What have I learned??

I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For 7 days I will be using only flat cloth diapers and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year there are over 450 participants from all over the world!  

  

T showing her love of "shooooes!!!!' while shopping

Our cute flats in covers 

More cuteness

What exactly have I learned so far from this? Well..... I have learned that sometimes doing something out of the norm is kinda fun. I have learned I could totally survive without power for a while, although then I would not have a water heater or stove to boil water on.....  Scratch that.... I could totally survive without my washing machine and dryer if I needed to. I have learned that just because someone views something as "old fashioned" doesn't mean it doesn't work or even work better than what we have today!! I know I was diapered with pre fold and those plastic pull on pants. I'm honestly not sure what form of cloth diaper my Mom was diapered in or my Grandma.... I'll have to ask. I have seen pictures of my Mom and Uncle when they were little with cloth and my Grandma and I have talked about them before. My Grandma (and rest of the family) has been supportive of us using cloth. :) My Mom isn't with us anymore but did get to go window shopping for fluff while I was pregnant, so I'm pretty sure she would have been too.  I have learned that my muscles have gotten soft in the time I have been off the fire department. :D  I have learned I have a whole new respect for the generations that went before us who did ALL THEIR LAUNDRY by hand. I always knew it was a tough job.... I just respect and appreciate the amount of work and what they did to take care of their families more now. This seems fitting with this weekend being Memorial Day. I have learned that if washing by hand using your camp washer as your "wet bag" works pretty well and that having them soak aka a wet pail instead of a dry pail system helps get them clean easier. I have learned that when you go out and NEED to use a wet bag that a simple PUL one really works better than a cute fabric covered wet/ dry bag. I love my wet/ dry bag for my diaper bag but the dry time is horrendous!!! We went shopping for several hours and then met Daddy and went out for supper to celebrate the last day of school!!!!  As a homeschool family this was as much a celebration for C as it was for me!! ;) 

Hand washing

I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For 7 days I will be using only flat cloth diapers and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year there are over 450 participants from all over the world!   

The kids and Grandma stopped by to see me at work 

T and her night time fluff

The problem diaper

So far hand washing hasn't been that bad. It's honestly quicker than using the washing machine and I think they have been getting cleaner. Yes, my arms and shoulders have been getting a workout but that's not a horrible thing. They air dry pretty fast too!! I have either been doing 2 loads per day ( one during nap) or washing before I go to bed so they can dry over night. They are usually dry or pretty close to when I get up. We have been using the flats with covers and its been working well. Wednesday and Friday the kids are spending time with Grandma and I am stuffing flats that have been pad folded into pocket diapers. This means waaaay more washing as I now have to wash a cover for every diaper she wears. Still the pile wasn't too horrible. I did end up washing the covers separate from the flats after the initial rinse. Hubby helped and we got it all done and hung up in decent time. We did seem to have better luck getting the Bum Genius 4.0 pockets cleaner and stuffed with a flat easier than some of the others. I had one Fuzzibunz diaper (that of course she pooped in) that after using the diaper sprayer (which I hardly use) now has poop imbedded into it. I blame the diaper sprayer!! I keep washing it but honestly think it will need a washing machine to get clean. I think hand washing all the time it totally do able but I would probably occasionally throw them threw the washer or use a washboard to make sure they are clean. Like that cover.... it would just live in my wet pail until I went to the laundry mat if we were living that way. Instead it will keep getting worked on until tuesday. :) Although the diapers look the same (because she just sees the pre stuffed pockets)  my Mother in Law did notice and comment that they seemed to not need changed as often and seemed to be more absorbent. :)