Let's get the stink out with these tricky ideas!
(the following article was previously posted on 11/2008)
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Stinky diaper/HE washer issues:
If you are able to manually set the water level on your washer, set it for a larger load than what is needed in order to provide enough water to get all the ick and detergent out of your diapers.
If you are not able to manually set the water level, you can try adding a wet towel to the load so the machine senses that it is heavier/bigger and thus needs more water. Also, be sure that on the final rinse (you should be rinsing 2 times after the wash) there are no suds. If you are seeing soap suds in the water, the diapers need to be rinsed again. If the soap isn't all out - evidenced by the suds - chances are there are other "unwanted things" still left in the diapers, too. Stink can be the result. It may help to add a new wet towel and remove the first one at this point, to again weight the load so the machine uses a bit more water.
HE machines are VERY good at getting the water out during the spin cycle. This is a wonderful attribute - takes less time to dry your clothes and thus makes them last longer if you're using a dryer. BUT...if the diapers still have soap in them, it will be dried in them and then activated when your child wets the diaper. If you are using a detergent that contains enzymes (a no-no by the way), the enzymes that are not rinsed from the diaper will be activated by the moisture from your little one's "deposits". Enzymes are designed to eat away organic matter in the wash. When activated in the diaper, they start to eat away at the "deposits" your child made. Since your child's skin is also organic matter the enzymes can start to eat the skin, too! OUCH! You can only imagine what this will look like when you remove the diaper.

The above photo is of my very own front loader with only hot water and clean diapers - NO SOAP! Check out the suds! Rinsing completely is one of THE most important steps in laundering cloth [diapers]. With HE machine usage on the rise, it poses a bit more "out-of-the-box" thinking.
Happy diapering!





