Cloth Diaper Stink Issues

Cloth diaper stink issue is something a lot of our customers ask us when cloth diapering their children.  There are many factors to consider when tackling the issue of cloth diaper stinks and eliminating the problem.

Cause
Stink issue whether it's the ammonia smell or stink that causes rash problems isn't limited to the case of the baby sitting in their pee or poop for too long.  Often times cloth diapers that are not cleaned well have residues that cannot be washed out with conventional detergents.  Bacteria growth isn't the cause of stink itself but it's their feces that can stink up your cloth diapers.  When the baby pees or poop on the diaper, leftover residue and bacteria from the detergent can also wreck havoc on the baby's butt.

The Myth
Some people claim 'cloth diaper detergent' or 'CD friendly detergent' is a marketing gimmick.  What those people fail to realize with most conventional detergents is that they are not residue-free.  If your cloth diapers and clothes are getting cleaned with each wash, why are all these chemicals fail to clean the clothes properly?  Though it may seem like regular detergent is cleaning their diapers and have no stink issues for weeks or even months, when the problem arise, it's not uncommon for people to struggle in getting rid of the stink.  

Other Factors
Water pH level play a significant role in how the detergent acts in cleaning your cloth diapers.  Water hardness level varies in different locations.  Terms such as 'hard water' doesn't indicate how hard the water is and if you live in an area with very hard water, the same washing method used in another location with softer water will likely not work.  Other facts to consider are the type of washing machine being used as well as if you're using cold or warm/hot water.  Cloth diaper material also play a very important role in getting them washed.

Some Tips
We have tips in getting your cloth diaper clean and keeping the cloth diaper stink issue at bay.  Though it may not eliminate the issue 100%, by following some our tips you can see great results.

1. Wash frequently - Don't let the dirty diapers sit for more than three days.  'Wet pailing' or method used to keep diapers in pail with water is something we do not recommend not you risk fabric damage but poses a serious safety hazard.  After cleaning and rinsing (for poop) the diaper, keep the diapers in a dry pail with pail liner.  Washing the cloth diapers frequently minimize bacteria growth which is the main source of stink issues.  An overview of our washing method is discussed here.
2. Avoid bleach - Most bleach nowadays are diluted with very minimal effect when it comes to disinfecting.  If the actual problem of detergent build-up isn't taken care of first, you'll only keep fighting the stink issue every single time with bacteria that will keep growing.
3. Try to stick to natural fibers - Natural fibers can be washed and even boiled (flats & prefolds) cleaner than synthetic materials.  Because synthetic fibers are usually plastic based, they cannot be cleaned out well nor take heat very well.  There's a reason why our grandparents boiled the diapers for 100% disinfection.
4. Use residue-free detergent - Residue free detergent does not leave any residue behind and also help to strip away any build-up.  Often times cloth diapers and clothes may seem to lose it's absorbent or repelling properties, it's generally caused by build-ups left behind by conventional detergents.  Cloth diapers can be stripped which would restore the fabric's properties.  Natural fibers will start to absorb again while synthetic covers like PUL will stop absorbing moisture.

Need Help?
Do you have any stink issues that you cannot get rid of?  We have successfully helped many customers in battling cloth diaper stinks.  Talk to us!  We can help you to eliminate these problem!