You will need to strip your diapers if you have residue or diaper odor. Residue can be caused by hard water, diapers than are not cleaned or rinsed thoroughly, detergents, or from greasy products such as diaper creams or fabric softeners. You could also have soap scum if you use a non-approved soap or detergent. Following are the instructions for diaper stripping. Strip only as needed, as it can be harsh on your diapering products. Standard machines: Maximum load size is 24 XS/S or 18 M/L diapers. Starting with clean diapers:
- Fill machine with Hot water on the highest water level, using a heavy cycle.
- Add 2 Tablespoons of Dawn Classic dish soap to the wash water and agitate for about 10 seconds.
- Add diapers and run wash cycle, adding two extra warm rinses.
- If the rinse water is slimy or has any bubbles during the last rinse, you should add another rinse.
~Sonya
I’m confused as to why stripping is so harsh on diapers. It seems like you’re just doing a cycle with Dawn, followed by several rinses, so how is that any harsher than washing the diapers?
I read that stripping with Dawn only works on diapers that have build up from diaper rash creams. It makes sense since dishwashing liquid is used to degrease and creams are oil-based (ergo, grease). For mineral residue from hard water or detergent build-up, Calgon or RLR are the recommended solutions.
I was curious about the HE machine too. Though I successfully stripped diapers in a top loader with just several hot wash cycles and a dash of baking soda in the first one, no Dawn needed.
we bought a yard of anti-pill fleece and cut strips to use as liners. they haven’t let any creams through to our diapers yet! :) We just wash them separately (with towels)
I think I need to give this a shot on my diapers. Starting to get a faint smell. Thanks!
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