These actually ARE your Grandma’s cloth diapers! #flatschallenge

Giggle. Love that title.

I’m using flat cloth diapers ALL this week (May 23-30) as part of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge thrown down by Dirty Diaper Laundry (read the rules here).

What are flats? Well, as much as I LOVE to promote all the modern cloth out there… flats are far from modern. But they are cloth. Large sheets of birdseye cotton with a hemmed edge. They can be bleached or unbleached.

In addition to using flats, I am also handwashing them! Think of it as going “Little House on the Prairie” for a week. I loved that show growing up! Now that I’ve done one wash of just 6 diapers, I am even more impressed by prairie women. When you think about how they washed heavy denim and such by hand! Now, my washing experience wasn’t bad – but that’s because it was JUST six diapers!

Here’s my small stash all ready to go!

So how did Day 1 go?

Well, first it was easy. I used the Pad fold, which worked just like an insert. Easy-Peasy.

Then I tried to get fancy with a Kite fold. I really liked how this fit my baby. But when he woke up from his nap he was ENTIRELY soaked, clothing and all. I have NEVER had as big a leak as that one. Ever. I suspect it’s because naptime IS usually his “soaker” time. I should have known and done TWO flats.

I went back to the Pad fold. No more problems. He is sleeping with a flat wrapped around a prefold, stuffed into a pocket diaper. Again – easy-peasy.

Then I did the laundry. I only have 12 flats, so I am going to handwash nightly. Which I don’t mind for this challenge, because I want to get the FULL effect.

Honestly, handwashing was not bad at all. Now that I’ve done it once, I can think of some ways to streamline the process. I spent a lot of time getting situated and checking the bucket/water/etc. I think tomorrow night’s wash will be easier.

Verdict: Flats are easy to use overall. Handwashing with my bucket took me about 45 minutes all total (maybe less, most of that was soaking time), but was NOT overly strenuous.

I’ve decided unless something MOMENTOUS occurs, I’m NOT going to post a daily update generally. Instead, I am going to post about specific topics, such as:

• How much does it cost to start a flats stash?
• How to handwash cloth diapers (my experiences and strategies!)
• How my Osocozy flats worked out (sponsored review and giveaway!)
• What covers work best for flats? (I’m liking Bummis! Sponsored review and giveaway!)
• What are different ways you can fold a flat? (Guest Post)

If you think of another topic you’d like me to discuss, just let me know! Want to read more about what other #flatschallenge takers are doing? Visit the daily posts at Dirty Diaper Laundry for the linky list!

So… what do you think of this challenge? Would you do it? Why or why not (even if you DON’T cloth diaper – if you DID, would you try this challenge for a week?)