Forecast: high of 84, low of 57 degrees
Today’s #flatschallenge2021 prompt: how do you wash cloth diapers?
Before I had a baby I didn’t know a lot about baby poo. Now I know a lot about breastfed baby poo. It looks like sunshine and has a mildly sweet smell to it. I expected it to be super gross, and was pleasantly surprised to discover it’s not gross at all in our experience. Our babe has only had breast milk so far, so diapers have been pretty easy. Apparently things change once they start eating solids. I’m hoping there‘s a chance that just maybe we can be potty trained by the time the poop gets weird. So far the potty training is going well, and the babe is using the potty for poo 100% of the time. We use two methods to clean diapers, machine and by hand.
Machine
Put 1/4 cup Biokleen laundry powder in the drum of the machine
Add flats, should be loose and airy (I unfold them as soon as they come off the babe with a shake of the hand)
Wash on hot/sanitize
Put in dryer or line dry
Fold & put in diaper bag
So far as long as we’re not packing the drum too full one wash does just fine with flats, there is just one layer of cloth. Baby skin is super sensitive so it’s important not to use too much detergent, and to be sure it’s a gentle one that doesn’t bother their skin.
2. By Hand
Fill a large basin or bucket with hot water and a Tablespoon of detergent
Add cloth & soak.
Using a #mobilewasher from #lehmans (basically a rigid plunger with holes), agitate the cloth. We’ve also used a regular plunger and it doesn’t work as well.
For stains rub the cloth against itself or a washboard and brush
Wring
Set dirty water aside for the flower garden, refill with clean water, agitate
Wring
Rinse each cloth (ideally under running water), wringing out as you go
Hang to dry
Water the flowers and fruit trees
Fold into origami and put on a shelf, ready to go on babe!
