Bleach. Just the sound of it does something to my skin…hmmm, it kind of crawls and I get this sensation of being in a sterile room. Plus it makes me want to take my clothes off in fear of getting bleach stains like I’ve done all too often!
There’s no doubting, though, that if you have smell issues more often than not you’re going to be tempted to use bleach on your diapers. When should you use it? Should you even use it? Of course there are differing opinions on this matter but here’s the quick overview of all things bleach related:
While bleach is really awesome at sterilizing it can be incredibly rough on your cute stash of fluff. As you can imagine because it has the strength to kill some major bacteria it also has the ability to do damage to your diapers by wearing down the fibers. This hurts the diaper’s absorbency and waterproofing.- With the above being said, use bleach sparingly if at all. For stink issues try vinegar, an Eco Sprout overnight soak, baking soda (use vinegar in the rinse cycle to restore the pH level in the diapers otherwise it might cause diaper rash) or a Dawn dish soap strip. If you have stubborn stains and live in a sunny climate put those pretty little diapers outside. It’s amazing how a little sun can get rid of stains!
- You can also try Bac-Out by Bi-o-kleen to strip your diapers. Be careful because some of the ingredients may cause irritation to your baby’s skin.
Use bleach as an absolute last resort when all other methods of stink removal and stain removal have failed. Check with the diaper manufacturer first though; some manufacturers will not keep a warranty on a cloth diaper if bleach has been used.
What are your thoughts? What has helped you treat cloth diaper odor issues without causing additional issues?
Elizabeth (aka Bert) is a stay-at-home-mom and contributing writer for She Thinks Media. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, Ben, her son Buggie, and daughter Lady Bug. When she’s not trying to convince Buggie to expand his interests beyond Thomas the Train or put his pants back on she’s writing about her experiences as a mom on her blog, First Time Mom (FTM). After all, Bert maintains there’s a first time for everything, even if you have more than one child!
I’m Julie, a former cloth diaper retailer who discovered a passion for the industry. Now, instead of selling cloth diapers, I advocate them and promote small businesses I love who sell and manufacture them.
I’m the wife of a fireman and mother of three. I have a daughter and identical twin sons.
