It’s not like I have enough on my plate right now but here I go, taking another challenge! Yes, the Unplugged: Dryer Challenge is still going strong, my dryer is unplugged and will stay that way for the foreseeable future. I am also working on planting the garden, canning some jellies, and getting ready for a garage sale. But alas, I felt this new challenge was one I needed to add to my laundry (haha) list!
What is it?
The “6th Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge” is a 7 day event put on by Dirty Diaper Laundry where participants can only use “flats” diapers (a single-layer square of absorbent material), waterproof cover or pocket diaper stuffed only with flats, closure (snappi, boingo, pins), and doublers (if absolutely necessary). No washing machines or dryers allowed as well. This is a movement to show how anyone can afford to diaper a baby.
Flats and covers system is by far the least expensive route to diaper a baby. Not only can you use commercially made flat diapers (Nicki’s has 6 for $10.95), flour sack towels from your local store (Wal-Mart has them, 5 for $19.00), you can also use cut up cotton sheets, squares of cotton fabric, old t-shirts, receiving blankets, etc. Waterproof covers can be very inexpensive as well. You could use an upcycled wool or fleece cover that you make yourself or purchase inexpensive pul covers (Nicki’s cheapest is $6.95). There are many cloth diapering bst groups on facebook where you can get amazing deals on pre-loved diapers. (NO that’s not gross!! You sanitize them before putting on baby.) You can also find the “old style” plastic pants at most resale shops for practically pennies!
It is NOT impossible to diaper a baby to potty training for less than $100 or even free (not including detergent)!
How do you do it?
Throughout the week I will be posting pictures and possibly (don’t hold your breath) a video on different folds for your flat diapers. You fold your diaper, put on baby, fasten and put on a waterproof cover. That’s it! Yes, there are a few more steps when compared to a disposable or even some other style cloth diapers but it really is not that hard and once you get it down, it doesn’t take much time at all!
When diaper is soiled, you take out the flat and wipe off the cover and hang/lay out to dry (if your cover is that style). Rinse off any poops and throw the flat in your wet bag or pail. As long as your cover does not have any poop on it, you can re-use it. Just be sure to wipe it down and let it air dry in-between uses. Once you have enough for a load- wash them!
With this challenge, I won’t be able to use my washing machine. I will be both washing them in my bathtub as well as with a bucket washing system. I will feature a post on how to do each of these.
After washing, you just hang them up to dry! Since flats are just a single layer of cotton, they dry SO quickly! Covers dry very fast as well. It makes it much easier when you don’t have dryer access!
That’s it! I’m looking forward to learning lots of new folds/ways to wash my diapers as well as pass my knowledge onto you! I’ll be posting daily updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well as (hopefully) helpful blog posts on the logistics of using flats.
Stay tuned… 🙂
