When my oldest was potty training, I could not figure out how to get his clothes smelling clean after an accident. You know those really icky poo accidents that leave you thinking, "these clothes are NEVER going to smell right again!" I tried doing hot washes with tons of detergent and bleach. But you know what happened? Not only did the clothes still smell nasty afterward, but then they had bleach stains to go along. Then there were the times when a clothing item were so gross that I wouldn't even bother trying to wash them. I would just toss them into the trash because I was convinced I could never get them clean.
Things changed when I started cloth diapering, though. I learned how to get the most disgusting diarrhea covered diapers REALLY clean and smelling okay again! I realized that if I could get diapers clean after such iciness, then surely I could get potty training undies clean too.
Here's what I do now to get even the nastiest of potty training undies clean:
- Shake poo off of undies and into potty as best as you can.
- Toss soiled clothes into washing machine and set water level at HIGH
- Do a COLD rinse
- Wash on HOT using detergent. Don't overdue it on the detergent, though. It takes a lot less than you'd think to get the clothes clean
- Do an additional HOT rinse if clothes had been heavily soiled- i.e. poo that didn't come off all the way before throwing undies in wash. If desired, add a couple drops of lavender essential oil into rinse cycle.
Now when an accident comes up, I just throw the dirty duds into my dry diaper pail along with the diapers and wash them within 48 hours or so. I wish someone had told me how to get potty training accidents clean 4 1/2 years ago- I wouldn't have had to replace underwear and shorts as often!
Hi! Stopping by from SITS to welcome you aboard. Too ironic that this is your post today ... as we had our first official full day of potty training w/my youngest. And in her thick potty training undies she of course, just before the end of the day pooped. Luckily we got it out quick enough ... but for those future accidents that are for sure around the corner, I'll have to keep this in mind! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly how I clean cloth diapers too, and it really does work well! Great tips!
ReplyDeleteOkay, lemme just put down the Twix bar I was munching on....
ReplyDeleteI just had a flashback to the movie Caddieshack.
Thanks for sharing this tip, as I'm about to venture into the potty training arena with my little twins. I'm so dreading it.
Do you run your washer with bleach after doing a "dirty load" of laundry? I'm always hesitant to throw soiled clothes into the wash because of the germs left in the washer afterwards. But maybe if I'm doing a hot wash it won't matter, right?
This advice will definitely come in handy these next few weeks. lol We are starting Monday on my grandson. Well my daughter is he he.
ReplyDeleteThis will come in handy when my grandson starts potty training though that will be awhile!
ReplyDeletethis is really good advice since this summer I will be potty training my triplets. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteI came over from SITS to say hi and welcome.
Wow great timing since we're trying ot potty train around here. Do you disinfect the machine after you run each poopy load? Do you use bleach or something organic to clean the machine?
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't disinfect the machine. I haven't heard of any cloth diapering moms doing that, so I figured it must be alright the way it is. : )
ReplyDeleteI recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
ReplyDeleteSusan
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