how bizarre

we used bamboo nappies for 27 months, never got mould, and we're in the same city, so i can honestly say, same climatic conditions. I found bamboo products (inserts, nappies) that were TWO layers thick, dried ok. but three layers or more, forget it, that was a "leave it on the clothes airer for MANY days thang".

i can't imagine you'd leave the used breastpads to sit around very long before washing them, so it coudln't be that they're staying wet too long. which is the main thing i think of, when thinking of mould. e.g lack of aeration, too much moisture.

my breastpads were hemp and microfibre, but how i dried them, was to buy a round plastic thing from the supermarket, that has pegs hanging down - the kind of laundry thing you'd buy to hang up socks. ANyhoo, i used it to hang up my breastpads. i hung that circular thing on the clothes airer, and have a fan blowing on the clothes airer.

With the breastpads being against your skin, your baby suckling from your skin, i was advised to use the mildest wash detergent (to avoid detergent buildup and rashes in me and my baby). Normal strength washing powders have perfume, colours, heavy preservatives, optical brighteners, enzymes and all this stuff that isn't the kindest on delicate skin. Ecostore and PLanet Aware are very mild. (excellent for nappies too) and easy to find at woollies, coles and foodland.

when you take the breastpads out of the washing machine, do they feel heavy? if you squeeze them, does any water come out? i wonder if your washing machine is on a low spin number?

have you asked the person who made your bp's? they might have some useful tips for you.