I solved our stink issues as mentioned in a previous post, with the exception of our Bumgenius AIO's. I tried soaking and some other things,and they got better.....much better. They are definitely usable now. But there has still been a faint ammonia odor lingering around ever since......very faint. You have to actually sniff the peed on diaper in order to smell it. But it's been bothering me. I know it's there, and I want it gone! So I thought long and hard about WHY this was happening, and how I could fix it.
WHY
I decided it was most likely because they insert is sewn into place, making it very difficult to agitate sufficiently in the washing machine. I am going to guess that some amount of pee always stays behind. I also assume that some amount of detergent is left behind as well simply because it's harder to get a good rinse on it in the washing machine, or even by hand washing.
FIX
I tried hand washing, and soaking. No luck. I tried turning it inside out, and then right side back again during my multiple wash cycles.....no luck. It became clear that the only real solution was to get that stinkin insert free from the diaper! But I didn't want to loose the convenience of the AIO. I took out my trusty seam rippers, dusted off the sewing machine that I can only straight stitch with (because I don't know how to sew) and go for it!
*WARNING* THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY WITH COTTON BABIES!!! Don't do this unless you don't care. Try one first to see if you like it before doing your whole stash!
Steps:
1.) Use your seam ripper to carefully rip the seam between the inside liner and the insert. Be very careful not to rip the actual liner. Take your time.
2.) Rip all the way around until you have only one short edge of the insert sewn in place. At first, I decided to leave the edge that's closest to the front of the diaper in tact......I have since changed my mind. Doing this still requires you to turn the diaper inside out, and I want to avoid that. The next one I do I will leave the edge that is near the pocket opening. This way I can just pull out the insert just like you would any other pocket diaper, but it will stay attached at that one seam.
3.) Since you just ripped up the seams, you will have to reinforce the one seam you have left. Use your sewing machine to straight stitch as best you can along the edge you left sewn down. Don't forget to go forwards and backwards over it a couple times to prevent the thread from coming loose.
4.) Admire your handy work! Aren't you a resourceful little thing! Or if your me....laugh at your handy work while you realize sewing will never be your thing!
5.) Use modified diaper
6.) Wash as normal and smell the ammonia free benefits of having a clean insert!
I will add pictures of this tutorial, but my first try was really bad looking. Only because my stitch went off to an angle instead of following the original seam. It's quite embarrassing, but still totally functional!
Attention Cotton Babies: If you're listening......can you maybe do a little makeover on this diaper?? I LOVE IT!! Just not the part about it being hard to clean. Could you think about making them this way? Maybe with one edge sewn down and the others free? Or maybe a snap in insert or something? I WOULD LOVE YOU FOR IT!! :)
If you have tried this, or will in the future, let us know how it works for you.
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