Diaper stink is caused by one of three things:
- Diapers that are still dirty.
- Diapers that have bacteria growing in them.
- Detergent residue.
My 1-2-3 approach:
1. Keep it simple. Diapers that are still dirty need to be washed again.
2. If washing again doesn’t help the stink, check for detergent residue next.
To do this, wash the diapers without soap. Do you see suds? If so, keep rinsing until the suds are gone. Liquid Dawn in the first wash cycle can help speed this process along.
3. If the diapers STILL stink, you may be dealing with a bacteria issue.
There are two ways to try solving this issue. The first is the sun. This works because the UV rays from the sun actually causes the bacteria causing the stink to die. By drying your diapers on the line, you get the stain removal benefit and a stink-killer too. T The second option is to use a laundry additive. OxyClean would be my first recommendation. My second (and the last resort) is 1/4 cup of bleach in a large washload. To prevent bacteria buildup in the diapers going forward, wash every other time with OxyClean and line dry in the sun as frequently as you can.
Thoughts on Diaper Stink is Copyright, 2006, Cotton Babies, Inc.
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June 12th, 2006 at 2:54 pm
The sun really does help, plus your diapers dry faster in the sun and there’s just something nice about line drying things!
July 7th, 2006 at 11:42 am
My 11 month old son, Ben, only wears Fuzzi Bunz diapers. He’s never before had any diaper rash/redness at all. We have a front loading washer (Whirlpool Duet) so it is a low water machine. Unfortunately, Ben has recently gotten a rash on his bottom between his ‘cheeks’. We took him to the doctor and it is strep! Since this is a bacterial infection, does that mean the diapers are not getting clean. They don’t stink and are always hung in the sun to dry.
I’m stumped and don’t want this happening again. The doctor said it can be caused from anything but when I read this entry about the possibility of bacteria growing in ‘clean’ diapers I got worried. Any insight you have would be greatly appreciated.
August 2nd, 2006 at 4:19 pm
I’ve been using the Bum Genius diapers for about a month now. We’ve had troubles with stink….but, they don’t seem to have that funky smell when they’re clean. I only notice it when my son has wet his diaper. Something about them getting wet brings out the stink again. I’ve tried stripping with a combo of baking soda and vinegar….but, I’ve never tried using Dawn. How much do you use when adding it to the wash cycle? Thanks!
August 22nd, 2006 at 8:47 pm
Michelle, it doesn’t take much. Some people have said as little as one teaspoon. Just add a little bit until your washer looks like it has some bubbles in it. You don’t want to overflow the washer though so be sure to supervise the process!
Gena, I honestly have no idea what would have caused your son to develop a diaper rash caused by strep. Step lives on many, many things and it could have come from absolutely anywhere. Ask your doctor for guidance about sterilizing your diapers before you use them again.