Thursday, May 24, 2012

Day 4 of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge


Here is my son in the pillowcase turned diaper.  Is it wrong that it's the Little Mermaid?

"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!"
Half of the challenge is focused on handwashing.  I have only done this a couple of times before and never on anything covered in poop and pee so I wasn't sure what to expect.  But to be honest it isn't that bad.  The diapers are getting clean and I'm getting a workout.  After 3 days I think I have found a wash routine that I am comfortable with.
A couple of months ago I started wet pailing soiled diapers and have continued to.  After a nice soak 99% of the poop is off the diaper and all I need to do is dump it down the toilet.  For this challenge I am using a small basin to soak the poopy diapers until I am ready to wash and, a 5 gallon bucket for pee pee diapers and washing.  Once I am ready to wash I dump the dirty water and fill it with cold water and about 2 tbsp. of my homemade laundry soap.  You can find the recipe on one of my favorite blogs Down to Earth. After a good pre wash I dump the water and fill the bucket with the hottest water I can get from the tap and another 2 tbsp. soap.  After a couple of minutes and once I feel the diapers are clean I dump the water again and start my final cold rinse. I dump the water from the final rinse into my basin for soiled diapers so I can conserve some water.  Since I am doing a soak by the time the diapers make it to the wash round the water stays pretty clear.  I am able to wash 5 diapers at a time and so far have only needed to wash once a day.  Today I am going to have to do a second load though because I doubled up diapers twice yesterday.
I am struggling with the drying part of the challenge though.  The weather here has been overcast and rainy.  Everything is taking forever to dry :(
P.S. Today multi-tasking at its best nursing a 20 month old and hand washing diapers at the same time! Also remember that I am having a giveaway to celebrate the end of the challenge. (See side panel for details) Winner will be announced Monday.

5 comments:

  1. Indoor drying is the worst isn't it?!?!!

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  2. Oh my goodness - nursing and handwashing?! That is one type of multi-tasking I don't think I have the skills for! You rock :) ~Melissa

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    1. It is amazing what moms can do while nursing.

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  3. It's amazing what you find yourself doing while nursing....

    I like your wet pail idea. I've started washing just one big load in the tub instead of several little ones, so maybe I'll wrangle up a bucket and soak the dirties. That does seem to be the longest part of the washing, just getting the dirty diapers somewhat less disgusting.

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