Monday, May 30, 2011

Flats and Handwashing Challenge- day 7

Well, I've learned a few things. It's not so hard to handwash. It's not hard to use flats only. But if I did flats only, all the time, I would get a few hemp or bamboo flats big enough to handle my 3 year old's nights. Another thing- there are differences in detergents. Obviously. But handwashing makes it obvious, which detergents work best. So if I ever want to test a detergent, I will handwash for a couple of days. This was an interesting experiment, and I'm glad I participated!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Flats and Handwashing Challenge- days 5-6

I've been neglecting the blog. :(  Anyway... I don't mind using flats. But if I did it full time I would have more of them, and maybe some that were made of hemp or bamboo. I would also use my washing machine and probably my dryer. The challenge has been good- now I know I can cloth diaper even if my washer breaks down or I have to go away for a few days and don't know if I will have a washer. Rain is bothersome... The other day I had to lay diapers all over our furniture to dry it! They were most of the way dry and then it started to rain. I'm just glad I noticed when I did or they would have been soaked. So anyway, I will finally share some pictures! I don't know why they're so randomly spaced. As you can probably tell, I'm not a very experienced blogger. 
The diapers, before washing. I've been keeping dirties in a bucket.
This is what I use to wash them. A great big bucket and a mobile washer.




Now they're clean (the bucket got washed too), and ready to hang.
Here they are hanging. I have since added another line so I can hang more at a time.
I have to double- and triple-hang them because I don't have a very big clothesline.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Flats and Handwashing Challenge- days 3-4

Finally had to wash some poopy diapers. I dunk-swished and rung them out. (Yuck.) I really think the diapers are getting VERY clean being handwashed. Probably because I am seeing if the water is running clear or not and if it's not I do another "cycle" to get them super clean. I wish I had more room outside to hang them up though! I am having to hang 2-3 diapers up together just so I don't run out of space. They have been getting dry in plenty of time though, so I can't complain. Today it's cloudy out, so I hope they still dry fast enough.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Flats and Handwashing Challenge- day 2

I know my wash routine now.
I rinse all the diapers in a big bucket with 4 gallons of cold water and a mobile washer.
Then I wash them all with a little over a tsp of Clean B in 4 gallons of hot water. Then I do that step one more time, because the first time around seems like it brings out most of the funk (I can smell it) and I want to really wash that out.
Then I rinse in 4 gallons of cold water. And I repeat THAT step.
Then I wring everything out really well and hang it up.
Done.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Flats and Handwashing Challenge- day 1

Day One went well. Even the first night, nobody was soaked in the morning. (I have two in diapers most of the time.) I'll have to wash the diapers really soon, this morning. Guess I better go gather my supplies!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Practicing handwashing

I washed a few flats and covers the other day with my mobile washer and they seemed to come out very clean and dry pretty quickly. I just wish they weren't so crispy after they dry... LOL

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

I got a plunger washer!

I got a mobile washer (hand operated washing machine) in the mail today. I'm going to use it to wash diapers for the Flats and Handwashing Challenge! I also ordered a few different of kinds of flats from Thanks Mama and Mom's Milk Boutique
Thanks Mama sells individual flats, along with the relatively hard to find Imse Vimse muslin flats.
If you buy a dozen flats from Mom's Milk Boutique and use coupon code COVER12 you get a free one size cover, for a limited time! I can't wait to see what I get.
I have some small hemp flats I can use as doublers, and will probably make myself a flat or two from bamboo... don't know yet. I may make myself a new diaper cover, too, if the urge strikes when I've got time.
The rules are (and this is not a complete list of rules, you can find those HERE) that you must use flats only, and you're only allowed to use (up to) 5 covers. Nighttime, you should try to make flats work, but if you can't, it's ok. You can use flushable liners but not a diaper sprayer.
When the challenge is over, feel free to come shop for some pocket diapers at my Hyena Cart store! They can be stuffed with the flats you just got done using, or the inserts that come with them. If you would rather get just the pocket shell and use your own insert or flat, email me and I will get you a custom listing up. 
Happy diapering!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Flats and Handwashing Challenge

I know, I make POCKET and FITTED diapers! But I am going to take the Flats and Handwashing Challenge. I'm sure I can do this. I have two in diapers but I think if I make a bucket and plunger washing machine my kids will even help wash the diapers. Sneaky? Yes, a little. ;)  Anyway, join me if you can!