I've been having consistent issues with barnyard smell for over a year. I've done a lot of troubleshooting via fluff love university and FLU groups on facebook, but nothing has worked. A few months ago, I submitted a post here about the issue and got a lot of suggestions, but unfortunately, the issue has still not been resolved. My diapers are getting ruined from all the bleach soaks, and I'm so frustrated about cloth diapers right now. I would seriously pay a cloth diaper consultant to work with me right now if one existed, lol. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Here is my detailed wash routine (in the FLU facebook group format):
a. Detergent: Tide powder (switched from Gain after last post)
b. For an XL load: for the pre-wash I fill the scoop to the 1 line, and for the main wash I fill the scoop to the 4 line.
c. I use 1 capful of Calgon in both the pre-wash and main wash because of hard water. I used to use Borax, but switched after my last post.
d. Usually about 15 diapers are washed at a time, along with cloth wipes, a few covers, and a wet bag. I check for stew each time with a marked mason jar (as per FLU) and bulk with a few washcloths if necessary.
e. All are fitted diapers and covers.
f. Washing machine: Whirlpool, Heavy Duty Extra Large Capacity Plus
g. Non-HE
h. Pre-wash- Normal, Heavy (12 minutes of agitation, total cycle is 42 minutes)
Main wash- Normal, Ex Heavy (15 minutes of agitation, total cycle is 45 minutes)
i. Temperature for both washes is hot-cold
j. I have very hard water. My test strips say it’s 250 ppm at all temperatures, and a test from a pet store said it was between 150 and 300 ppm.
k. I used to cloth diaper my oldest with zero washing problems, and I had no issues with my second until we moved last June. Ever since then it's been nonstop barnyard smell issues even though we just moved across town and the water hardness readings are all the same. Here are some adjustments I've made since having these issues:
• I replaced the agitator dogs in my washing machine.
• I started rinsing all night time diapers with hot water and wringing them out directly after changing.
• Eventually, I stopped using night time cloth diapers altogether in hopes that I could just get it figured out with the thinner, daytime diapers. Of course, that hasn't happened yet.
• I switched my pre-wash from 6 minutes to 9 minutes, then to 12 minutes.
• I'm following the FL bleach soak procedure, using 3/4 cup of unexpired bleach in a large load.
• I recently stripped all of my diapers and wash cloths using Grovia Mighty Bubbles. I know FLU doesn't recommend them anymore, but from my understanding, their old method should still be effective. Of course I did a bleach soak afterwards.
• I recently switched from Gain powder to Tide powder and from Borax to Calgon.
• I did a "swoosh" test to see if I had detergent buildup. I didn't see any sign of detergent buildup, which surprised me since the Tide powder seems very sudsy.
Other potentially relevant info: My washing machine was bought used and has always been iffy. For example, when I used to use Gain powder, if I used a delicate cycle and cold water, detergent powder was still on some of the clothes after the cycle. Also, sometimes after a load is done, there is a faint kind of bad smell in the washing machine (kind of like a HE machine that's been closed for a while), even though I frequently clean it with detergent and bleach. It's almost as if it's not draining properly under the drum or something (I know nothing about how washing machines work, so that might not even make sense, haha). I've even considered getting a new washing machine. However, as stated before, I successfully cloth diapered my oldest with the same machine for 2 years, and I've replaced the agitator dogs, and the agitation looks good, so I don't know what gives.
Anyway, sorry that was such a long post, and congrats if you made it to the end. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions!
Here is my detailed wash routine (in the FLU facebook group format):
a. Detergent: Tide powder (switched from Gain after last post)
b. For an XL load: for the pre-wash I fill the scoop to the 1 line, and for the main wash I fill the scoop to the 4 line.
c. I use 1 capful of Calgon in both the pre-wash and main wash because of hard water. I used to use Borax, but switched after my last post.
d. Usually about 15 diapers are washed at a time, along with cloth wipes, a few covers, and a wet bag. I check for stew each time with a marked mason jar (as per FLU) and bulk with a few washcloths if necessary.
e. All are fitted diapers and covers.
f. Washing machine: Whirlpool, Heavy Duty Extra Large Capacity Plus
g. Non-HE
h. Pre-wash- Normal, Heavy (12 minutes of agitation, total cycle is 42 minutes)
Main wash- Normal, Ex Heavy (15 minutes of agitation, total cycle is 45 minutes)
i. Temperature for both washes is hot-cold
j. I have very hard water. My test strips say it’s 250 ppm at all temperatures, and a test from a pet store said it was between 150 and 300 ppm.
k. I used to cloth diaper my oldest with zero washing problems, and I had no issues with my second until we moved last June. Ever since then it's been nonstop barnyard smell issues even though we just moved across town and the water hardness readings are all the same. Here are some adjustments I've made since having these issues:
• I replaced the agitator dogs in my washing machine.
• I started rinsing all night time diapers with hot water and wringing them out directly after changing.
• Eventually, I stopped using night time cloth diapers altogether in hopes that I could just get it figured out with the thinner, daytime diapers. Of course, that hasn't happened yet.
• I switched my pre-wash from 6 minutes to 9 minutes, then to 12 minutes.
• I'm following the FL bleach soak procedure, using 3/4 cup of unexpired bleach in a large load.
• I recently stripped all of my diapers and wash cloths using Grovia Mighty Bubbles. I know FLU doesn't recommend them anymore, but from my understanding, their old method should still be effective. Of course I did a bleach soak afterwards.
• I recently switched from Gain powder to Tide powder and from Borax to Calgon.
• I did a "swoosh" test to see if I had detergent buildup. I didn't see any sign of detergent buildup, which surprised me since the Tide powder seems very sudsy.
Other potentially relevant info: My washing machine was bought used and has always been iffy. For example, when I used to use Gain powder, if I used a delicate cycle and cold water, detergent powder was still on some of the clothes after the cycle. Also, sometimes after a load is done, there is a faint kind of bad smell in the washing machine (kind of like a HE machine that's been closed for a while), even though I frequently clean it with detergent and bleach. It's almost as if it's not draining properly under the drum or something (I know nothing about how washing machines work, so that might not even make sense, haha). I've even considered getting a new washing machine. However, as stated before, I successfully cloth diapered my oldest with the same machine for 2 years, and I've replaced the agitator dogs, and the agitation looks good, so I don't know what gives.
Anyway, sorry that was such a long post, and congrats if you made it to the end. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions!
