I think that is what my husband first thought when we talked about using cloth diapers. But now he is a pro...and says he wouldn't do it any other way.
Actually washing the cloth diapers always seems to be the biggest mental hurdle for people to get over. What I found was that once we had everything in place, it just WORKED!
So, what do you need? First things first, you need soap. You can't use the regular detergent that is loaded with fabric softeners and all sorts of crazy stuff because it can build up on the diapers and the softeners will actually put a film on the diapers that will make them not absorb as well. The two different soaps that I see recommended most often Allen's All Natural and Charlie's Soap. We use Charlie's and have enough to last us years. We got the big 5 gallon bucket because it was cheaper, we plan on using cloth diapers with all of our kids, you use less..... if anyone needs laundry detergent, come on over!
Next, you need some sort of "soaking detergent". What this really means is that you need Bac-Out made by Bio-Kleen. It is great stuff, helps you to clean the poopy diapers and soak your inserts in before wash time. We actually only use the Bac-Out for the poopy diapers now and don't soak the inserts. We put them in a dry bucket to wait for wash day. We wash every 1 1/2 to 2 days now.
Now you need a bucket, what ever kind, probably 2 of them. Lids or not, it is your choice. One for upstairs or wherever you are changing diapers and another for the dirty ones downstairs or around the washer.
And that is it. Wash them in hot, rinse in cold, extra rinse in cold and every 6 weeks or so "strip" the diapers (that means get off any build up that may develop) with some vinegar in the rinse cycle. Line dry or low heat. Also, no fabric sheets allowed. It makes them not absorb as well, so you will get lots of leaks.
So for all of you naysayers out there, it really isn't that hard, and it is not that big of an inconvenience It is all about getting the system in place, preferably BEFORE the baby is born!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
All-In-Whats? Shorties Who? Prefolds How?
When we first began with the idea of cloth diapers, I looked at some magazines, read a lot of stuff online and then took a deep breath and went to a store that specialized in cloth. I was so intimidated and when I walked in. There were (it seemed like) dozens of options to choose from and lots of different ways to put it all together. Really, the only true experience that I had with cloth diapers was when my little sister was born (I was 5 years old) and my parents told me that one of my "jobs" to help out with my new little sister was to be the one that folded the prefolds. Fun.
I knew that there were more options now, I just had no idea where to begin!! There was a very patient lady there who went through everything with me (half of the time I had no idea what she was talking about!) and repeated the majority of it probably 2 or 3 times. So, in rememberence of my confusion, here is a breakdown of what I have learned about the various systems for cloth diapers and the fibers that are available.
Fibers
Wool: Wool diaper covers are intended to absorb some moisture rather than simply providing a barrier to air/liquid like plastic diaper covers. Wool is similar to a clay layer beneath a sand layer, with the sand layer being the cotton diaper. The liquid easily goes into the diaper layer (cotton, hemp, or bamboo) and then when it reaches the wool layer the liquid spreads out into the diaper as it would into a sandy layer of soil above a clay layer of soil. The wool layer (like the clay) will still absorb some moisture and become slightly damp feeling, letting you know the diaper is wet and ready to be changed. Used as soakers, longies and shorties. I haven't used them as a liner but would like to and wool can be used as that.
Fleece/Microterry: Usually used for liners (in the all-in-ones or pocket diapers). It wicks the moisture away from the baby's body.
Hemp and Bamboo: Hemp is very absorbent and is used as liners, doublers or diaper layer. Bamboo is also very soft and absorbent and is used as the same.
Cotton/Terrycloth: Back to the basics, cotton can be used for liners, doublers or diaper layer.
PUL: The waterproof outer layer in the all-in-ones or pocket diapers.
The fleece, microterry, hemp, bamboo and cotton can all be used in any sort of combination together.
The Systems
Prefolds: Prefolds are what many people think of when they think of cloth diapers. They come in cotton, hemp and bamboo. They also come in different sizes based on the size of the baby. They go under wool soakers, PUL or nylon covers, vinyl covers, poly or polar fleece. They are held together by safety pins or snappies. When the prefold is soiled, throw it in the diaper pail for cleaning and reuse your cover until that is soiled.
Fitted Diapers: These are made out of cotton (often mixed with a little bit of polyester for hold), bamboo, and microfleece/microterry. Again these are covered with wool soakers, PUL or nylon covers or poly/polar fleece. When the diaper is wet or dirty, you throw the fitted diaper in the diaper pail for washing and reuse the fitted diaper cover until that is soiled.
Pocket Diapers: Pocket diapers are exactly that. They look like a disposable diaper. They usually have the outer lining made from PUL or vinyl or even nylon. The PUL is very popular due to how flexible it is. There is a "pocket" made between the fleece, microterry, cotton or bamboo liner and the PUL that is filled with a liner made from any absorbent material. When the diaper is dirty or wet, you take the whole diaper and throw it in the diaper bucket to be washed.
All-In-Ones: These are diapers that are the most like disposables. There is no stuffing the liner because the liner is sewn in and you wash it with it all in place. Hence, all in one. They are very similar to the pockets except the liner is in it, nonremovable. You could stuff a doubler (doublers are extra liners-usually hemp- that help your diaper absorb more) in there for overnight if you wanted but it would probably be very snug.
Once you get started in cloth, it seems like there are many possibilities (and there are!), the best thing to do is get a little bit of several different types and see what you like. Give yourself some time to get used to it and then decide. Have fun with it!!
Off to wash diapers.....
I knew that there were more options now, I just had no idea where to begin!! There was a very patient lady there who went through everything with me (half of the time I had no idea what she was talking about!) and repeated the majority of it probably 2 or 3 times. So, in rememberence of my confusion, here is a breakdown of what I have learned about the various systems for cloth diapers and the fibers that are available.
Fibers
Wool: Wool diaper covers are intended to absorb some moisture rather than simply providing a barrier to air/liquid like plastic diaper covers. Wool is similar to a clay layer beneath a sand layer, with the sand layer being the cotton diaper. The liquid easily goes into the diaper layer (cotton, hemp, or bamboo) and then when it reaches the wool layer the liquid spreads out into the diaper as it would into a sandy layer of soil above a clay layer of soil. The wool layer (like the clay) will still absorb some moisture and become slightly damp feeling, letting you know the diaper is wet and ready to be changed. Used as soakers, longies and shorties. I haven't used them as a liner but would like to and wool can be used as that.
Fleece/Microterry: Usually used for liners (in the all-in-ones or pocket diapers). It wicks the moisture away from the baby's body.
Hemp and Bamboo: Hemp is very absorbent and is used as liners, doublers or diaper layer. Bamboo is also very soft and absorbent and is used as the same.
Cotton/Terrycloth: Back to the basics, cotton can be used for liners, doublers or diaper layer.
PUL: The waterproof outer layer in the all-in-ones or pocket diapers.
The fleece, microterry, hemp, bamboo and cotton can all be used in any sort of combination together.
The Systems
Prefolds: Prefolds are what many people think of when they think of cloth diapers. They come in cotton, hemp and bamboo. They also come in different sizes based on the size of the baby. They go under wool soakers, PUL or nylon covers, vinyl covers, poly or polar fleece. They are held together by safety pins or snappies. When the prefold is soiled, throw it in the diaper pail for cleaning and reuse your cover until that is soiled.
Fitted Diapers: These are made out of cotton (often mixed with a little bit of polyester for hold), bamboo, and microfleece/microterry. Again these are covered with wool soakers, PUL or nylon covers or poly/polar fleece. When the diaper is wet or dirty, you throw the fitted diaper in the diaper pail for washing and reuse the fitted diaper cover until that is soiled.
Pocket Diapers: Pocket diapers are exactly that. They look like a disposable diaper. They usually have the outer lining made from PUL or vinyl or even nylon. The PUL is very popular due to how flexible it is. There is a "pocket" made between the fleece, microterry, cotton or bamboo liner and the PUL that is filled with a liner made from any absorbent material. When the diaper is dirty or wet, you take the whole diaper and throw it in the diaper bucket to be washed.
All-In-Ones: These are diapers that are the most like disposables. There is no stuffing the liner because the liner is sewn in and you wash it with it all in place. Hence, all in one. They are very similar to the pockets except the liner is in it, nonremovable. You could stuff a doubler (doublers are extra liners-usually hemp- that help your diaper absorb more) in there for overnight if you wanted but it would probably be very snug.
Once you get started in cloth, it seems like there are many possibilities (and there are!), the best thing to do is get a little bit of several different types and see what you like. Give yourself some time to get used to it and then decide. Have fun with it!!
Off to wash diapers.....
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Why Cloth Diapers?
I love cloth diapers. When my little girl was born, my husband and I decided that we would use cloth diapers. I did tons of research, and decided that there were too many good reasons to use cloth diapers and not very many bad ones. Some of the main reasons are:
- It is real fabric. No garbage, no chemicals. Do you wear plastic underwear?
- Some of the chemicals in disposable diapers are toluene, xylene and styrene (these all emit chemical vapors with use) Also, the highly toxin product called dioxin is used in disposables during the bleaching process.
- By using cloth diapers you help to save about 40 million trees felled each year, just to make disposable diapers.
- Also, you help to save 1 ton of human waste from being buried in landfills where it does not belong. With cloth diapers, the waste is routed through the sewage system where it should be.
- Using cloth diapers will help to save you money. 1-2 thousand dollars over 2 years, especially if you wash your own.
- It takes approximately 500 years for ONE disposable diaper to decompose.
- Have you seen all of the cloth diapers out there? They are addictive and super cute!!
So, we started with several different kinds of cloth. A few wraps, a couple all-in-ones, some prefolds and just got started. It took about 3 weeks before we decided what we liked best and which kinds weren't going to work for us. We are an all-in-one family right now-I can only say good things about them. They are easy to use, clean up really well, the only time that we have ever had diaper rash is when our little one is teething, and they come in thousands of different designs and patterns. You can even get some custom made!
So take a look around, I am sure that there is a cloth diaper system out there for you! These aren't your mom's cloth diapers!!
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