HELP! my cloth diapers are getting stinky

Oh no! I have no idea how much vinegar to tell you to use. Is this the first problem with cloth diapers so far?

i was just reading through posts and noticed that you have recently switched to cloth diapers. generally you need to use only about 1/4 to 1/2 the recommended amount of detergent on your diapers. you want to be sure to not use any softeners or bleach cleaners. you do have to be careful with free and clear detergents because they have enzymes that will add to detergent build up. sun original is a good and rather inexpensive detergent to use on cloth diapers. i have also read where you can make your own detergent using washing soda (which is different from baking soda but made by arm and hammer) and simple green cleaner. i have not tried this as of yet because i can't find the washing soda locally. good luck with your diapering venture and feel free to ask any questions, i read all cloth diapering posts eventually

I use about a cup of white vinegar in the rinse water every few times I wash them. I also think sun/line drying helps with the smells and the stains. What do you do with dirty ones before they go in the wash? There are a couple different methods for that that may make a difference. Some people keep them in water (after flushing a way solids) with baking soda or vinegar and some keep them in covered containers, dry but with baking soda dusted through them. Dump the water before throwing them in the washer.

i say strip your diapers using dawn dishwashing liquid. not alot, maybe 1/2 a teaspoon. i usually soak them in dawn and very hot water for a while then when i can touch the water i kneed them and scrub them together getting the soap all through the diapers. then i will put them in the washing machine and even add a big pot of boiling water to the already hot water in the washer and let it go thru the wash cycle about 4 times...check for suds before it drains each time and don't stop until there are no suds. then i will rinse with cold water and 1/2 cup vinegar...then rinse again with cold water alone. the diapers should be thoroughly stripped and no longer have any lingering smell. i have directions for stripping on my website at http://www.freewebs.com/trendytush under the cloth diapering 101 tab. smell is often related to detergent build up, to help prevent stink in the future you may need to switch to a different detergent. currently i'm using tide original and only about 2 tablespoons of it per load. it does tend to build up on diapers and i wash them twice each time because i know this about tide. i'm switching to allens natural soap in another week, just waiting for it to arrive as a friend has ordered it for me online. http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com has a great detergent guide on their site. i hope this helps you some. i also find that hemp diapers tend to smell when they get wet. i personally don't like to use hemp diapers and have switched to all bamboo diapers for my personal use. they are rather expensive though so i still sell the hemp diapers though soon plan on being able to offer bamboo instead of hemp for the customers who prefer it.

You should always soak your cloth nappies before washing them anyway, so something like Nappisan, nappy wash is best since it's a soaker. The once they have soaked for a while, put them in the washing machine, & add in some fabric softener. You'll find the main of the smell is gone with the soaking & once they've been washed they'll smell more like your washing powder, if you add in the fabric softener, it'll soften the nappy & make it smell really nice! Just remember, once you take off the wet nappy & change the bum, put the dirty one straight in to a bucket of hot water with a soaker in it - that should fix all your problems! Oh, i've never heard the vinegar thing but i just did what i wrote above & have never had a stinky nappy after it's been soaked & washed!

I would either bleach them or use vinegar. I know that you can use like a cup of vinegar to a load in addition to soap and that will get rid of smells. I've had to do that with things my cap peed on before-- and cat pee stinks bad! If you are putting them in the dryer, I would add an extra dryer sheet to them too to help. Good luck!