Cloth Diapering at a Hotel

Two weeks ago my family and I went to Florida for a little vacation.  I was a little nervous at first about taking cloth diapers.  How/where would I wash them?  Will sand be an issue? Can I even fit the diapers in to the luggage?

I called the hotel and they did say they have a coin operated washer and dryer.  I thought, ok this is great, I can continue to wash them without having to worry about anything.  That was, until I got to the hotel and saw the machines.  $1.75 per load.  We were away from home for 8 1/2 days.  I would need to wash diapers three times.  This would quickly get expensive.

After the Flats and Handwashing Challenge I have been exclusively using flats and hemp inside of the pockets.  We no longer use the microfiber inserts.  Taking the challenge prepared me for staying at the hotel without the need for a washing machine.  I packed the detergent and a bunch of pants hangers.

On Tuesday I washed diapers from Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday morning.  The rest of the week I washed the diapers daily.  It was easier to just wash the day's worth of diapers.  Not to mention it took a little over 24 hours for the diapers and flats to dry.  This ensured I had clean diapers while the others were drying.  I even ironed the flats!  That is something I never thought I would say.  After hanging they were a bit wrinkled and did not lay inside of the diapers nicely, so I ironed them.  A couple of the pockets I even took to the pool with us to sun them while we were swimming. 

At the end of the week we did wash our regular laundry.  I thought about hand-washing those too, but Martin's clothes were a bit dirty from fishing all week so I wanted them to get a good clean in the wash. Washing our clothes cost $7.  That is insane.  I cannot imagine having to go to a laundromat.  I give you ladies credit that have to.  

The real test will be in a couple weeks when I go camping.  No tubs, heating water on a fire, and plenty of line to hang diapers.   Super excited for the adventure.

Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 7

Overall Experience, What did I learn?

I found this week fun.  (How "crunchy" of me).  

I plan to continue using the flats, however I mostly plan to use them as inserts in pocket diapers.  Coming in to this week I thought after the week was over I would cut up the flats and use them for other things.  Which I may salvage some of them, but I plan to keep most of the flats just the way they are.  My main hesitation is trying to get the folds so that the poop stays in without making a mess all over the cover.   In addition, having the waste on the flat makes it more difficult for me to clean it off.  Instead of just having a small area soiled I have to put the entire flat into the toilet to try and rinse it.  This made it difficult to clean the cover as well.  

Hand-washing was a release for me.  I found it quite therapeutic to scrub the diapers clean.  It also allowed Owen to feel helpful.  He really enjoyed stomping the diapers and adding the soap to the water.  He is a great big helper and wanted to hang all the flats and covers all on his own.  Today was the last day of hand-washing for this challenge, but I know we will be doing more hand-washing in the future. 

I think that flats and covers will be a great alternative when we go to the beach next month and camping in July.  I will not have a washing machine either time and flats will make it easy to clean without needing a washer or dryer.  Plus, if it rains while we are camping it just gives the diapers an extra rinse without me having to do the work.  ;)

Day 1:  Why Are You Taking the Challenge?
Day 2: Show Us Your “Stash” and tell us what did it cost?
Day 3:  Challenge Update
Day 4:  What is your Washing Routine?
Day 5:  Flats Experience- Folds you love, Are they working, etc.
Day 6: Open Topic
Day 7: Overall Experience, What did you learn, Would you do it?

Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 5

Day 5: Flats Experience- Folds

As mentioned in previous posts, I have never worked with prefolds or flats before.  I looked at a few folds on other blogs and youtube videos.  After talking to my friend over at Trial and Error Homemaking, she told me about the Happy Anteater fold.  I also use the pad fold and stuff it inside of a pocket.

So, how do I like using flats?  When the diapers are just wet it is ok.  The number one reason I avoided flats and prefolds in the past before was I did not like that the wetness would be all around the baby's bottom vs just in between the legs.  The pockets also have a layer of fleece to keep the wetness off of baby's bottom.  However, I decided it would not hurt to try and see what happens.  Maybe I would like it, maybe I wouldn't.

I will say, TMI alert, since Charlotte has started eating more solids her poop is a bit unpredictable and gross.  I have not mastered any folds in the past couple days.  This makes it a bit difficult when poop happens.  Yesterday we had a bit of a mess in the Rumparooz cover.  The cover has an extra layer of PUL where the snaps are, this creates a pocket.  Well, when the flat is not folded right, poop doesn't stay in it.  I have to rave about the cover because nothing leaked out of it!  Cleaning up the mess was a little difficult though.

I think I am going to stick with cheating by simply folding the flat and stuffing it in a pocket.






Stay tuned for more posts about the challenge!!

Day 1:  Why Are You Taking the Challenge?
Day 2: Show Us Your “Stash” and tell us what did it cost?
Day 3:  Challenge Update
Day 4:  What is your Washing Routine?
Day 5:  Flats Experience- Folds you love, Are they working, etc.
Day 6: Open Topic
Day 7: Overall Experience, What did you learn, Would you do it?

Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 4

Day 4: Washing Routine

Normally I wash diapers on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.  I washed diapers Saturday morning and then hand-washed on Monday.  Since I had a couple days worth of diapers I dumped them all into the tub.   However, this week I have been washing daily.

Monday I put the diapers in the tub to soak for half hour.  After they soaked I then added hot water and Rockin Green detergent to the diapers.  We started out just reaching over the side but then Owen decided he wanted to get in and stomp, because that is more fun.  While he was agitating, I pulled each cover or pocket and checked for stains or marks.  Any diaper that had marks I scrubbed with my fingers and then rubbed the diapers together under the water to loosen any poo that may be stuck on the elastic or fleece.  When the covers were all scrubbed we drained the water and added more hot water.  Owen stomped those again for a few minutes.  We did this twice until we could not see any more soap suds.  Then I took them all outside to dry.

Since then I have been washing the diapers at night after the kids go to bed.  I have been washing them in the sink to use less water.  And hanging them on the shower curtain rod.  Charlotte typically uses 7-9 diapers a day.  Soiled diapers are usually sprayed with the diaper sprayer before putting them into the diaper pail.  In honor of this challenge, I am not using the sprayer and instead dunking the diapers in the toilet and swishing them to remove the poop.  (I miss my sprayer!)  I also rinse the over-night diaper so that the urine is not sitting in it all day, after being wet all night.  

Stay tuned for more posts about the challenge!!

Day 1:  Why Are You Taking the Challenge?
Day 2: Show Us Your “Stash” and tell us what did it cost?
Day 3:  Challenge Update
Day 4:  What is your Washing Routine?
Day 5:  Flats Experience- Folds you love, Are they working, etc.
Day 6: Open Topic
Day 7: Overall Experience, What did you learn, Would you do it?

Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 3

Flats and Hand-washing Challenge: Day 3  Challenge Update

I recently sold the remaining Thirsties AIO size 1 diapers that I had because Charlotte had outgrown them.  Well, they were perfect diapers for day-care because it was easier for them to change the diapers.  When I first started taking Charlotte there, one of the ladies in the nursery was amazed at how far diapers have come and how easy they were to use.  Because I sold all the last of the Thirsties I was trying to decide what diapers I wanted to put in her bag for day-care.  I put SunBaby pockets stuffed with flats and I sent her in wearing a flat and a cover, fastened with a snappi.  When I went to pick her up the lady in the nursery was surprised I went from the convenient aio hook and loop, to flats.  I told her about this challenge and that we were so excited about it that we started early.   She wished all of us flat users luck and talked about her experience diapering her children 40 years ago.

So far I am loving the flats.  I plan to continue to use them after this challenge but will probably use them as inserts.  I also plan to salvage a couple for mama cloth.  My neighbor was also curious when she saw my drying rack outside with the flats on them.  (little vent, it is not permitted by the HOA to have a clothes line, this saddens me.)

Charlotte rockin' a flat and Thirsties cover

Stay tuned for more posts about the challenge!!

Day 1:  Why Are You Taking the Challenge?
Day 2: Show Us Your “Stash” and tell us what did it cost?
Day 3:  Challenge Update
Day 4:  What is your Washing Routine?
Day 5:  Flats Experience- Folds you love, Are they working, etc.
Day 6: Open Topic
Day 7: Overall Experience, What did you learn, Would you do it?

Flats and Hand-washing Challenge: Day 2

Flats and Hand-Washing Challenge: Day 2   The Stash

I have never used flats before, so I bought a stash just for this week.  Sweet Bottoms had a promotion if you spent $55 you received three free OsoCozy Organic Flats.  So, I spent $55.

My Stash:

Flats:

OsoCozy Unbleached Flat Diapers.........$1.91 each x 12 (sold by the dozen)

OsoCozy Organic Flat diapers................$4.50 each x   1

Flour Sack Towels.................................$0.98 each x   5 (sold in a pack of 5)

OsoCozy Organic Flat Diapers...............FREE x 3 (SBB coupon)

Covers:

Kawaii OS Cover..................................$7.25 x 1

Thirsties Duo Wrap................................$12.75 x 1

Thisties Duo Wrap.................................$7.00 (Purchased used)

Rumparooz Diaper Cover......................$9.00 (Purchased used)

I am also using SunBaby pocket diapers.  I have about 30 of them, all of which I was given.

Wet Bags:

Blueberry Wet Bag................................$14.95

My homemade wet bag.............approx. $8.00

Washcloths:

All off the wash cloths I received at my baby showers, so FREE! 

Fasteners:

3 Snappis ..I received one free snappi at the past three Cloth Diaper Change events

1 boingo ...Received free from Cloth Diaper Change event in 2013

Total cost to cloth diaper using Flats and covers: $91.25

The FSTs I bought just to try out.  I hear everyone raving about them so I wanted to give them a try.  Between the FSTs and flats I have plenty to go two days between washing.  

Stay tuned for more posts about the challenge!!

Day 1:  Why Are You Taking the Challenge?
Day 2: Show Us Your “Stash” and tell us what did it cost?
Day 3:  Challenge Update
Day 4:  What is your Washing Routine?
Day 5:  Flats Experience- Folds you love, Are they working, etc.

Day 6: Open Topic

Day 7: Overall Experience, What did you learn, Would you do it?

Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 1

Day one of the Flats and Hand-washing challenge: Why am I doing it?

The flats and hand-washing challenge was created to raise awareness for cloth diapering and that it can be done by anyone.  Common hesitations to cloth diapering is lack of funds and lack of washing machine.  I personally have heard these two reasons time and time again.   When in all actuality, if money is tight, cloth diapering is the better choice.  Disposable diapers are not cheaper than cloth, it just happens that you buy the disposable a little at a time.  If while you are pregnant you know you want to cloth diaper you can buy one or two per paycheck you can buy enough for a complete stash before the baby is born. 

As for a washing machine, this week everything will be washed by hand.  Flats make it easier to wash and dry.  However, I have washed pockets and microfiber inserts by hand many times.  Before going on a trip I would hand-wash the couple of diapers Charlotte or Owen dirtied before our trip.  I typically hand-wash in the sink as it uses less water.   

I have never tried flats or prefolds before so I was really excited to start this challenge, so I started last week.  :)   I wanted to try out different folds and figure out what would work best and fit without leaking.  

Day 1:  Why Are You Taking the Challenge?
Day 2: Show Us Your “Stash” and tell us what did it cost?
Day 3:  Challenge Update
Day 4:  What is your Washing Routine?
Day 5:  Flats Experience- Folds you love, Are they working, etc.

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.