Ah, the joys of parenting! For many parents, cloth diapers are a great way to save money and reduce waste. Unfortunately, an unpleasant poopy diaper smell can linger even after washing a cloth diaper. It’s enough to make any parent want to run for the hills. Fortunately, there is a solution! Here are some tips on how to get rid of that dreaded poopy diaper smell from your cloth diapers.
Strip Wash Your Diapers
One of the most effective ways to remove the poopy diaper smell from your cloth diapers is to strip-wash them. This technique essentially takes all of the buildup out of your diapers and leaves them smelling fresh and clean. To strip-wash your diapers, start by soaking them in a bathtub filled with hot water and ¼ cup of bleach for 30 minutes or until the water is cool.
Then, rinse the diapers twice in cold water before washing them with detergent in hot water using a gentle cycle. Once they’re done, you can dry them either in a machine or on a line outside; just be sure not to use fabric softener as this can impair their absorbency over time.
Vinegar Soak
If you don’t have access to bleach or if you’re looking for a more natural solution, vinegar can also do wonders for getting rid of smelly cloth diapers. Simply add 1-2 cups of white vinegar into your washing machine along with the diapers and detergent and then run it on its hottest cycle (this should also help disinfect your machine). Once finished, hang up the clothesline outside if possible or place them in the dryer without fabric softener as mentioned above.
Deodorize With Baking Soda
Baking soda is another great way to deodorize cloth diapers without damaging them over time as bleach or vinegar might do if used incorrectly. Just add ½ cup baking soda directly into your washer along with detergent when washing your cloth diapers; this will help neutralize any odors while cleaning at the same time! You can even pre-soak the diapers overnight in baking soda and warm water for an extra-deep cleanse; just remember to rinse out thoroughly afterward before throwing them into the washer as normal!
Conclusion
And if you don't want to stress over the seemingly endless choices of detergents to buy for your cloth diapers then check out our article 'Simply The Best 12: The Best Detergent For Cloth Diapers'. We've done the research and found the best detergents on the market to get those cloth diapers clean. Get all the needed information to ensure that your family has a safe and reliable detergent for those cloth diapers so that your baby's bottom is always in its best condition.