from Eileen….Day 2!
"It's wash day!
Well I did it. I washed diapers by hand. I'm giving myself a huge pat on the back. I don't really know if I technically deserve one but I guess I'll take it.
The experience itself was really very good. I'm not too sure how "good" washing pee (and poop) out of cloth by hand is, but generally speaking, it was better than I expected.
My wash routine wasn't too off from my normal routine. Rinse in cold but it turned into a soak because the baby woke up, wash in hot with 1 tablespoon of detergent (it starts with a "t" and ends with an "ide") which also turned into a soak because hubby needed something, then a triple rinse. I even threw out the plunger in the last rinses and did it by hand because I just felt like I needed to.
I drained, rung them out and laid half over the railing on my deck and half on my clothes line above my washer. The ones outside were dry in 90 minutes but it was also 90 degrees and breezy today. The indoor ones are still slightly damp after six hours. I'm betting they would be great at 8 hours or overnight.
The best news of the whole process is my fold is getting better! I've dumped the snappi for a pin and things seem to be coming together.
I'm really warming up to these diapers. I think they might be finding a permanent place in my stash. If nothing at all, they will make amazing cloth to travel with. Anyone who has ever washed cloth at someone else's house knows the battles. Different washer, different water, different routine. You're basically starting all over again or spend time wondering just how much you've ruined your stash. I specifically remember my mother saying "wow those are absorbent.. They STILL aren't dry". Well that was the end of my traveling in cloth days.
But I think flats will make it possible again! No worries about water hardness, energy needed to dry, or what happens if you go an extra day before washing. The versatility is wonderful.
Tonight I attempt flats at night. I didn't last night because my little one's skin has issues with dampness for a long time, but I think we can make it work. I'm also hoping to do a little embellishment of my flats. The stark white is just getting to me. I'm guessing there will be a post about that sometime this week.
Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday! Tune in tomorrow!"
As promised…here is Eileen's washing experience video!