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How do you get the stains out of nappies?!?

I've just started using cloth nappies, and am having trouble getting poo stains out!! My baby is breastfed so nothing too nasty yet, just very messy (sorry to be so graphic, folks)! I rinse them to get the muck off, then soak them over night in nappy soak before putting them in the wash, but they are coming out still stained, especially in the elasticated part. I paid a small fortune for them, so very disappointed I can't keep them bright white - what's the secret?!

Public Comments

1. What kind of wash are you doing and what kind of detergent do you use? I never had a problem with breastfed baby poo staining our cloth diapers. This is the routine I have: Do a cold wash and rinse with Charlie's soap and a touch of vinegar and baking soda. Follow with a hot wash and cold rinse with Charlie's Soap. Depending on whether they still seemed to have an odor, I might wash them one more time in a hot wash and rinse. I think there are stain stick bars out there that you can pre-treat with. Sorry I'm not more help. Good luck!
2. i used teatree oil in the bucket, not nappy soak, mainly cause it was cheaper, try that? ps, just a few drops!
3. try using club soda on the stains.
4. I have found the best stain-remover for clothes in general is sunlight -- place the stained clothing out in the sun and you will be surprised about how faded the stain gets!
5. Use a special clothing bleach! You can buy these at supermarkets in the normal laundry sections. That will make them shiny white again. Put the bleach in the nappy soak and then it will all come out in the wash so you don't need to worry about it getting on skin.
6. Line drying in the sun will really help with stains. I have a couple of diapers that have bad stains - I just lay them out in the sun for a few hours every time I wash, and the stains are slowly fading. I also use vinegar in my rinse. Another thing - a hot wash can set stains - I do a cold wash, hot wash, and extra rinse w/ vinegar. I know it's sad to see your precious diapers stained, but I think some staining is par for the course, unfortunately.
7. DIRECT SUNLIGHT, no kidding, it's magical~ Ideally one should be "line-drying" their diapers as often as possible. Conventional dryers can break down your linings/seams/absorbability over time. My Cloth Diapers were never very "bright" during the sunless Winter months, but during the Summer they were lovely :) ETA: Don't ever use Bleach on your Cloth Diapers, that was a silly answer
8. I would just rinse them and do as much hand washing as you can immediately after changing the baby. Also, rubbing some detergent in very well before washing should help. good luck :)
9. Have you tried a boil wash? I did this the old fashioned way by actually boiling them with some washing powder and bleach, in a galvanised bucket on my cooker. WOW did they come out white!!!!!!!
10. I have to agree with the sunlight. That's what we always did this summer, but we don't have a clothesline, and the military wouldn't allow us to put one up in our yard, so we used the fence. LOL I'm really sad that right now(we live in Alaska) there is hardly any sunlight, so all of my dipes are looking pretty dingy. http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/jennifer_elaine83/Alexander/IM000174.jpg
11. Always put some white vinegar in your diaper bucket along with the diaper soak. Never use hot water to wash your diapers, hot water sets stains. Never use bleach on diapers, it breaks down the fibers and "rots" your diapers and wears them out sooner than they should. Always put white vinegar in your first rinse water and then run the second rinse to get rid of the vinegar. Never use detergent that has any type of "fresheners" in it. Never use fabric softeners, they coat the fibers of the diapers material and make them less absorbent. Always (if possible) hang your cloth diapers in the sun. The sun is a natural anti-bacterial and bleaching agent, the safest one to use. Always use cloth diapers on your baby. Think of your baby's health and comfort before thinking of your own convenience. Good luck.
12. Sunshine! Sunshine all the way! Mine are getting a little less white than usual as I have been line drying indoors recently sue to bad weather. Sunshine naturally bleaches your nappies. Don't ever use bleach!! Bleach on your baby's bottom!! No thanks!! (Although there's probably worse things in disposables, lol!)
13. That breast milk is tricky stuff. I am a coward and using disposables but when we do have an accident i find vests and gro's stain - It was recommended to use Napisan and it does do the trick!!! Also are you using a throw away liner??? It works a treat try it!! I got it from Tescos and it was quite cheap!!