🐄 What’s That Barnyard Smell?

If your cloth diapers smell like a barnyard—even after washing—you’re not alone. This unpleasant odor (often described as a sour, musty, or vaguely "animal-like" smell) is a common sign that something in your wash routine isn’t quite working. The good news? It’s fixable.

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💡 What Causes Barnyard Smell in Cloth Diapers?

Barnyard smell usually points to residual bacteria, trapped ammonia, or buildup in the diaper fabric. It’s often a result of:

- Insufficient cleaning power (too little detergent or a weak wash cycle)

- Diapers not getting rinsed thoroughly

- Too much detergent (leading to buildup that traps stink)

- Low water levels or hard water affecting wash performance

- Overstuffed washing machine, preventing proper agitation

- Leaving diapers sitting too long before washing

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🧼 How to Get Rid of Barnyard Smell

1. Start with a Reset Wash (aka Strip Wash and sanitize)

If your diapers have built-up stink, oils, or detergent, doing a one-time strip and sanitize can help reset them.

Option A: RLR or stripping agent
Use a commercial stripping product like RLR (or one approved for cloth diapers). Soak your clean diapers in hot water with the product, then rinse thoroughly until no suds remain. We recommend RLR we find it offers the best results. We also have it available our shop you can find them here. You will want to follow with a diluted bleach soak or use some lysol or clorox laundry sanitizer to make sure they are sanitized after all the nastiness has been brought to the surface.

Option B: DIY Strip (if no synthetic materials)
Soak clean diapers in:

- 3 tablespoons washing soda

- 3 tablespoons borax

- 3 tablespoons Calgon (if you have hard water)
Soak in hot water for 4–6 hours, then rinse until the water runs clear.

⚠️ Avoid stripping frequently—it’s a deep clean for occasional use only.

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2. Check (and Tweak) Your Wash Routine

Here’s a wash routine that works well for many cloth diapering families:

Step 1: Pre-wash (daily or every 2–3 days)

- Use warm water and a small amount of detergent.

- Run a short cycle (15–30 minutes) to remove pee and poop residue.

Step 2: Main wash

- Use hot water (not sanitize cycle) and enough detergent for a heavily soiled load.

- Choose a long, heavy-duty cycle with plenty of agitation.

- Don’t overstuff the drum—aim for about 2/3 full when wet.

Step 3: Extra rinse (optional)

- If you're noticing detergent residue, try adding an extra rinse to help remove any buildup.

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3. Dry Thoroughly

- Use a dryer on low or medium heat, or hang dry in sunlight.

- Make sure diapers are fully dry before storing, as lingering moisture can contribute to stink.

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💧 Bonus: Check Your Water Type

Hard water (high in minerals) can interfere with detergent performance and lead to buildup. If you suspect hard water:

- Try using a water softener like Calgon in your wash.

- Consider getting a water hardness test strip (inexpensive online or at hardware stores).

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✅ Preventing Barnyard Smell Going Forward

- Don’t let diapers sit too long before washing—2–3 days max.

- Use enough detergent (cloth diapers are heavily soiled laundry!)

- Make sure your machine is getting good agitation.

- Adjust your wash routine if you notice buildup, stink, or repelling.

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Barnyard stink doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it just means your diapers are asking for a little routine tune-up. Once your wash system is dialed in, your diapers will come out clean, fresh, and ready for action.