Monday, May 23, 2011

Happy Flats and Handwashing Day!

That's what my sister said when she called me this morning.

If you haven't heard, I'm taking part in the Dirty Diaper Laundry Flats and Handwashing Challenge!  Here's the gist: I can only use flat diapers for 7 straight days.  I can fold them any way I want.  I could use my "regular" diapers overnight, but I'm not going to.  I can use covers, but I can't have more than 5 in my rotation.  I MUST hand wash all diapers/covers (I'll be handwashing wipes as well), and I MUST air dry.  I'm guessing this will be a little bit of a challenge, but, well, it isn't called the "Flats and Handwashing Fun Zone," is it??

So, today when Stinky woke up, I said goodbye to my pockets and AIOS.  I said goodbye to my wonderful prefolds.  I don't want to be tempted, so I actually packed them away where I can't see them!  I laid a pad folded Target flour sack towel into my Thirsties duo wrap cover, and we were off!

(This is actually the next change.  I forgot to take a pic of the first one!)

So far, we've had one diaper change since then.  I know Stinky needs another because I'm pretty sure he's...well...stinky...but he's just finishing up his lunch, so I'll wait.  Wanna guess what he ate??

(The ravioli made him orange...the banana made him sticky...and the chocolate chip cookie made him giggle.)

When I took the wet flat off of him, I had to make an instant decision.  I have to admit, I almost tossed the flat into the pail with his other dirty diapers.  Thank goodness I remembered!  I tossed it into the since instead.  I hadn't decided ahead of time, though, how I would wash the diapers!  Ugh.  That's the part I've been dreading!  So, quick thinking, and I washed that individual diaper in the sink.  It took about 3 minutes, tops.


And then I took it out to the line to dry!  Today is gorgeous...at least until the rain comes.  I'm hoping for a nice sunny week, but there's a good chance I'll be air drying a lot of my diapers indoors.  For today, though, that one diaper flapped in the breeze, and was dry in (I am NOT exaggerating!) less than 45 minutes!


So far, so good.  So far, this is easy.  But today...today we're at home all day.  Tomorrow we'll be gone all day.  Tomorrow Bugsy has a couple of long appointments an hour away at the children's hospital.  We'll get to try this crazy adventure "on the road!"

Oh, as a side note, I'm starting this journey 2 covers down.  I'm allowed 5 in my rotation, and 2 of my 5 are still en route!  I could probably substitute them until they get here, but I feel that would skew my trip a tad.  So, in the meantime, we're flying high with just 3 covers!  I'll probably take a couple "spares" tomorrow just in case.  I'll take the full 5 even though I don't have those other 2 yet.  But other than tomorrow, I'll be diapering with just 3 covers until the other two arrive.  Dear mailman, please bring them soon!!

I'm excited to have you on this adventure with me!  Stinky's done eating now, so I will clean him up, was another diaper, and throw it on the line.  Until tomorrow...

7 comments:

Misty said...

Thats a good idea to wash one at a time as you change. I'm wondering though, my son is SUPER active and wants to be *RIGHTTHERE*, would they be ok if I put them in a bucket to soak until I could get to them (when he finally naps!)?

Also, I see that you are using a Bummi's (I think?), would a Flip count as a cover, that's all that I own as far as non-AI2.

These both seem like silly questions, to be honest, and I think I know the answers, but just to be sure, and to have it out there just in case someone else wonders too. lol!

Elizabeth said...

Thanks, Misty! That's actually a thirsties duo wrap. BUT I'd say you'd be good with a flip...I've seen GroVia shells, Applecheeks, etc. I think your flips are fine!

As far as a bucket to soak goes...that'd probably be fine, but I think I'd just do a quick rinse and throw them in the bucket rather than soak them in a bucket. Does that make sense? I'm kinda grossed out by the idea of a bucket of poop water. ;-)

Nicole said...

definitely a good idea to wash right away if you have the ability to! Good luck!!

Clare said...

That is not a bad idea to wash right away, it might be hard with my two active kiddos.

I put them in our wash bucket with a lid, in the bathtub, with the bathroom door shut. Later in the day (read: after a poopy diaper)I added some water to the bucket. Made me nervous to have standing water but my little guy can't open the door to the bathroom, so I think if we are extra careful we'll be alright.

Misty, we use Flips covers-that's actually all I've used Flips for.

Julie said...

I don't use cloth diapers ...anymore....its been at least 15 years since my youngest one used them..but I just wanted to post that I love the "messy" picture :) it brought back memories of when my kids would end up looking that after eating....it both made me smile and cry :) because
children grow up so fast-quite honestly-I miss those precious days when my kids were babies....thanks aunteegem@yahoo.com

Misty said...

Sweet! I wasn't sure if people would consider Flips a "cover" or not. They don't look any different than any other cover, so I don't know why its a 'hybrid' and the others are just 'covers'! lol. I use prefolds trifolded inside my Flips, and lately I've been doing the angel fold (I think?) with the prefold to help keep the diaper a bit trimmer in the bum. Still works just the same! Like I said, seemed like a silly question that I already knew the answers to. One of those 'mommy moments, needing clarification' days! haha!

And yeah, I understand the rinse then soak. Most of our #2 diapers tend to sit in the bathroom until he goes down for a nap or is occupied with the other parent. Poor bathroom! LOL!

Jess and the boys said...

I'm a new follower, keeping up with the Flats Challenge! Please follow back if you have a chance! :)

-Jessica
And Then There Were 4...
http://giveawaysandlife.blogspot.com/

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