I've searched the internet trying to figure out what my problem is! I hope someone here can help. My daughter is 6 months old and I'm new to cloth diapering. I absolutely love my hemp inserts because of their absorbency, but I've had some weird things happen in the wash. Some of the inserts, as well as my bum genius organic all in ones, will have purple gray splotchy stains that show up after being washed. I'm not totally sure if they have a smell since I'm kinda new to this. I guess they have a slight odor. The stains don't come out in the sun or by rewashing. It doesn't seem to affect the absorbency, just looks terrible. I can't figure out what's causing it!
I use a dry pail and she's still breastfed. The diapers are usually in the pail for 2 days, sometimes 3. I do a cold rinse on my HE machine then a hot wash with the typical amount of Charlies soap and an extra rinse. Am I missing a step? Can I save my inserts??
I feel a little foolish not recognizing what this was, but hopefully someone else can learn from it. I called BabyKicks and the girl was really helpful talking it through. She concluded that it was probably mold/mildew from my dry pail having a lid. I never would have guessed that because I don't go too long between washes, I don't live in that humid of a location, and I thought I noticed it only after washes. However, now I realize that I didn't really look at the diapers too thoroughly before dumping them in the wash (as you can imagine).
I was able to get everything completely clean, but it took awhile since many of the stains had already been through several dryer cycles. I did several washes with baking soda (recommended by BabyKicks) and a days worth of bright sunning without too much difference in color. I finally decided to take my chances with fiber breakdown and soaked them in a highly concentrated bleach solution overnight (Cotton Babies recommended bleach in the wash, but it wasn't enough). That helped tremendously, but I still had to do another baking soda wash and day of sunning after. However, now they are awesome!! Not brand new, but they look 100% better. I no longer use a lid on my dry pail and I make sure I shake loose anything sticking together. So far so good. Hopefully this is helpful to someone!
hmm, was going to suggest sunning but you've done that. I use an HE but use Econuts. Had some tough stains one time and no sun for a week and used washing soda and got it out, but I'd still vote for the phone call first. Do you have well water (we do)? Wondering if the minerals are reacting?
Hey A.,
I recommend calling customer service at Cotton Babies (makers of bG dipes and Hemp Baby inserts). I have never had this particular problem with my diapers or inserts, but my other issues have been successfully resolved by a call to customer service. They are wonderful people and know the answers to just about everything. 1.888.33.BABIES.
Good luck!
Sounds to me like a mineral deposit of some kind. I used RLR to get weird colored (i.e. no poop!) stains out of my diapers with good results. I think Wal-mart carries a single use of it in their laundry aisle. You can try bleaching them too. BG recommends 1/4 c bleach monthly, if needed. I used to sell BG diapers, and their customer service has always been very good to me. Call them and get their opinion.
I'll be interested in hearing this answer...same thing happened to my sister....
I didn't do cloth diapers but would agree with the mms who said to call the customer service dept. Also the customer service dept. for the laundry detergent to see if they have changed anything recently.
If it doesn't affect the absorbency, and you've tried everthing to get them clean, and you know they are not germy----I really wouldn't care much how they look. I mean, they are doing what they are supposed to do, right? and no one sees them except during a diaper change, it's not like you are putting stained clothing on your baby.
Good luck!
K. Z.
