Ammonia

Ammonia--- It's a smell I never expected to find fuming from my baby's saturated diaper.  It honestly reminds me more of cleaning supplies than anything.  One thing is sure: once you get a whiff, there's no denying it.  You have ammonia in your diapers, and you have to do something about it!  Ignore the problem, and the smell (and possibly a rash your baby's bum) will only get worse...until one day when you want to toss all the diapers out the window!

Here is a brief bit of info to help you understand ammonia.  It can form in your diapers for two different reasons:

1.) Urea, which is one of the components of urine, is a very similar chemical to ammonia.  I am not a chemist, so I don't fully understand the science behind it...but somehow under the right conditions (warmth, long amount of time), the urea in the diaper fabric converts into ammonia.  The urea/ammonia substance finds a way to secure itself to the diaper by forming crystals in the threads of the fabric.

2.) Bacterial build-up can also cause ammonia to form in the diapers.  This cause becomes more common for babies when they begin eating solids, as they have more bacteria in their guts.

As you can imagine, a regular washing of your diapers is not going to pull out the crystallized ammonia or the bacterial build-up.  This is why it is so important to immediately strip your diapers.  It is equally important to develop a laundry routine that prevents this toxic substance from building up in your diapers, or else you will find yourself stripping the diapers every few weeks when the ammonia returns.  A few techniques I have integrated into my washing routine to prevent the return of ammonia include:

1.) Rinsing diapers after each diaper change.
2.) Using an old tooth brush to gently scrub off any bacteria-causing poo that is on the fabric.
3.) Storing the soiled diapers in an open container to prevent breeding grounds for bacteria.  Bacteria loves damp, warm, oxygen-free spaces.
4.) Going no longer than 48-60 hours between washings.
5.) Stripping my diapers every 6 months.
6.) Using only natural creams on my baby's bum.

Care to read more about ammonia?  Here's a great page by Rockin Green.

Stripping Cloth Diapers

You know it is time to strip your cloth diapers when they have a stink that doesn't go away despite your normal washing.  Before I stripped my diapers for the first time, the diapers still smelled of urine/ammonia immediately after washing them "clean."  They seemed to lose the smell when dry, but the stench returned as soon as any liquid - even water - came in contact with the fabric.  Being new to cloth diapering, I had no idea what to do.  I thought I was going to have to trash my entire stash!

Thank goodness for a friend telling me about diaper stripping.  Two days later, I came away feeling as though I had an entirely new set of diapers!  Ta-Da!

After hearing multiple renditions of how moms strip their diapers, I have compiled my own technique, as follows:
(Please note, my directions account for having a top-loading washing machine and no hard water.  If your situation differs, you will need to modify the directions.  Here is a great place to look for alternatives.  You may also chose to use expensive, specialized detergents, such as Rockin Green - Funk Rock Ammonia Bouncer or Bac-Out; however, I have experienced great results using only standard products I already have on hand.)

1.) Manually turn up your water heater, so you can get the hottest water possible in your washer.
2.) Wash all your diapers clean (I use All Free & Clear  in this routine- and plan to keep baby in disposable diapers until your stash is fully stripped and dried (about 36-48 hours).
3.) Separate out all your diaper covers with PUL for step #4, as vinegar can damage the material.
4.) With all non-PUL diapers in the washer, run a warm or hot water, rinse-only cycle - adding 1/2 cup white vinegar as the washer is filling.  (The vinegar helps to break down the detergent built up in the fabric, so the build-up can be rinsed out in the following steps.)
5.) Add PUL fabrics back into the washer.
6.) Fill washer to the fullest setting with HOT water.  (If your water heater does not produce hot enough water, you may want to boil water on the stove to add to the washer, as hot water is crucial for breaking down bacteria and crystallized urea and ammonia.)  Add 3/4 scoop of OxiClean, and begin a normal wash cycle.
7.) Allow the washer to run long enough to thoroughly mix the OxiClean throughout, and stop the washer.
8.) Allow the diapers to soak in the hot water for 6-8 hours.  "Stir" the diapers every 1-2 hours by starting the washer for a few moments.
9.) After 6-8 hours, allow the wash cycle to finish.
10.) Rinse diapers (4-6 times) in HOT water until soap bubbles no longer appear.  (The first time I stripped my diapers, I had to rinse them 7 times in addition to the rinse in step #9!)  Be sure to check for soap bubbles (not to be confused with agitation bubbles) during each rinse cycle.
11.) When fully rinsed, sun dry the diapers.
12.) Turn your water heater back to its normal setting.
13.) Repeat every six months, or as needed.

Hope this helps kick your stink like it did mine!