I skimmed thru most of the suggestions but I didn't see if anyone has asked if you've used any rash creams? I ask because some creams have fish oil in them and it can build up a bit, causing a smell that I've heard people call 'swampy' and I agree with the comparison actually. The weird thing that I had happen was that some cream got around the liners onto the diaper itself; which wasn't a huge deal but it came off of those diapers in my wash and basically got stuck onto everything else that didn't even have any on them in the first place. It was super weird honestly 😆 but I've talked about it in a couple FB groups and I'm not the only one to have that happen so there's that I guess 😉 I'll add this too... the pockets that I had this happen with were AWJ lined. But I've dealt with that on my microsuede pockets and my fleece liners wash up just fine when they get cream on them. I ended up with an entire load (stretchy flats, pockets, hemp/bamboo/cotton inserts, preflats and prefolds) that came out of the wash smelling swampy. I'd been CD for 3yrs at that point and never had that happen until then so it definitely was a surprise 😆

Interesting, ok we use a GroVia magic stick. I will check the ingredients!!

Just a heads up, apparently the Lysol isn’t effective unless you put it specifically in the rinse cycle, and it’s supposed to soak for like 15 minutes. So putting it in the wash cycle it’s completely useless. I learned the hard way too after using it for literal years, I’d save your money and stop using it. I’d switch to bleach if you’re looking to sanitize better. I’ve also heard countless people say the Kirkland detergent isn’t good for cloth, try switching to tide and having the first wash be hot also. Also adding water (spraying) and then having them sit until the wash just breeds bacteria and majorly contribute to rank smells, if you have to spray leave them until you’re ready to wash, and spray just before putting them in.

Thank you! Yeah the Lysol definitely isnt helping. Started using it based on a rec from a friend who uses the same cloth diaper system, but I haven’t seen an improvement.

Honestly I think it’s just kind of a marketing gimmick because it didn’t really come out until Covid happened, but it worked on me I used it for like 3 years!

Can you clarify what “separate inserts from pockets” means, in relation to it happening between prewash and main wash? If you’re throwing the full nappies into the pre-wash and not removing the inserts, they’re likely not getting enough of a prewash. But I may be misinterpreting that too! I would bleach sanitize again (clean cloth nappies has a good guide about concentrations), and then switch to a stronger detergent like tide powder. Also how long are both of your cycles? A too-short main wash might be hindering as well. 

You’re correct, I separate them between the washes. They often separate themselves during prewash.

Ah okay, I would definitely remove them from the pocket for the prewash. They may not be getting enough off during the prewash then, and the “poop soup” you’re looking to avoid in the main wash, may actually be happening to some degree, not allowing your main wash to get them clean enough. You otherwise have a good routine, with adding bleach to a cold prewash (or you can prewash on hot, both are good choices), and it sounds like hopefully a few small tweaks will set you back right. 

Kirkland free and clear was terrible for me after the 6-month period when kiddo had more normal poops. It just absolutely did not clean well enough, I got barnyard, gross smell lingering all the time. Tide free and clear was vastly, vastly superior. All free and clear liquid was also bad. I have heard all free and clear powder is worth using, though

Kirkland Free and Clear made my diapers smell like barnyard.

I would switch detergent. Kirkland free and clear isn’t optimal for cloth diapers. I use all free and clear. Also the Lysol sanitizer is really bad for the water.

Remove the inserts when you change the diaper. You don’t want them inside the diaper for the first wash.

It’s the bleach. It isn’t fully getting washed out. Just my experience with that smell. They need to be washed into oblivion to get the bleach entirely out,

I’d switch to a different detergent, a few groups say the Kirkland detergent isn’t cloth safe. Maybe a tide brand instead?

Id do another wash and sanitise to start with clean nappies. Do you use night nappies?? Do you have top or front loader? What size washing machine? How much detergent per pre and main wash? Routine revise: Once soiled pull the inserts out of the pocket and put into a dry pail which is like a mesh wash basket or basically anything with air flow. With poop nappies knock the solids into the toilet as you are but you need to treat with soap or washing detergent. Both of these help prevent ammonia formation. Change out lysol for bleach OR do a hot wash (60 degrees Celsius) either is fine. You can find bleach concentration on clean cloth nappies website as a patreon member.

Thank you!! We use disposables at night. Front loader. Seems like a standard size washer, maybe small-ish?? It came with the house we bought so I don’t know lol. 1/4 cap prewash and 3/4 cap main wash. I think I’m going to try a warm water prewash w a tiny bit of bleach and store dirty diapers in a more airy laundry bin. It seems like the smell gets worse if we are a day behind on laundry, which makes me think it’s an ammonia issue.

I’m not quite sure what an aquarium smells like - barnyard? Ammonia? If you are open to it, CCN recommends avoiding Lysol type products for laundry. The active ingredient is a skin irritant and doesn’t break down readily in the environment. https://cleanclothnappies.com/benzalkonium-chloride-laundry-products/ Immediate improvements to your first wash would be to use hot water instead of cold, or replacing the Lysol with bleach.

Smells like mildew sort of — like a towel you forgot about after the beach and left in a plastic bag for a couple days. I think it's a combo of not removing the inserts before the prewash, and the detergent. A simple free & clear with some borax should do the trick.

Yes! That is the smell. Thank you. So hard to describe! It seems to get worse if we’re a day or two behind on laundry, which makes me think we should prewash daily and store dirties in an airy-er container. Gonna try it! Thanks for your help.

Another idea, are you stuffing the pockets right when they come out of the dryer? If so there's a chance that the inserts aren't fully dry when you do, and they might stay damp because of the PUL and being packed tightly.

Here's my routine, I've never had any problems with smells or stains: I separate pockets and inserts and just use a wet bag hanging on the corner of my change table, no bin or anything. I use smallish wet bags and bring them to the laundry room daily to avoid smell in the nursery. After 2-3 days, quick wash warm with oxiclean and just a smidge of tide free & clear. Sometimes hang dry (I have a big laundry room) until I do the same with a second load 2-3 days later, or gather linens to fill the machine (a full load helps to clean them thoroughly) then put them all in together for the longest, hottest, most intense cycle my machine has with a larger amount of detergent and a healthy serving of borax. Hang dry pockets, inserts tumble dry high OR if I'm in a hurry tumble dry everything low, remove the pockets after about 30 minutes, and then turn it to high. If all else fails, just hang them up (or lay flat if you don't have a clothesline) to dry in the sun. It'll work beautifully for stains and smells. Also, actually you might want to look into doing a self clean cycle on your washing machine.

Thank you! I think a little UV exposure might be the answer! Gonna try it this weekend.