Hi Mamas,
Hoping you can give me some suggestions. My expensive diaper bag smells like mildew. I don't know why, as I have always put wet clothes in a ziplock bag and it has never gotten really wet. I tried washing it in the washing machine and letting it air dry, I have sprayed Febreeze all over it, and nothing has worked. I don't want to get rid of it, as it was really expensive, it matches well with my stroller and I REALLY like it. Ironic because with my other two kids, I used cheap diaper bags and never had a problem. Now, I splurge with my third baby, and only use the bag for 6 months before this happens. Is there any hope for getting rid of that smell?
When I have stubborn odors I add about a cup of white vinegar to the wash load. I use my machine's bleach dispenser. This has always worked for me. Good Luck!
Did you try "Baking Soda"?
Wash it in the machine...hot water...soak it...put a FULL gallon on vinegar...double rinse...dry well before use.
Try to find 9% vinegar. You can usually find it with the pickling and canning supplies in the grocery store.
I would reccommend using white vinegar. I actually use it in most of my laundry loads because it takes out smells. Even stuff I didn't previously think had a smell other than the laundry soap...when I use the vinegar and then don't - well, I think it doesn't smell as fresh.
I put about half a cup in my regular washing machine with each load. I put the soap and clothes in and put the vinegar in the water while it's filling up.
I bet this will work for you - I haven't found a smell yet that white vinegar doesn't take out!!
I would try soaking it in an enzymatic cleaner (also known as "color safe bleach"). Put it in the washer on a soak cycle and put in about a cup along with your regular detergent. Warm water would be best. Let it hang out and soak in there for a while, then rinse and wash again in the regular cycle.
Do not put into the dryer, even on a cool setting, until you've completely removed the smell. Mildew can be stubborn, so you might have to wash several times before the smell comes out.
Since it's a bag, you'll have areas of fabric that are thick at the seams. I'd say that you wash it once more for good measure, even when you think the smell is gone, because it can sometimes surface again when you pop it into the dryer.
Luck!
C.
You might try white vinegar.
Is it soakable? If so I have a germicide that might help. I also have a laundry enzyme you could soak it in.
I agree with the vinegar solution but it can bleach out the color on some fabrics so be careful. As a last resort, if you have a good and understanding dry cleaner - they are wizards at all sorts of stuff in terms of fabric care and repair. Take the bag in to show them and see what they suggest.
Also, if you can, and if you haven't tried already - turn the bag inside out. Sprinkle baking soda along the seams and sit it outside in the sun or on the porch for a couple hours. Shake off the baking soda and launder the bag one more time. That has worked for me with a smelly (and expensive) lunch box.
I recently had vintage baby clothes with a mildew smell. After researching - I went with vinegar. I used 1/4 cup for my front loader washer. (I put it in the bleach dispenser). I would guess about a cup or two would do for a top loader washer. I let the clothes air dry. The vinegar worked for the cotton clothes on the first try. The polyester clothes I had to wash a second time but it eventually worked too. Not sure what material your diaper bag is. I also read that oxyclean works too but I didn't try it. Hope that helps!
