I have a perfectly good HE washer. And dozens of great diapers.
But not everyone is so blessed. Some babies live in the same disposable every day because their parents are trying to stretch the budget (food stamps don’t cover diapers in most states). I’ve heard horror stories of parents who dry out a wet disposable and reuse it.
Do they know about cloth diapers? Maybe. Maybe not.
Maybe they haven’t heard about cloth, so they don’t know how they could save a bundle on diapers every month.
Maybe they have heard about cloth but can’t afford to pony up a couple hundred to buy a stash outright (although you CAN get a decent 2 day stash for about $60 if you use prefolds and a few covers).
Maybe they want to try cloth but don’t have access to their own washer/dryer on a regular basis (city and apartment dwellers may face this problem, especially).
Whatever, the case, the Flats & Handwashing Challenge by Dirty Diaper Laundry (read more here) is about walking a mile in the shoes of these people. How can you cloth diaper affordably AND without adding to your laundry expenses?
I honestly have NEVER used flats before. So this makes me a little nervous! But from May 23-30 I will be using flats and covers, and also handwashing my diapers in a bucket with a plunger!
I’m preparing by making sure I have enough flats (should be getting mine from ClothDiaper.com any day now!), and selecting my covers to use. One cover I know I’ll be testing out is my new Bummis Super Whisper Wrap (in fun cars print!).
And I need my husband to drill a hold in one of our 5-gallon buckets for me to use as a wash tub. We have a plunger. I’m good to go.
I’ll be reporting out on various aspects of this challenge as I go through each day – follow my tweets (#flatschallenge) and facebook statuses!
Are any of my readers taking the challenge? How are you preparing? If you blog, write a post about it and link it up at DDL’s linky list for this topic!
I am preparing as well. I do think I need a few more flats, but that means getting my hands on some receiving blankets or something. I may just have to make some of my own flats with material I have up in my sewing stash. I can’t believe it is getting so close!
I am preparing as well. I do think I need a few more flats, but that means getting my hands on some receiving blankets or something. I may just have to make some of my own flats with material I have up in my sewing stash. I can’t believe it is getting so close!
Flats seem intimidating, but they’re so so easy. You’re going to love them!
Flats seem intimidating, but they’re so so easy. You’re going to love them!
We lived in a third world country for a year and I hand washed diapers. It was very motivating to practice elimination communication!!
We had a big basin that I filled up with a hose outside. I used a cheaper version of napisan, which I have not been able to buy here. It’s a washing product that is meant to be used for hand-washing in cold water. Napisan is also specifically for diapers and my parents used it on my cloth diapers…. which were flats!
What kind of detergent will you be using? Will you be using hot water? Assuming the idea is affordability… finding an affordable detergent that works for diapers in cold water would be a factor to a family on low income.
Flats are great for quick drying and fun to dye too. It helps to keep your pins in a bar of soap to make for easier pinning. Some of our flats are receiving blankets that I purchased for 50 cents a piece at thrift shops. They work great!
Look forward to hearing about how it goes!
We lived in a third world country for a year and I hand washed diapers. It was very motivating to practice elimination communication!!
We had a big basin that I filled up with a hose outside. I used a cheaper version of napisan, which I have not been able to buy here. It’s a washing product that is meant to be used for hand-washing in cold water. Napisan is also specifically for diapers and my parents used it on my cloth diapers…. which were flats!
What kind of detergent will you be using? Will you be using hot water? Assuming the idea is affordability… finding an affordable detergent that works for diapers in cold water would be a factor to a family on low income.
Flats are great for quick drying and fun to dye too. It helps to keep your pins in a bar of soap to make for easier pinning. Some of our flats are receiving blankets that I purchased for 50 cents a piece at thrift shops. They work great!
Look forward to hearing about how it goes!
Oh, that’s too funny. I just left you a comment asking if you were going to post something about it.
I am excited to read about your adventures as we’ll be right there with you.
Oh, that’s too funny. I just left you a comment asking if you were going to post something about it.
I am excited to read about your adventures as we’ll be right there with you.