Dipe vs. the Machine
It's a situation of Diaper versus The Machine! Any suggestions for Amy?
OK urbanMamas, please help a mama out! Somehow, a disposable diaper landed in a load of baby's wash. (No idea if said diaper was originally clean or dirty - don't really want to know - but it sure is bright white now!) All the absorbant gel particles have merged with baby's clothes! I have rinsed a couple oftimes, and still the gooey, crumbly gel remains - in fact it seems to simply be spreading it around the machine. We are about to have major laundry gridlock if I can't get this resolved. Should I run it through the dryer and see if it separates out? Or what?
i do not know the answer, but i'd get on the phone first thing in the morning and call some (laundry machine) repair/service centers. i am sure they must have seen this before and could advise?
Posted by: justamama | January 25, 2007 at 12:22 AM
also, there should be a number on the diaper package to call...ask them too! those gel particles, if they are like the florist stuff, will dry out when exposed to air. maybe take all the clothes and lay them out/hang them out, and if the stuff dries/shrivels up you can brush it off????
Posted by: shannon | January 25, 2007 at 12:37 AM
i would seriously call the diaper company. we had a problem with a package of huggies a year or so ago and the company was extrememy gracious and even sent us a bunch of coupons! i would call them.
Posted by: rae ann | January 25, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Yeah, that happened to me a while back, it was a real mess. I just shook out the wet clothes as much as I could, then tossed them in the dryer. It seemd fine, those gel particles just stuck to the lint catcher. I wiped out the washer with paper towels too. Washer vs. Diaper is much, much easier than Dog vs. Diaper!
Posted by: AnEmily | January 25, 2007 at 10:39 AM
Thank you, mamas! I tested a gel-coated burp rag in the dryer first - the stuff completely vanished and everything looked fine. I've now dried everything else, and although a couple of shirt favorites have weird blotchy marks on them (wah!), there is no sign of dipe anywhere else (even the lint filter! Where did it go?). Great idea on the call to the diaper company BTW - I love me some coupons! Thanks for your support in this time of laundry crisis! (grin)
Posted by: Amy | January 25, 2007 at 12:04 PM
I'd add that you might want to try soaking the shirts with weird blotchy marks in a OxyClean & water solution. I soaked one outfit for three days (yes, you read that correctly) and got all the visible stain out.
Do not place the shirts in the dryer again until you're satisfied you've gotten as much stain out as you can tolerate.
I heart OxyClean.
Posted by: Susan | January 25, 2007 at 02:32 PM