Solving stinks

Ammonia build up

Cloth nappies can start to smell if the wee is not being cleaned out of them properly (ammonia build up). This smell happens when a baby wees in a clean nappy. It`s very distinct and must be dealt with asap, not left. It`s caused by something amiss in the wash routine.  Go through the checklist below to identify the cause, then correct it. Nappies must be "stripped" with chemical or oxygen bleach to get rid of the ammonia.

Wash routine checklist

1. Is the machine ¾ full? Not more or less. Nappies need agitation to get clean.

2. Are you using a detergent on our list? 

3. Is the machine cycle on the cotton / longest (2 hour cycle).

4. Are the nappies being rinsed in the machine before the main cycle?

5. Are night nappies being prewashed in the machine the day they come off the bum? This really works. If the nappy is only hand rinsed and left in a basket, the chances of build up are quite high. See our wash page on how to wash night nappies.

6. Do you have hard water? Nappies must be washed at 40`C if hard water is present. Powder detergent must be used and 10% bit more. Never wash our covers on 40`C. You can add the covers to clothes below 30`C.

How to strip nappies here.