Cloth-Diapering through Hard Water Issues

We’ve been using cloth diapers (as full-time as travel and follow-up recovery have allowed) on our Little Man for one year now. What do I think? I love ‘em! I love the way they fit! And we’ve experienced very few leaks – and certainly fewer and far less dramatic than with disposables!

There have been challenges, of course, with the biggest to date being the “hard water” issues we encountered last summer (winter, really!)  while living in South America for three months.

Besides the steps I took while still living with hard water, once I was back in the Upstate with my regular washer and set-up, I subjected the diapers to multiple hot rinses. (We don’t have an HE machine, so “hot” for us means about 120 degrees.)

I was amazed at how “cloudy” the water looked when I first started:

This was the first hot rinse – I hadn't added any detergent.

After each rinse cycle, the following “drum-full” of water looked clearer than its predecessor had. A half dozen or so rinse cycles later, I was finally satisfied that the diapers had been thoroughly rinsed. (I actually ran wash cycles – with no detergent – followed by rinse cycles.)

 

The end result was that the diapers were much softer and fresher-smelling – leading me to conclude that our theory was correct: The hard water had caused detergent build-up. And I’m very thankful that hot water rinses provided a relatively easy and inexpensive fix!

Cloth-Diaper Laundering Update

Whether it was the effects of hard water, detergent build-up, or ammonia that were causing our cloth diapers to smell, hot rinses and very hot washes (with minimal detergent) seemed to significantly reduce the smell.

Diapers drying in the breeze – a favorite scene!

Here's what we did:

We hauled very hot water from the shower to the washer, heated more water on the stove, and dumped the boiling (or almost boiling) water into the washer. We started with at least one cold rinse, followed by a very hot wash and two cold rinses, followed by another very hot rinse. We also reduced the amount of detergent (Charlie's Soap) to only 1 teaspoon per large load.

The smell has been significantly reduced.

A very BIG "Thank-you!" to Andrea and Julie for the advice given.

We're now back home with our own washer, so there are no longer the same hot water challenges. And we've been using disposable diapers while we recover from travel, re-acclimate, etc.

Now I'm wondering...

Do I need to do some kind of treating to remove any residue from the "hard water" the diapers were subjected to for almost three months?

Cloth-Diaper Laundering Questions?

I've been noticing that our Little Man's cloth diapers smell – especially when he's wet.

The BumGenius diapers smell the worst. In all fairness to them, we use them on the longest stretches (nights and naps) because they hold most and best. (I've listed the variety of cloth diapers we own and use in an earlier post.)

I'm wondering...

Does "hard water" cause cloth diapers to keep a residue (of ammonia)? The diapers do smell like ammonia. The water here at the house (where we've been staying for two months and will be for another month) comes from an underground spring; it's referred to as "mineral water" and leaves white chalk-like deposits on sinks, etc.

What do you do if you don't have a "sanitize" option for wash cycles? What do you do if the washer doesn't even fill with hot water? The water in the washer here is heated as diapers sit in it. As you might imagine, a hot wash cycle takes a very long time! Could my using the quicker setting at times (with warm instead of hot water, for instance) be contributing to some kind of build-up?

Here's my cleaning routine:

We rinse the diapers right away and put them in the wet bag. We wash them (at least) every other day. We start the laundering with a cold rinse (and often two cold rinses). We wash (using Charlie's Soap) in hot water (but, as stated above, the water gets heated in the washer). The wash cycle is followed by two cold rinses. We usually dry the diapers in the dryer, but I do line dry them when our schedule and the weather permit.

We've never used bleach, fabric softeners, or any other items forbidden for cloth diapers. Once in a while, we have spot treated poo stains with Spray & Wash or an equivalent. And we have used diaper rash cream sparingly and with a barrier.

Any tips?

Review: “Changing Diapers, Changing Minds”

The “Changing Diapers, Changing Minds” program, offered by Jillian’s Drawers (a mom-owned company in upstate New York), is a great way to decide if cloth diapering is for your family. For a $10 program fee, you can try out a wide variety of cloth diapers for 21 days.

The $155 package (give or take $5.00, depending on what’s in stock) includes enough diapers for full-time diapering. (See a sample list below.) A quick look at the prices leads me to conclude that overall you’ll be getting the diapers at better prices than if you ordered the same ones individually elsewhere – especially considering the fact that this trial program includes free shipping.

A sample list might include:

1 Kissaluvs Fitted Diaper

1 Thirsties Duo Wrap

1 Thirsties Duo Pocket Diaper

1 Smartipants One-Size Diaper

1 Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size Diaper

1 GroVia Shell

1 GroVia Soaker Pad

2 BumGenius V4.0 One-Size Pocket Diaper with Snaps
2 OsoCozy Indian Prefolds

2 Bleached Chinese Prefolds

1 Snappis Diaper Fastener
5 sample sheets of Flushable Liners from Imse Vimse

Basically, the program can work in one of three ways:

1. After 21 days, if you decide to keep all the diapers, you will be refunded the $10 program fee, thus paying only $145 (give or take $5.00) in the end.
2. If you decide to return all the diapers, you pay only the $10 program fee – and you will know that you gave cloth diapering a fair trial.
3. If you decide to keep some of the diapers and return others, you will pay the $10 program fee (plus return shipping), but you will get in-store credit for the value of the returned diapers – plus free shipping on your next order from Jillian’s Drawers.

I chose the third option, returning over half of the cloth diapers we tried out. Only one was a matter of definite dislike, others were a matter of preference given our current life of travel, and still others would soon be outgrown. (Because our tall “Little Man” tends to be right on the top edge of fitted diaper sizes, the “one size” options seem better for us.)

In my opinion, the greatest benefit of this “Changing Diapers, Changing Minds” program is that it allows potential customers (like me!) to honestly try cloth diapering – without paying bunches in shipping and handling – in order to find out:

1.      whether or not cloth diapering will work in the first place, and

2.      which diaper styles we like and which ones we don’t.

So, in a nutshell: How did “Changing Diapers, Changing Minds” work for me?

I became persuaded that cloth diapers are much better than disposable. They’re not just frugal, they’re also fun! Today’s cloth diapers come in a great variety of colors and styles.

You can read more about how I grew to love cloth diapering in previous posts:

We’re cloth diapering full-time!

How’s it goin’ – with cloth diapers?

How’s cloth diapering goin’?

Working on building a stash of cloth diapers

Working on building a stash of cloth diapers...

Previous to our very messy adventures (during a return to disposable diapers), we had made diapering with only six cloth diapers work because we were on our own for a week and had easy access to laundry equipment. That experiment, however, emphasized the necessity of having enough cloth diapers on hand to make laundering more efficient; we were washing a small load of diapers every day that week.

And that brings me back to the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds Program...

I did end up returning over half of the cloth diapers we tried out. Only one was a matter of definite dislike, others were a matter of preference given our current life of travel, and still others would soon be outgrown. (Because our tall “Little Man” tends to be right on the top edge of fitted diaper sizes, the “one size” options seem better for us overall.)

At the end of the 21-day trial period, I decided to keep:

• the SmartiPants pocket diaper (with one microfleece insert)
• the two BumGenius pocket diapers (with double microfleece inserts)
• the KissaLuvs (insert only)

In my opinion, the greatest benefit of this Changing Diapers, Changing Minds Program is that it allows potential customers (like me!) to honestly try cloth diapering – without paying bunches in shipping and handling – in order to find out:

1. whether or not cloth diapering will work in the first place, and

2. which diaper styles we like and which ones we don’t.

So, here’s how “Changing Diapers, Changing Minds” is working out for me:

I started with $150, given as a gift. My goal has been to stick as close as possible to that sum. I paid the $10 program fee plus $10 in shipping to return unwanted diapers via an insured service; Jillian’s Drawers gave me in-store credit for the returns – plus free shipping on my next order. I was excited to discover that “gently used” diapers are resold at reduced prices. (What a smart idea!)

Per Jillian’s Drawers, all “gently used” items have been used for 30 days or less and can be returned within seven days of receipt. Diapers in “excellent condition” have been used for four weeks or less and have no visible staining.

I plan to use the $76 in credit to buy the following gently-used diapers:

• one more SmartiPants (One Size) – $11.75
• one Thirsties Duo Diaper (Size 2) – $13.25
• one FuzziBuns (Medium) – $13.50

I also ordered the Diaper Cover Sampler (Medium) – $42.95

• one Bummis Super Whisper Wrap
• one Prorap Classic Diaper Cover
• one Thirsties Diaper Cover (the newest version)
• one Imse Vimse Organic Diaper Cover

(Since the gently-used Thirsties Duo Wraps were out of stock, I'm glad I discovered this option which is actually better value! I plan to use these covers with the KissaLuvs and the prefolds I already have.)

I’m thinking that the Thirsties Duo Diaper (with Velcro tabs) and FuzziBuns (“fitted”) will be the best options for babysitters or grandparents, etc. who may be unfamiliar with modern cloth diapers (in other words, folks who probably won’t want to try to figure out adjustable snaps, etc. while trying to get a diaper on a wriggling baby!)

When the used diapers arrive, I’ll have a total of (at least) thirteen combinations – in addition to a stack of prefolds (previously given to me) that can be stuffed into the diaper covers. I should then be “all set” with enough to cloth diaper full-time, washing larger loads of diapers every third day (or so). As I found out last week, it’s hard to maximize on the money-saving potential of cloth diapering when you have to wash small loads every day...

Stay tuned for a detailed review of the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds Program...

To cloth diaper while traveling – or not?

That is the question!

We switched to disposable diapers for a few days when our travels took us where laundering would be hard to predict... However! Our Little Man had so many “blow-outs” in the church nursery – at least once during every service (except one!) at a three-day missions conference – that I was repeatedly wishing he’d been wearing cloth...

We have yet to experience a “blow-out” with cloth diapers! (Gotta love ‘em!) So! Due to the messy experiences of this past weekend, I’m seriously considering using cloth diapers on the road. The big question will be a place to launder them. As those who cloth-diaper full-time know, you can only go so long with a bag of wet and dirty diapers!

I'd appreciate any insight from full-time cloth-diapering moms – especially any who are traveling (full-time).

How's cloth diapering goin'?

As much as travel has allowed, I’ve been working on cloth diapering – using the six cloth diapers I have on hand:

• the two BumGenius (from the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds trial package)
• the SmartiPants (from the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds trial package)
• three BumGenius (from Diapers.com)
  

  (A $10 certificate redeemed from Pampers Gifts to Grow points helped pay for these!)

Our “diaper pail” has been a very frugal version of a “wet bag” – i.e. a giant-sized Ziploc bag!

I’ve been finding diaper liners to be a great help. If unsoiled, these can be washed and reused, too!

For laundering, I started with Arm & Hammer Sensitive Detergent (because I had some on hand). It worked well. Following a friend’s recommendation, I later took advantage of a $10 coupon for Soap.com and was able to get a tub of Charlie’s Soap for $5.00! My little ones tend to have sensitive skin, so this is an especially great product for our family.

Six diapers – with a place to launder them – have worked okay, and I was even brave enough to keep a cloth diaper on “Chubbs” for a Wednesday evening service at a church we visited. I figured I would forewarn the ladies in the nursery when I signed him in, asking them to page me if they were not comfortable with the idea of changing a cloth diaper. (As it was, I ended up in the nursery with him, so I was the one on-hand to change him anyway...)

Stay tuned for a detailed review of the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds Program...

How's it goin' – with cloth diapers?

I posted a picture and detailed list of the cloth diapers included in the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds Program in my previous post. I probably should feel embarrassed that I'm so excited about the colors of cloth diapers – but it's exciting to be excited about something so mundane and routine but necessary...

  

Here's what we're learning so far...

We don't really like:

• The GroVia Diaper: The insert is bulky; the fabric is stiff, and Baby seemed to be uncomfortable in the diaper.
• The Prefolds: We tried one of the (four) prefolds once, and Daddy wondered why we'd fight to get it folded and put on just right when the pocket diapers are so simple?! (We're also on the road a lot and don't need the risk of leaks prefolds tend to represent.)

So, we're planning to return the four prefolds and Snappy fastener as well as the GroVia diaper wrap and liner. According to instructions sent with the package, I can get store credit for items I return – and I plan to use that amount to get a couple more of the brands we're really liking! (Keep reading!)

We like:

• The BumGenius, SmartiPants, FuzziBunz, and Thirsties – all the Pocket Diapers: We really like all these. It's hard to pick a favorite...
• We're learning that the BumGenius (with two inserts) are best for night-time and naps. The record for us so far has been 14 hours non-stop at night! We're loving not having to change a diaper in the middle of the night when we're groggy...

However! I also learned that I should not be trying to go all night with a cloth diaper – when Baby puts poo in it. We did once (I could smell the poo while I nursed!), and our poor little guy got a very bad diaper rash – his first ever – on his legs. (And I felt terrible!) Amazingly, the diaper (BumGenius with two inserts) still didn't leak! But the elastic bands rubbed his chunky thighs, resulting in a pretty serious rash. Since rash creams can reduce the absorbency of cloth diapers, I took a break for two full days, giving the affected skin time to heal. (Thankfully, it healed nicely with Dr. Selby's Crema Curativa, a "miracle cream" from back home in Uruguay...)

We started back to cloth diapering this morning, using Caldesene Baby Powder as insurance on the thigh area. So far, so good!

We're living and learning... (That's why we signed up for the trial run, eh?)

We're cloth diapering full-time!

Yep! The package arrived just in time for us to take it on vacation with us. I'm excited because the condo unit where we're staying has a washer and drier, making my experiment that much easier – and more frugal!

Here's what's included in the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds Program for this cloth diaper trial:

I must admit that I'm loving the cool colors!

Baby seems to be enjoying the experience, too!

1 Kissaluvs Fitted Diaper (green)
1 Thirsties Duo Wrap (meadow)
1 Thirsties Duo Pocket Diaper (mango)
1 Smartipants One-Size Diaper (aqua breeze)
1 Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size Diaper (chocolate truffle)
1 BumGenius V4.0 One-Size Pocket Diaper with Snaps (moonbeam)
1 BumGenius V4.0 One-Size Pocket Diaper with Snaps (grasshopper green)
1 GroVia Shell ONLY (vanilla)
1 GroVia Organic Cotton Soaker Pad
1 Snappis Diaper Fastener (pastel blue)
2 OsoCozy Indian Prefolds
2 Bleached Chinese Prefolds
5 sample sheets of Flushable Liners from Imse Vimse

Previous to starting the experiment, we were having blow-outs with disposable diapers every time Baby put poo in his pants. We were concluding that he needed the next size up which, unfortunately, we did not have with us. Yes, our Little Man is tall for his age...

UH, OH! (Again?!)

So, I started this cloth diapering experience with a bit of hesitation... BUT we've been very pleased with the fact that none of the cloth diapers have leaked so far! And I'm being very daring, too. For example, Baby wore one of the BumGenius diaper with double inserts for 14 hours last night – and still no leaks! Even Daddy, who consistently helps with diaper changes, is impressed. And we're becoming more and more impressed, using cloth diapers even when we're out and about...

Stay tuned...

new adventures

LONG time no post...

It's not that I haven't been bargain-hunting...

• We've been traveling, preparing for ministry on the foreign mission field.
• AND our Good Shepherd blessed us with our second (big!) Bundle of Joy at the end of October!

So, I'm more interested than ever in finding good bargains – especially good diaper deals! But priorities have taken precedence over blogging about bargains.

And I'm about to embark on a new frugal adventure: Cloth diapering! Full time! (Or at least as full-time as "full-time" travel will allow!) And I'm excited!

I took advantage of an offer from Jillian's Drawers that was just too good to let pass...

And I'm now waiting (rather impatiently!) for my package of diapers to arrive...

My friend Julie (at A Year with Mom and Dad) was very kind to review the offer for me! (Thanks, friend!) Basically, I'm going to be able to try out a variety of cloth diapers risk free! (And I am getting a little bit of savings over what I would pay if I ordered each diaper individually.)

I'm planning to chronicle my new diaper adventures here. So, stay tuned...