Tuesday, December 20, 2011
My attempt to keep some people updated...
Well I am going to go back through this year by month and try to do some mini update posts, and maybe remember to do it monthly this coming year. It is kind of hard to remember to do this when we have facebook, but some family doesn't always check facebook, so here goes nothing :)
Friday, October 8, 2010
Cloth Diaper Wash tips, aka my routine
So I only own Pocket diapers. Meaning I have a waterproof cover that has a second fleece layer, in between stuffs my 'inserts'. When I change a diaper, I shake the insert out into the pail and drop in the cover. If its a 'dirty' diaper and not just wet, I shake off most solids into the toilet, or if using throw away wipes, I wipe most out. Most of the time I try to use washcloths for wipes that also then go into the pail.
I use a dry pail, some use a wet, I think it smells worse and then you have the issue of trying to dump the pail. I also need to invest in a pail liner, basically a reusable trash bag. I use cheep scented trash bags right now as a liner, in my 3 gallon step trashcan. The step trash can is a must for me, I love it.
So after about two days, my pail is full, and I am down to about 4-5 diapers. Time to wash!
I start in the evening because I soak overnight, some people don't need to soak every wash, but with my hard water I have found this is the best way to make sure my dipes are super clean.
Routine:
I dump all the diapers, inserts, and whatever dirty washcloths I have into the washer. I usually am washing between 15-20 diapers and inserts. If this were regular laundry I would put the water on a medium setting, since its diapers, I put it on large. You always need extra water.
I usually sprinkle borax over any 'soiled' diapers as they go in the pail, so I have some and usually add a little more into the washer and fill with cool/cold water.
For this first part a medium water level would be fine for me usually, and I do a pre wash. A quick 5 minute wash and quick spin. This is to get all the really nasties out of the wash.
Now I fill up again up to large, but this time HOT hot water, sometimes I even add some boiling water because my hot setting actually doesn't use straight hot water it mixes with cold, I can tell when it goes from a trickle to a strong fill stream.
I add my 2-3Tbs of RockinGreen Hard Rock detergent (more details about this later) I use a heaping 1/8 cup coffee scoop. I set the washer for soak. My soak setting washes for a few minutes soaks, washes some more, and then sits. It doesn't spin or anything else until I come change the knob.
I leave this soak on over night, periodically I go in and reset the soak cycle to agitate some more.
By morning I have two options:
1. finish the cycle, set to heavy soil, the longest wash cycle I have.
or 2. finish out this dirty water with the prewash setting, basically a quick agitation and spin.
Then I set to do another hot wash with just a little extra detergent (if using regular detergent don't add extra)
Either of these is followed by two cool rinses.
The reason Ive started doing another hot wash is because its starting to get cool so the water is pretty cold by morning, and I want to finish the hot wash and rinse set to get as much stuff out as possible.
Now once the rinses are done, I empty the wash, and if its sunny I lay all the diapers and inserts out on the fence (its close to the back door, clothes line is up the hill..) I lay out old sheets or pillow cases to lay over the fence first, and clothespin the covers to them, the inserts are heavy enough that they stay put unless it is super windy.
If it is a cooler day, rainy, or just no sun, I clothes pin the covers to the wire shelves in my laundry room, and dry the inserts in the dryer.
You can dry the covers in the dryer too, but the PUL (polyurethane laminated) waterproof layer of the pocket diapers (or any waterproof covers you might have) will deteriorate very quickly, it is plastic, it melts, and since its so thin it cracks and wears out.
I bought my first set of small diapers from a lady on craigs list, she said she used them for about 10 months, I have had them for 4, I take very good care of them, each wash I make sure there is extra water, and like I said I always line dry the covers.
This most recent set of mediums, same style covers, from another lady off craigs list, is in terrible shape.
I am pretty disappointed at how much she asked, and I paid for them, considering how worn out they are.
The PUL in my smalls is still thick and solid, no holes or cracks, even compared to the brand new one size I bought to try. The PUL in the mediums, it is very thin and flimsy, on about half it is cracked and sort of pealing away.
Since this is the waterproof part of the diapers, it needs to be ... um waterproof. With cracks in it, it won't be. I am hope full that they are ok, and its small enough sections, and close enough to the back edge that it wont actually leak.
But the point of that little side tirade, I am pretty sure this lady dried her covers. I also found out in a response email to my disappointment, that her sister in law used them too. So this was a third hand set, no big deal, however two 'years' of drying has killed the PUL in them.
Cloth diapers are an investment. I plan to use the size smalls again on our next baby, and I am hoping to start investing slowly in a 'one size' set (they have rise and leg elastic adjustments and grow from 7-35lbs).
To take care of this investment, the biggest thing that will wear them out is improper laundering.
OH.. that reminds me, a list of NO NOs!
DO NOT bleach covers, if you really must to get out stink you can use a small amount of bleach in with a load of inserts only. Make sure to do a couple extra rinses, if that bleach stays in at all, once baby pees it releases any 'buildup' on them and leads to burns, basically bad diaper rash, on babys bum! I had this happen with ammonia stink (down farther there is an explanation of this).
DO NOT use any fabric softener or vinegar. If you sun dry stuff, it can be a little stiff, stick it in the dryer on super low or air dry with a wool dryer ball, or tennis ball to soften them up. *don't use dryer sheets, same as liquid fabric softener*
So side note about buildup/stink/repelling.
All three of these are caused by one thing, using too much and the wrong type of detergent.
Cloth diapers need to be completely free of any left over washing additives; soap, fabric softener, bleach, anything. When we use those things with any laundry, they never wash out completely, that's why things 'smell good' after a wash, if things rinsed out all the way there would be no smell left. Not as bad with your clothes or hubby's nasty work jeans. However when it is a cloth that will be strapped to your babies most sensitive skin, it needs to be completely clean.
The issue with when these things aren't rinsed out, they start to create buildup on the inserts mostly, with so many absorbent layers, somewhat on the covers (just think about soap left in a dirty pan, breaks down the food... soap left on the PUL covers breaks down the plastic and elastic too I would assume)
You might not actually notice any problems with buildup. The first thing you will notice though usually is repelling.
Repelling is when he pees, and it soaks down into the pocket, it doesn't soak into the insert immediately. Sometimes if they are sitting in a car seat or bouncy, and the diaper is empty, it will soak in with pressure. However if the diaper is already wet, it will most likely wick out the legs, or out the back, anywhere that lining fabric of the cover touches anything else. Also bad when laying down, it almost immediately just rolls right out the back pocket hole (some diapers like BumGenius have a second leak barrier flap now)
The next issue that would be noticed by buildup is two fold. Ammonia.
This is caused by urine build up left in the inserts, not rinsing all the soap out, same deal with leaving some urine behind. It will build up over time and eventually gets to the point that when he pees, it wets that urea in there and it releases the smell.
The smell can be overpowering, not just a wet pee diaper smell, but seriously like you are sniffing an ammonia bottle. Now if you think it hurts your eyes and nose.. think of babies bum. I had one time when I was stripping (will explain down farther) that his whole bottom where the diaper was wet had turned bright red and was all raised and swollen. Luckily it went away after a couple hours.
This ammonia smell will usually start in the pail, after a day or so and you open it to put another diaper in, it is like a brick wall in your face. This is when some stripping needs to happen.
So when I started using my RockinGreen detergent, I had to rock a few soaks, as they call it, before I could use the diapers again. This releases all the extra buildup in the diapers, so it takes a few washes to make sure it is all out.
But I think that is ALL, at least all I can think of as far as cloth diapering laundry goes.
I might edit it later if I think of anything else, but I really need to get to working this morning.
I use a dry pail, some use a wet, I think it smells worse and then you have the issue of trying to dump the pail. I also need to invest in a pail liner, basically a reusable trash bag. I use cheep scented trash bags right now as a liner, in my 3 gallon step trashcan. The step trash can is a must for me, I love it.
So after about two days, my pail is full, and I am down to about 4-5 diapers. Time to wash!
I start in the evening because I soak overnight, some people don't need to soak every wash, but with my hard water I have found this is the best way to make sure my dipes are super clean.
Routine:
I dump all the diapers, inserts, and whatever dirty washcloths I have into the washer. I usually am washing between 15-20 diapers and inserts. If this were regular laundry I would put the water on a medium setting, since its diapers, I put it on large. You always need extra water.
I usually sprinkle borax over any 'soiled' diapers as they go in the pail, so I have some and usually add a little more into the washer and fill with cool/cold water.
For this first part a medium water level would be fine for me usually, and I do a pre wash. A quick 5 minute wash and quick spin. This is to get all the really nasties out of the wash.
Now I fill up again up to large, but this time HOT hot water, sometimes I even add some boiling water because my hot setting actually doesn't use straight hot water it mixes with cold, I can tell when it goes from a trickle to a strong fill stream.
I add my 2-3Tbs of RockinGreen Hard Rock detergent (more details about this later) I use a heaping 1/8 cup coffee scoop. I set the washer for soak. My soak setting washes for a few minutes soaks, washes some more, and then sits. It doesn't spin or anything else until I come change the knob.
I leave this soak on over night, periodically I go in and reset the soak cycle to agitate some more.
By morning I have two options:
1. finish the cycle, set to heavy soil, the longest wash cycle I have.
or 2. finish out this dirty water with the prewash setting, basically a quick agitation and spin.
Then I set to do another hot wash with just a little extra detergent (if using regular detergent don't add extra)
Either of these is followed by two cool rinses.
The reason Ive started doing another hot wash is because its starting to get cool so the water is pretty cold by morning, and I want to finish the hot wash and rinse set to get as much stuff out as possible.
Now once the rinses are done, I empty the wash, and if its sunny I lay all the diapers and inserts out on the fence (its close to the back door, clothes line is up the hill..) I lay out old sheets or pillow cases to lay over the fence first, and clothespin the covers to them, the inserts are heavy enough that they stay put unless it is super windy.
If it is a cooler day, rainy, or just no sun, I clothes pin the covers to the wire shelves in my laundry room, and dry the inserts in the dryer.
You can dry the covers in the dryer too, but the PUL (polyurethane laminated) waterproof layer of the pocket diapers (or any waterproof covers you might have) will deteriorate very quickly, it is plastic, it melts, and since its so thin it cracks and wears out.
I bought my first set of small diapers from a lady on craigs list, she said she used them for about 10 months, I have had them for 4, I take very good care of them, each wash I make sure there is extra water, and like I said I always line dry the covers.
This most recent set of mediums, same style covers, from another lady off craigs list, is in terrible shape.
I am pretty disappointed at how much she asked, and I paid for them, considering how worn out they are.
The PUL in my smalls is still thick and solid, no holes or cracks, even compared to the brand new one size I bought to try. The PUL in the mediums, it is very thin and flimsy, on about half it is cracked and sort of pealing away.
Since this is the waterproof part of the diapers, it needs to be ... um waterproof. With cracks in it, it won't be. I am hope full that they are ok, and its small enough sections, and close enough to the back edge that it wont actually leak.
But the point of that little side tirade, I am pretty sure this lady dried her covers. I also found out in a response email to my disappointment, that her sister in law used them too. So this was a third hand set, no big deal, however two 'years' of drying has killed the PUL in them.
Cloth diapers are an investment. I plan to use the size smalls again on our next baby, and I am hoping to start investing slowly in a 'one size' set (they have rise and leg elastic adjustments and grow from 7-35lbs).
To take care of this investment, the biggest thing that will wear them out is improper laundering.
OH.. that reminds me, a list of NO NOs!
DO NOT bleach covers, if you really must to get out stink you can use a small amount of bleach in with a load of inserts only. Make sure to do a couple extra rinses, if that bleach stays in at all, once baby pees it releases any 'buildup' on them and leads to burns, basically bad diaper rash, on babys bum! I had this happen with ammonia stink (down farther there is an explanation of this).
DO NOT use any fabric softener or vinegar. If you sun dry stuff, it can be a little stiff, stick it in the dryer on super low or air dry with a wool dryer ball, or tennis ball to soften them up. *don't use dryer sheets, same as liquid fabric softener*
So side note about buildup/stink/repelling.
All three of these are caused by one thing, using too much and the wrong type of detergent.
Cloth diapers need to be completely free of any left over washing additives; soap, fabric softener, bleach, anything. When we use those things with any laundry, they never wash out completely, that's why things 'smell good' after a wash, if things rinsed out all the way there would be no smell left. Not as bad with your clothes or hubby's nasty work jeans. However when it is a cloth that will be strapped to your babies most sensitive skin, it needs to be completely clean.
The issue with when these things aren't rinsed out, they start to create buildup on the inserts mostly, with so many absorbent layers, somewhat on the covers (just think about soap left in a dirty pan, breaks down the food... soap left on the PUL covers breaks down the plastic and elastic too I would assume)
You might not actually notice any problems with buildup. The first thing you will notice though usually is repelling.
Repelling is when he pees, and it soaks down into the pocket, it doesn't soak into the insert immediately. Sometimes if they are sitting in a car seat or bouncy, and the diaper is empty, it will soak in with pressure. However if the diaper is already wet, it will most likely wick out the legs, or out the back, anywhere that lining fabric of the cover touches anything else. Also bad when laying down, it almost immediately just rolls right out the back pocket hole (some diapers like BumGenius have a second leak barrier flap now)
The next issue that would be noticed by buildup is two fold. Ammonia.
This is caused by urine build up left in the inserts, not rinsing all the soap out, same deal with leaving some urine behind. It will build up over time and eventually gets to the point that when he pees, it wets that urea in there and it releases the smell.
The smell can be overpowering, not just a wet pee diaper smell, but seriously like you are sniffing an ammonia bottle. Now if you think it hurts your eyes and nose.. think of babies bum. I had one time when I was stripping (will explain down farther) that his whole bottom where the diaper was wet had turned bright red and was all raised and swollen. Luckily it went away after a couple hours.
This ammonia smell will usually start in the pail, after a day or so and you open it to put another diaper in, it is like a brick wall in your face. This is when some stripping needs to happen.
So when I started using my RockinGreen detergent, I had to rock a few soaks, as they call it, before I could use the diapers again. This releases all the extra buildup in the diapers, so it takes a few washes to make sure it is all out.
But I think that is ALL, at least all I can think of as far as cloth diapering laundry goes.
I might edit it later if I think of anything else, but I really need to get to working this morning.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
just an snipit of our life...
So... I am 26, I live in a small town with my hubby Brandon, our three dogs (spike 3yr pomeranian chihuahua mix, Sadie 2yr husky lab, and Rocky 2yr rescue mutt), Brandons daughter Jackie (13) and our newest addition, William 4 months.
I used to work for a print shop in town doing graphic work, I was 'laid off' right after I found out I was prego, LONG story maybe another post I will talk about that .. but Joyce my old boss is back and brought me back on early in September. Best thing is she is letting me work when I can, and I can bring Will to work with me. Considering around here with no family to watch Will cheep, I would be working to pay a sitter...
I dont plan to stay on real long, just enough to help her stay caught up, and train her grand daughter to help out, and hopefully a replacement ... who knows, but it really adds a lot of stress with me trying to work again.
Well as far as life with a baby goes.. I LOVE being a mom. Its pretty awesome if I do say so myself.
I knew from early on in pregnancy that I wanted to cloth diaper.
WHOA WHOA... let me explain.. this is not some old grandma type of plastic pants and pins.
There are TONS of new styles, I luckily got started with a used set *not nasty*.
I love to be doing something so good for the environment, and my baby.
I could quote so many nasty things that come from the production and waste of disposables...
they are a decent invesntment, I paid 175 for the set of 24 I have, retail would have cost almost twice that... so way cheep, and this size small set has lasted me from 1 month until here at 4 months, so three months worth of diapering, would have cost me twice that in sposies.
If my haus of a child wasnt already almost 18 lbs.. he would have lasted a lot longer :(
But the next set I am investing in is One size, meaning they are very adjustable and grow with baby, should last from 8lbs to 35lbs. Im hoping this next set lasts until he potty trains.
Not to mention these will be around when I have baby #2!
Ok well I have got to get off here and go finish work ... sigh
At least I get to work from home :)
I used to work for a print shop in town doing graphic work, I was 'laid off' right after I found out I was prego, LONG story maybe another post I will talk about that .. but Joyce my old boss is back and brought me back on early in September. Best thing is she is letting me work when I can, and I can bring Will to work with me. Considering around here with no family to watch Will cheep, I would be working to pay a sitter...
I dont plan to stay on real long, just enough to help her stay caught up, and train her grand daughter to help out, and hopefully a replacement ... who knows, but it really adds a lot of stress with me trying to work again.
Well as far as life with a baby goes.. I LOVE being a mom. Its pretty awesome if I do say so myself.
I knew from early on in pregnancy that I wanted to cloth diaper.
WHOA WHOA... let me explain.. this is not some old grandma type of plastic pants and pins.
There are TONS of new styles, I luckily got started with a used set *not nasty*.
I love to be doing something so good for the environment, and my baby.
I could quote so many nasty things that come from the production and waste of disposables...
they are a decent invesntment, I paid 175 for the set of 24 I have, retail would have cost almost twice that... so way cheep, and this size small set has lasted me from 1 month until here at 4 months, so three months worth of diapering, would have cost me twice that in sposies.
If my haus of a child wasnt already almost 18 lbs.. he would have lasted a lot longer :(
But the next set I am investing in is One size, meaning they are very adjustable and grow with baby, should last from 8lbs to 35lbs. Im hoping this next set lasts until he potty trains.
Not to mention these will be around when I have baby #2!
Ok well I have got to get off here and go finish work ... sigh
At least I get to work from home :)
BumGenius Prints?!
So, Bum Genius (from Cotton Babies Inc) has realeased new prints ! http://www.youtube.com/cottonbabies
this is too cool, I love this diaper I am wanting some more, but these are even more $$ :(
But they are running a give away on their blog.
Lets hope I win one! :)
this is too cool, I love this diaper I am wanting some more, but these are even more $$ :(
But they are running a give away on their blog.
Lets hope I win one! :)
Cloth Diapering... intro?
My boy, Will is almost 4 months old and around 1 1/2 months we started cloth diapering.
I wanted to from the beginning but it is somewhat costly to get started. I got lucky to find a used set of FuzziBunz pocket dipes from a lady on craigs list for WAY cheap. So starts my journey.
I love them, however they are what FB (FuzziBunz) calls 'perfect size' meaning Small Med Large, they were smalls, so now that we are nearly grown out of them I am expanding.
I am trying a few other brands of pocket styles (there are TONS of other types).
Pocket style is set up alot like a disposable, with snaps rather than velcro. there is a waterproof polyester outer layer, and inner microfiber type layer, there is an opening at the back, and inside you stuff your inserts, microfiber pads, or regular cloth prefolds, whatever type of absorbent cloth you want. When you change a dirty or wet, you take it off, shake off any solids in the toilet, and shake out the insert into the pail.
But I have bought some one size diapers, these are much more adjustable to grow with baby. They say down to 8lbs, up to 35. I'm doubting I could fit these on my 8lb 3oz boy when he was a newborn.
However I do love how they will grow with him through the next two years until he potty trains!
I bought one BumGenius 4.0 pocket with snaps. I love this one, it has a snap down rise, kinda awkward to get set up, but once its set its better, after a couple washes. They have a few colors, most are gender neutral, big deal when there are a lot of pinks and purples... not so good for a boy.
I also bought one FB one size, it is very soft and fluffy compared to the used ones I have, bit has changeable elastic settings in the leg openings. I really don't think this one would fit smaller babies, where the BG seems more adjustable as far as rise setting goes.
I am also supposed to receive some other pocket one size from a lady on Facebook, who was going to send them to me for way cheep... haven't heard from her recently so maybe not.
However, I did buy some more used FB mediums to work into as I build my one size stash :)
I wanted to from the beginning but it is somewhat costly to get started. I got lucky to find a used set of FuzziBunz pocket dipes from a lady on craigs list for WAY cheap. So starts my journey.
I love them, however they are what FB (FuzziBunz) calls 'perfect size' meaning Small Med Large, they were smalls, so now that we are nearly grown out of them I am expanding.
I am trying a few other brands of pocket styles (there are TONS of other types).
Pocket style is set up alot like a disposable, with snaps rather than velcro. there is a waterproof polyester outer layer, and inner microfiber type layer, there is an opening at the back, and inside you stuff your inserts, microfiber pads, or regular cloth prefolds, whatever type of absorbent cloth you want. When you change a dirty or wet, you take it off, shake off any solids in the toilet, and shake out the insert into the pail.
But I have bought some one size diapers, these are much more adjustable to grow with baby. They say down to 8lbs, up to 35. I'm doubting I could fit these on my 8lb 3oz boy when he was a newborn.
However I do love how they will grow with him through the next two years until he potty trains!
I bought one BumGenius 4.0 pocket with snaps. I love this one, it has a snap down rise, kinda awkward to get set up, but once its set its better, after a couple washes. They have a few colors, most are gender neutral, big deal when there are a lot of pinks and purples... not so good for a boy.
I also bought one FB one size, it is very soft and fluffy compared to the used ones I have, bit has changeable elastic settings in the leg openings. I really don't think this one would fit smaller babies, where the BG seems more adjustable as far as rise setting goes.
I am also supposed to receive some other pocket one size from a lady on Facebook, who was going to send them to me for way cheep... haven't heard from her recently so maybe not.
However, I did buy some more used FB mediums to work into as I build my one size stash :)
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