We use Best Bottom and Blueberry shells (so no pockets). </p> <p>I’ve stripped the inserts twice. I’ve tried unscented laundry soap. I’ve tried regular Tide. I use Borax every time which was my save all last go around. Nothing is working. The stink is so bad my FIL refuses to put her in them for fear of bacteria. </p> <p>So, is there a last shot any of you can recommend to remove the stink? I’m in a tough spot because we have the next size insert up in storage, but she’s so petite she won’t quite fit them yet without doubling up with some smaller hemp inserts we have, and we don’t have a ton of them. I also can’t justify purchasing any new inserts because she’ll hopefully be potty trained around age 2 (goals right—DD1 was just shy of 2 so fingers crossed). Or would you throw in the towel and use disposables for 4 months? I guess this is really for moms who successfullycoth diapered multiple kids using the same inserts. </p> <p>Thanks! </p>