š Pink stains - Serratia marcescens
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You're not alone!Ā pink stains showing up on cloth diapers (especially when they sit damp) are usually caused by a bacteria called Serratia marcescens. It's a common bacteria that thrives in moist environments and can cause a pink, reddish, or even coral-colored stain.
Hereās the good news:
You do not need to throw your diapers away.
You do need to sanitize them properly before continuing to use them, because Serratia can cause irritation or infections (especially for little ones).
Hereās what you should do:
1. Wash the diapers as usual to remove any gross soil.
2. Sanitize:
You can sanitize with chlorine bleach (regular household bleach, not splash-less). Use about 1/3 cup in a full load of hot water for a top loader, or about 1/4 cup for a front loader.
If you prefer not to use bleach, you can also use something like hydrogen peroxide (3%) or a specialty laundry sanitizer that's baby-safe.
3. Rinse really well ā do at least one or two extra rinses.
4. Dry fully in the sun if possible ā sunlight naturally kills bacteria too!
Going forward:
Try not to let wet diapers sit too long ā wash every 2ā3 days if possible.
You might also want to store soiled diapers in a bag that gets a little airflow (a āhanging wet bagā or a breathable pail liner) rather than completely sealing them airtight.
