https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:55:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1758576 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 20:05:23 +0000 Skadi 1758576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anandam Are you doing a cycle with bleach once per month? They suggest using 1/4 cup of bleach in the wash cycle once per month to fight stains and odors: <a href="http://www.cottonbabies.com/blog/2013/03/cloth-101-how-to-wash-your-bumgenius-elemental.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.cottonbabies.com/blog/2013/03/cloth-101-how-to-wash-your-bumgenius-elemental.html</a></p> <p>We have a front loader. Here's our routine:</p> <p>I usually wash 12 diapers plus cloth wipes using Tide filled up to the third line on the cup. (I try to add bleach to one cycle on the first of every month so I don't forget.) I always run the water in the sink until it's really hot before starting the washer, so that hopefully the water has already heated up and the washer isn't pumping cool water in there (though I confess I don't actually know if this makes any difference).</p> <p>I wash on the Bulky cycle (which just means, according to the manual, that it soaks the laundry slightly longer than on other cycles) on Hot with the Heavy Soiled and Extra Rinse options selected.</p> <p>Then I choose a Rinse and Spin cold cycle that takes an additional 20 minutes to make sure all the detergent has washed away.</p> <p>Finally, I dry them for 90 minutes on low, with a dry fluffy towel to help them along. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1758533 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 19:35:14 +0000 Beebug 1758533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't worry, stink you can worry, not stains!</p> <p>I find we got stains at this age, time and sun faded them to no stains and now that #2 is in them he is staining them again and it'll go away again eventually! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1758369 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 17:54:32 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1758369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our manufacturer recommends tide powder, and we have had a lot of success. I tend to get more stains on anything made with bamboo....but my pocket diapers almost never stain. Sunning definitely helps though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1758355 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 17:46:10 +0000 dojo 1758355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to add that we had tons of staining before LO started solids. Sunning, occasionally some Buncha Farmers stain stick, and repeated washing got all stains out. </p> <p>Once LO was eating plenty of solids we noticed that we almost never get any stains. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1758217 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 16:36:02 +0000 anandam 1758217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just popping in to empathize! We're EBF and I also have stains, like neon yellow. Sunning fades them tremendously for me but there are new ones every time. I'm also trying to figure out the best washing regimen, because we also have a lingering smell.</p> <p>@Skadi: How much Tide Free are you using and for what size load? Top or front loading? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757938 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 15:14:10 +0000 birdofafeather 1757938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we sunned all day for a day or two and diapers looked like new. it definitely takes more than a couple hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757326 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:47:52 +0000 Chillybear 1757326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Once we started doing solids we started using Bummis Liners and that has helped a lot... no rinsing here </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757321 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:46:18 +0000 Chillybear 1757321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When i take the diaper off or out of the daycare wet bag i spray with bac-out.<br /> On wash day i was prewash cold no detergent, then Heavy duty (or for bedding) hot wash with line 3 of tide free and gentle powder with an extra rinse cycle (we wash 12-16 diapers and the wet bag)<br /> We were having stains with using the regular wash cycle maybe your washing machine isnt agitating enough - you can try throwing an towel in for more rubbing power </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757256 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:31:14 +0000 Skadi 1757256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it could be the detergent. To be honest, most natural detergents are just not as powerful as Tide.</p> <p>We use Tide Free &amp; Clear on our BG Elementals and haven't had a problem. What little stains there are have easily sunned out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757254 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:31:09 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1757254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, for sunning, I've heard laying them out when they are really wet and even adding a bit of lemon juice can really help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757226 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:21:39 +0000 blackbird 1757226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We also use tide original powder and we have ZERO staining problems. </p> <p>Do you think an extra rinse may help with any residue? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757223 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:19:44 +0000 MamaCate 1757223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: my understanding is that breast milk poop is water soluble but that formula poop is not water soluble so you do need to spray out first. We had occasional stains that almost all came out with sunning but I hung them out I the morning and didn't bring them in until dinner time. My BGs (4.0s) also recommend a wash with bleach once a month.</p> <p>If I were you, I would try doing a load with bleach, sunning any remaining stains, and then start spraying the poops. Since LO is so little you could probably just dunk them in the toilet to get the poop off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757217 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:16:50 +0000 LiveLove 1757217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had good luck pre-treating diapers with bac-out before throwing them in the wash to help reduce staining. Bonus, the bac-out also works well on clothes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757161 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:53:50 +0000 jetsa 1757161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: here's a link to it <a href="http://www.momsmilkboutique.com/laundry-detergent-Allens-Naturally-Liquid-1-oz-Sample.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.momsmilkboutique.com/laundry-detergent-Allens-Naturally-Liquid-1-oz-Sample.html</a>. I was having all sorts of trouble until I switched, like I said above I tried to switch to Ecos just bc it's available at my grocery store and he broke out. I was also having stink issues at 9 months and someone on here recommended Allen's stink out and it's fixed my problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757154 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:50:16 +0000 Mae 1757154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: I hadn't heard of that. And I don't know of any cloth diaper stores here (I ordered mine online!). Maybe I'll have to give that a try. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757149 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:47:54 +0000 jetsa 1757149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: have you tried Allen's or seen what your local cloth diaper store recommends? We used rockin green and were having all sorts of issues so I asked my local store and they said in our area Allen's tended to work better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757138 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:43:42 +0000 swurlygurl 1757138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same as @grizz: I had SO many problems with my diapers until I switched to Tide Original. Now I haven't had a single stain or smell issue (well, if I screw up my own wash cycle I do have smell issues, but that's my fault and easily fixed).</p> <p>ETA: Oops, just read your response to grizz :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757137 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:43:39 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1757137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: Yes, I have heard that formula means you can't put the poo straight into the wash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757132 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:41:53 +0000 Mae 1757132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: I've heard that too but I'm scared to try it. I am allergic to anything with fragrance (like if I used tide myself, rash city) and my LO seems to follow my lead in having sensitive skin so I don't really want to try it out on her nethers :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757128 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:40:04 +0000 jetsa 1757128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: I've heard this too, my DS has sensitive skin otherwise I'd love to try it. J broke out when I switched to Ecos, uh what ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757127 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:40:03 +0000 Mae 1757127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: she is only 2 mo, no solids. She has breastmilk and formula-- does formula mean i have to rinse? We have city water so I don't think it should be hard. And it isn't dingy, it's legit poo-stained. I took a pic but then thought better of posting it here lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757122 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:38:18 +0000 jetsa 1757122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: when we're dealing with stains we sun for 8 hours or so and it helps a lot. We do have some permanently stained diapers though. Until we started solids (BF) I never rinsed just tossed in the wetbag and washed whenever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757121 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:38:13 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1757121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What are you doing with solids? If your BF I hear you can toss it in. </p> <p>We always used liners so the amount of poo that really got to the diaper was minimal. However, ours still got stained (we only washed every 2-3 days though). I've heard hard water can really make it hard to get the dinginess out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757116 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:36:45 +0000 Mae 1757116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bushelandapeck: oh thats what i do too. a cold cycle with no detergent to rinse, then the hot cycle with extra rinse and detergent. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757113 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:36:19 +0000 Boheme 1757113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is bad but... I went off the BG approved list and switched to Tide original powder. I've noticed its a huge favorite in the FB cloth diaper groups! We are almost 14 months in with no stink, stains, build up, nothing - for a stash of BumGenius 4.0s, Freetimes, etc. I rinse twice afterward, and it doesn't seem to bother LO's skin. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757103 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:34:35 +0000 bushelandapeck 1757103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I throw them in a wet bag unless they are poopy, then I rinse but DS is almost 2 so I have to (yuck). I do a cold water rinse as part of my laundry cycle, then wash on sanitary with an extra rinse at the end. There is some who will say that voids your warranty but I haven't had any issues with build up or staining in the (almost) two years I've been washing them this way and the pull is still just fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757069 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:18:32 +0000 Mae 1757069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bushelandapeck: No I have a (new) top loader. So you rinse diapers right when you take them off? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757063 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:15:30 +0000 bushelandapeck 1757063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't had any issues with my Freetimes and have never sunned them either. I use Charlie's Soap and have also used Planet Ultra. Maybe @autumnlove is right about not using enough detergent. Do you have a front-load machine? It took a little bit for me to figure out the correct amount to use with our front-load HE machine. I do a cold water rinse first with mine so you could also try to add that in and see if it helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757060 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:13:18 +0000 Mae 1757060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumnlove: Hm. I mean, it came with a 1 tbspn measure and I use that. But i could try adding a little more. I guess I've never tried sunning more than 3 or so hours. We only have 12 diapers... hence the washing daily :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-am-i-doing-wrong-stained-cloth-diapers#post-1757043 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 11:04:46 +0000 autumnlove 1757043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My Freetimes and Elementals are a little stained too. I sun the diapers when I want to get the stains out....it usually takes a couple of days for them to disappear. </p> <p>Are you using enough detergent? I wasn't using enough when I first started CDing. </p>