Caregivers may smell an ammonia smell immediately after the child wets. These are signs that there is a build-up in the diapers, and they should be “stripped”.
What is Stripping?
Stripping cloth diapers means to take an aggressive cleaning procedure to them. It’s usually too harsh to do on the diapers each time they are washed, but it will remove any build-up on the diapers that can be leading to ammonia salts, bacteria, or detergent build-up. If left untreated, this can lead to irritating diaper rash.
Frequency of Need for Diaper Stripping
Some users of cloth diapers never need to strip their diapers. A strong, telltale ammonia smell on the diapers when they are wet is a sure sign they should be stripped. It’s also something to try if the child is getting a diaper rash despite frequent diaper changing and adequate rinsing of the diapers during normal washing. Stripping diapers often can be damaging to diapers, so it should be used it sparingly. If a caregiver finds their diapers need it often, it may be wise to revisit the regular washing routine to see if it can be improved.
How is it Done?
The most effective methods of “stripping” is going to involve 1) something to kill bacterial build-up and 2) lots of water to rinse really well.
- One method is to wash diapers as normal, followed by another hot water wash with a few drops of Dawn dish soap. Follow with several hot water washes, without detergent, to completely rinse the dish soap out of the diapers. Some babies can be sensitive to Dawn, so the follow-up washes are very important to rinse it all out.
- Another method is to wash diapers as normal, then do an extra hot water wash with detergent, 1/2 cup of borax, and bleach (1 teaspoon for front-loaders, 1 Tablespoon for top loaders). Follow this with one complete wash cycle of hot water, without detergent, with an extra rinse if possible.
- Boil diapers in a large pot for a few minutes each. This is recommended for prefold cloth diapers, or any diaper that doesn't have any plastic on it.
- Run consecutive hot water washes in the washing machine, without detergent, until there are absolutely no suds in the final rinse. This can take many cycles, sometimes as many as 15.
Stubborn Odor Problems
Special situations may require extra steps to get diapers clean. Synthetic cloth diaper materials (such as microfiber or fleece) seem to have more problems with build-up than natural fibers like cotton. Sometimes a child’s diet or health issues can make for solid waste that is difficult to wash out. If odor or rash problems are persistent, some trouble-shooting tips can help.
- If wash water is hard water, there are a few options. Investing in a water softener may help. Other cloth diapering parents have had luck with adding Calgon Water Softener to their washing routine.
- Try changing detergents – what is “recommended” for cloth diapering may not work well for the type of water, diaper or washer being used.
- Solid waste from diapers should be dumped or sprayed off before washing. This is typically recommended only if the child is eating man-made formula or is eating solids. However, if there are still stubborn odor or rash problems with an exclusively-breast-fed child, this may help. Another option is to use paper liners in the diapers, which can be discarded with the waste and flushed down the toilet.
- Before storing dirty diapers in the diaper pail, spray soiled areas with an enzyme pre-treatment such as Bi-O-Kleen Bac Out or BumGenius Odor Remover spray. Products such as these have an enzyme that helps to break down what is causing the odor. This type of product can also be added in the initial cold wash cycle.
- Consider adding oxygen bleach to the wash routine during the hot wash cycle. This is gentler on the diapers than regular bleach. Try using a 1/2 scoop for a top-loading washer or 1/4 scoop for a front-loading washer.
- Dry diapers in the sun whenever possible. It’s amazing what the sunlight can do for odor and build-up issues.
- If wash water is acidic, it may help to add washing soda or baking soda to the wash routine. This is typically only a concern if using well water, as municipal water is usually pH-adjusted. PH testing kits are easy to find at hardware stores and anywhere pool supplies are sold. Detergent works best in water with a pH around 7 or slightly higher.
- If wash water is basic (pH higher than 7.0), adding vinegar in the rinse cycle may help.
Persistent odor or rash issues can test even the most committed cloth diapering caregiver. Most problems can be corrected with one or more of the tips above.
For more information about effective everyday cloth diaper washing routines, visit Caring for Cloth Diapers to see if there is an obvious improvement that can be made to the washing routine.
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