Wash diapers? Who, me?

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!