Day 5 of the Third Annual Flats and Hand Washing Challenge

"I am taking part in the Third 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 400 participants from all over the world!"

After 5 days on this challenge the lessons that I have learned are...
Keeping a regular washing routine is crucial!
Stick to folds you know or be ready for some messy clean-up.
Take it one day at a time.
Second time around is not as fun as the first.


My go to fold from last year. Tutorial here.

This year I am struggling more with the challenge. I am dreading having to wash the diapers today. I am avoiding that job like the plague. But it must be done.
This year I stuck to pad folds. That's it. I know BORING. But I just can't get fancy with the folds when I have a boy that won't stop. Not even for 2 seconds. Last year I was more adventurous with the folds and learned the hard way that the origami fold was not for us.
This year I just am not as motivated as I was last year. Maybe since I already completed the challenge and know I can do it and proved to myself that I have done it. I don't know but I just don't have the same gusto as I did last year. But I am no quitter! I will finish!
Don't forget I am giving away a new pair of homemade wool longies size large- x large. To enter please leave a comment. The winner will be announced Monday.

Day 4 of the Third Annual Flats and Hand Washing Challenge

"I am taking part in the Third 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 400 participants from all over the world!"

This week is flying by. I am half way through this challenge and actually think I may make it to the end. If you had asked me this morning you would have gotten a totally different answer. I was set on quitting this morning. I hadn't gotten to wash yesterday and was faced with a large pile of poopy diapers this morning. My son had a record of 4 poopy diapers in a 24 hour period. We recently switched to raw milk which I think might be causing the increase in poop.
My saving grace I suppose was that the internet wasn't working so I had nothing better to do than wash those darn diapers. LOL.

This is a picture from last year's challenge. My camera is on the fritz :(

I am still not sure if we will make it to the end of the day. I have one dry diaper left and some jersey fabric if I am desperate. I thought I had 16 diapers...turns out I only have 10!
This year I have been washing in the bathtub instead of a 5 gallon bucket like I did last year. I fill the tub enough that the diapers can move freely in the water. Then I add my soap. I have been using dawn just because I keep forgetting to go down into the basement to get my homemade laundry soap. Then the fun part begins. The stomping! I get in the tub and walk all over the diapers squishing out every last bit of dirt. I totally feel as if I should be chanting "crush the grapes" while doing this. BB likes to get in there and help during the rinse cycle. I have found this method more efficient then using my hands. It even is a great way to wring the diapers out.  

Don't forget I am giving away a new pair of homemade wool longies size large- x large. To enter please leave a comment. The winner will be announced Monday.

Here is my post on hand washing from last year's challenge.

Day 3 of the Third Annual Flats and Hand Washing Challenge...Why does it Matter?

"I am taking part in the Third 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 400 participants from all over the world!"

I know a lot of people are wondering why did over 400 people from around the world chose to hand wash their flat diapers. What is the big deal? Why does it matter any way? Can't these moms just buy disposable diapers?
Well yes most of us probably can afford regular ol' sposies. Yes most of us probably do have access to a washing machine and dryer. But there are so many people that do not.
The reason why this challenge is so important for many of us... especially me is that it is making me more prepared to help someone that can not help themselves. I now have first hand experience and can tell someone that is struggling to provide for their family that it is possible to keep their children happy, healthy and clean for under $100 dollars! It is possible and I can show you how it is done.
Diapers are not covered by wic or foodstamps. For a family that can not even afford food for their family they need to some how afford diapers. Disposable diapers can add up to several thousand dollars over the course of a child's diapering days. Parents sometimes reuse disposable diapers out of desperation. Flats are definitely the better option.
I have seen this first hand. I spent 2 months in a rural village in Turkey when I first got married. One of my husband's relatives placed some extra tissues in an already used diaper so she could use it again. If this same situation were to arise now I could help her. I could introduce her to the magic of flats.
Helping by doing. We can not expect to help anyone if we have never done it ourselves. How can we promote that flats and hand washing is a viable option if we haven't ever even used a flat or hand washed anything? We can't and that is why it does matter.
Last year when I was in Turkey I used flats for a whole month. I hung them out on the line. I got so many questions from neighbors about my diapers. Be the example for change.

Don't forget I am giving away a new pair of homemade wool longies size large- x large. To enter please leave a comment. The winner will be announced Monday.

Day 2 of the Third Annual Flats and Hand Washing Challenge

 

"I am taking part in the Third 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 400 participants from all over the world!"

Today's topic is: How did I prepare for the challenge?
Fortunately I had everything I needed already. After last year's challenge I invested in some extra flour sack towels from Target to use when we travel. Last July we went to Turkey for a month and I used flats exclusively during that time. The flour sack/ tea towels were almost $5.00 for a 4 pack. I have 2 packs. Seeing how cheap and effective these flats are is really making me regret buying expensive prefolds and pockets.
I also have 6 birdseye flats that I got 2 years ago from GreenMountainDiapers.com and 2 receiving blankets that I am using. So a total of 16 diapers! Not bad.
I have been doubling up since BB is such a heavy wetter lately. But with 16 diapers I can skip a day of washing if I have to.
My only problem is my lack of covers :(.  I needed to retire the Velcro covers I had since BB would not keep them on. So now I am down to only 4 covers. I can make that work.
Don't forget I am giving away a new pair of homemade wool longies size large- x large. To enter please leave a comment. The winner will be announced Monday.  

Third Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge

DirtyDiaperLaundry.com

"I am taking part in the Third 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 400 participants from all over the world!"

This will be my second year participating in the Flats and Hand washing Challenge. I decided to participate once again for the simple reason that I had so much fun last year. Yes I find hand washing diapers covered in poop and pee to be fun! LOL.
Last year my reasons were much more personal. I was poor growing up. I lived 3 years from the age of 6 to the age of 9 without running water. Our well had dried up and my parents could not afford to get it filled. It was hard. But through that experience I became more conscious about water conservation.  For the whole story you can read my post from last year here.
This year will be more challenging than last. First of all my son is 2.5 years old and soaks through everything. I have slowly moved further and further away from cloth diapers and have been much more reliant on disposables. I really need to get back on track with cloth diapering and hope this challenge forces me to do so. My budget and the environment will thank me for that.

Lastly I believe that the more knowledge and experience that I have with diapering on a budget the more I can help people that may be in the same position I was in as a child.
Like last year I will be holding a give away to celebrate the end of the Flats and Hand washing Challenge. This year I will be giving away a new pair of handmade wool longies. I made them from an upcycled thrifted sweater that I felted. They are size large- x large. I am not much of a seamstress so there are some flaws but are totally functional. The waist is elasticized. If you'd like a chance to win these longies please leave a comment. The winner will be announced Monday May 27, 2013.

Rag Bag

I can not sew to save my life. LOL. Actually let me rephrase that. I can not sew using my sewing machine. For whatever reason anytime I try to use my sewing machine something goes wrong. A needle breaks, the thread jams.. something always happens that makes me just give up. I dream of really learning how to sew and making beautiful garments but for now I am sticking to quick and easy projects like this rag bag.  Actually it is meant to be a grocery bag caddy but I mostly use reusable bags and really needed a home for all of my rags.  I love this fabric. I had it in my stash for a while now and am so happy that I finally got some use out of it.  It is a heavy black and white toile.

I had taken an online sewing class where I learned how to make a French seam, which I used for the long side of my rag bag. That is actually the only part that was done on my machine. After that my machine was acting up so I just hand sewed the elasticized ends and the strap. The strap is a little wonky but overall I like how it came out.

This week I am linking up with CrunchyCatholicMomma's Stash Bash and NaturalSuburbia's Creative Friday and

The Country Homemaker Hop