How to Get Rid of Smelly Washable Dog Diapers

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The science behind smelly washable dog diapers
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Tips from real-life pet owners
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If you struggle with smelly washable dog diapers that have a foul odor, even after you’ve laundered them, I have game changing tips to fix the problem. The answers are based in science and the cure requires a few adjustments to the way you do the wash.

Freshly laundered diapers that smell bad are a common problem for pet owners with incontinent dogs. It results in a love-hate relationship with machine washable diapers. On one hand, people love how well cloth diapers keep an animal dry; and on the other hand, they hate how the material holds onto odors.

A recent question about washable dog diapers started an interesting conversation with our readers. A pet mom wrote to say that her paralyzed dog had been diagnosed with a leaky bladder and cloth diapers had proven to be the best solution.

The owner shared that she sprinkled the soiled diapers with a popular multi-purpose disinfectant and washed them with a strong laundry detergent and a second dose of the disinfectant. The result were diapers that looked clean and fresh but reeked of ammonia.

Some of our experienced members weighed in on the subject. They shared the products and techniques they use and the results they get. Surprisingly, pet owners who use similar products, had varying degrees of success eliminating diaper odor.

I found this curious and decided to do research on the subject. A website about cloth baby diapers had the answers. It shared important reasons why freshly washed diapers stink.

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The science behind smelly washable dog diapers

Dog wearing washable dog diaper — *Photo: Depositphotos*

There are three reasons dog diaper have a lingering odor:

Detergent buildup

Hard vs. soft water

High efficiency washing machines

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The Essential Guide of Products for Handicapped Dogs e-book is a labor of love for me. I wrote it to answer your most pressing questions about where to find the best products for your wheelchair dog. You’ll find products you didn’t know existed and each will improve your dog’s quality of life. Print a copy and keep it by your side.

Detergent buildup

The strong ammonia smell that hits you when you remove clean diapers from the dryer is actually a chemical reaction. It happens when microscopic droplets of urine on the diaper, mix with your laundry detergent. The two crystalize and create a coating that prevents detergent from getting to the deeper layers of the diaper.

When pet owners learn about this chemical reaction, their first reaction is to use less detergent, but that doesn’t fix the problem.

Detergent buildup actually happens because a diaper isn’t getting clean enough. It’s not a problem of using too much soap.

The chemical reaction forms a barrier on the diaper. Then each time you do the wash, more layers of detergent buildup are created. It prevents laundry detergent from doing its job.

The cure lies in determining if you’re washing the dog diaper with hard water or soft.

Hard water

According to statistics, 85% of American tap water is hard water. That means the minerals in your water stop laundry detergent from working as well as it should. It’s the cause of detergent buildup and the reason clean dog diapers smell like ammonia.

If you’re not sure whether your water is hard or soft, there are easy-to-use, water testing strips that will rate your water. The testing strips can be found at most hardware stores.

If your water tests positive for being hard water it doesn’t mean you have to move. A few adjustments to your routine will help clean your dog’s diapers better.

Here are recommendations:

Switch to a laundry detergent that works well in hard water. Two examples are: Biokleen Natural Laundry Detergent and Arm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Detergent Plus OxiClean.

Run the diapers through a second rinse cycle.

Purchase a water softener for your home.

Add a water softening product to your wash, like Calgon.

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Soft water

Soft water has less minerals than hard water. It’s especially low in calcium and magnesium which is good for washing diapers. If you have soft water in your home, your primary concern will be about detergent buildup due to using too much soap. Washers with soft water need about half the amount of detergent as washers that use hard water.

Recommendations for households with soft water:

Use a detergent that’s made for soft water, such as Tide Clean Breeze or Ecos.

Decrease the amount of laundry detergent you use. The website of your favorite brand probably has a chart with the recommended amount.

Wash diapers in a water temperature that’s hotter than usual. (Check the diaper label first to make sure it doesn’t ruin the product)

High efficiency washing machines

These HE washers are designed to save water and energy. A sensor in the machine determines the size of the load and how much water to add. Unfortunately, high efficiency washing machines are notorious for keeping the water level low. That means they might not thoroughly rinse a cloth diaper.

One remedy for this problem is to soak dog diapers before you wash them. That way they absorb enough water to get them clean and odor free. Other pet owners do a second rinse to prevent detergent buildup.