Flats and Handwashing Challenge

With my attempt to be more conscious of my water, electricity, and waste I thought this year would be perfect to take the Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  I hope that I like it and use these more often. 

So, what is this challenge?  The purpose of the challenge is to increase awareness of cloth diapering and to show that expensive diapers are not required.  Flats can be bought new from $1.38 and up depending on what it is made of.  They can also be bought used for cheap as well.  Do not have any flat?  Anything can be used, old t-shirts, receiving blankets, flour sack towels, etc.  A cover is advised to hold in the mess, but not required.   Covers can be wool, fleece, or PUL.

Rules for the challenge can be found at Dirty Diaper Laundry

Materials Allowed

The following diapering items can be used:
• Any flat cloth diaper, store bought or handmade. A flat should be only 1 layer of material for easier handwashing and faster drying.
• 1 night time diaper per night of your choice although you are asked to make flats work for you (this diaper must also be handwashed)
• Doublers (not inserts meant to be absorbent enough to stand alone) if you absolutely must.
• A diaper sprayer.
• Wet bags/diaper pails for storage.
• Handmade “washing machine” for diapers such as the camp style washer I made last year.
• Non Electronic Portable washing machines (must be powered by you and cost less than $100.
• Commercially available or handmade covers.
• Commercially available or handmade detergents.
• Snappi, Boingo, and Pins for closure.
• Pocket diapers STUFFED WITH FLATS. (note that the potential for repelling on the stay dry lining could make your challenge harder but you can see what happens)
• Homemade or store bought fleece liners.
• Iron (to use in order to expedite drying time or sterilize)

Materials Not Allowed

• Electronic washer/dryer.
• Pockets with inserts other than flats, AIO’s, Fitteds, Contours, Prefolds, AI2’s, etc.
• Flushable liners.

Rules for Everyone

• You cannot use your washer or dryer.
• If for some reason something arises and an exception is made you need to disclose in the Conclusions Survey or on your blog if you are a blogger.
• There is no limit on the number of flats or covers you can use. Should you purchase 100 flats for $100 and go a whole week without washing? No. Use your common sense on this one. As a tip the more diapers in your camp washer/ sink/ tub the harder the washing will be.

All About Cloth: Update

Back in January I challenged myself to create less waste by using more cloth.  Here is an update to the switch. 

First, cloth nursing pads.  I still use some disposables, but I mostly use these cloth pads.  

Cloth wipes:  They are not just for baby butts.  I use a designated stack of wipes for Charlotte's bottoms.  We also use a stack of wipes as tissues.  In addition we have family cloth and will use mama cloth when the time comes.  

Next on the cloth switch was switching to cloth bags for grocery shopping.  I keep some in the car and the bulk of them stay in the house and I grab them on my way to the store.  I do keep some disposable ones for miscellaneous things.  The rest were dropped off at the recycling box at the grocery store.

The object that started this whole switch, kitchen towels.  I keep a stack of towels and wash clothes in the drawer by the sink.  I also have a stack of microfiber diaper inserts that I use for cleaning blinds, fans, etc.

Which brings up the question of is this wasting water and electricity?  Yes, and no.  The water goes back to the waste water plant and is treated and reused.  I do try to wash as much in one load as my washer can handle and still clean. This reduces the need for multiple loads and excessive water and electricity usage. The laundry is either hung outside to dry or in the bathroom.  

{52 weeks} Week 3: all about cloth

When thinking of things I can change in my life to be greener and healthier I also think about the changes I have already made. Switching to cloth diapers and using cloth wipes, and cloth nursing pads for starters are all great steps. I then see the huge stash of paper towels that I have. As I finished off a roll today I realized how much we waste using paper towels, not to mention the money we spend on them. I then realized I do not own any kitchen towels and I only have one kitchen wash rag. I do have "rags" from torn shirts or bath towels in addition to a few microfiber towels, but we never use them.  So this week I will be buying some kitchen towels and making the switch. I will still have my stash of paper towels for the really dirty messes, but for regular cleaning and doing dishes, we will be switching to cloth.

52 Weeks

As mentioned previously, I am going to make one small change every week as my new year resolution.  My first week I decided to tackle the toy room and organize it better.  Before having children that was our "catch all" room.  It is where we put stuff we didn't really know where to put else where.   It also needed cleaned and organized as the children received toys just before for Christmas.  It wasn't until after I had some of the cabinets cleared out that I thought to take pictures.  I will make a more detailed post later about the toy room transformation.


Week Two I am making the change for no more fast food, with some exceptions.  It is so easy for me to swing by McDonald's and grab something for Owen to eat.  I might only get a water for myself.  How horrible is it that I don't eat at McDonald's but I will feed it to my toddler?!?!  Well that ends today.  I vow to not take him to any fast food restaurants (restaurants with drive thrus).  The exception to this is when we are traveling.  While close to home I will not do it.  I will plan running errands better so we only go in between meals and I will take Cheerios, apples, or some other food that Owen can snack on if he needs it.   Not only is this healthier for us, but it will also save us some money as well.

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone brought in the new year safely.   I let Owen stay up and we watched the ball drop online.  Martin called at midnight since he was in Georgia for work.  Charlotte slept through it all, as to be expected.  

In 2013 I finished my associates degree in accounting in January, we visited Pop Pop in Maryland and Babcia in Delaware for Easter.

In May Owen and I made the trip to Pennsylvania for a baby shower for Charlotte.  We also went to the Pittsburgh Zoo.

 In July we welcomed our beautiful daughter.

I quit drinking soda (A HUGE challenge for me as I was drinking close to two liters a day!)

Owen started using the potty.

And I finished the year by landing a part time job at a church day care.

In 2014 Owen will start preschool, I will graduate with a Bachelor's of Science in Accounting, hopefully start my career in the accounting field, pay off our truck, as well as many other fun things.

Rather than doing the typical resolutions list, I am going to challenge myself to make one small change every week.  I figure 52 small changes will add up to a big difference in our home.  Some of these changes include making less waste, eating more home-made foods via garden/local farmers, less electronic use (aside from my online classes), and so forth.