Diaper Experiment
ILoveMySoldier
21 years ago
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kayjones
21 years agoViolet_Girl
20 years agoRelated Discussions
Any cloth diaper users out there?
Comments (18)I use a top loader that does HE with my diapers - the Fisher & Paykel AquaSmart. I love the machine. I use prefolds, polyester/PUL covers, and polyester pocket diapers (I also use a wool cover but I hand-rinse and lanolize it). I use Charlie's soap and Calgon to wash the diapers (we have slightly hard water). I don't do any soaking or bleaching and rarely wash a poopy diaper anymore, just urine ones (I potty my 8 month old and have since 4 months, called elimination communication, infant pottying, etc.). Even when I get a diaper with poop, I just throw it in the washer and do my normal loads. Then again, I'm not completely satisfied with the washing process because none of the preset programs match exactly what I'm trying to do. What I want to do is a simple soak, short agitation, and rinse, all on cold with 1/2 the normal detergent. This gets out the urine and stuff without setting the stains. Then I run a hot cycle with full detergent. What I have to do with this washer, though, is run a full cold cycle with a 2 hour soak (because there's no way to shorten the soak). I usually set this going overnight because it takes so long! I love so many things about this washer, including the delay feature, but I need a shorter cold rinse cycle with maybe 1/2 hr soak. I also love how this washer can flip between HE and conventional. I wash the diapers using the conventional method, which is not too water-piggy compared to true conventional washers. I've been using the hot cycle on my pocket diapers for 8 months and the elastic is fine. I think I can contact the F&P techs to program my own cycle. Anyone have experience with this?...See Moredogs, diapers, and second floor laundry- which washer?
Comments (15)I still say ignore Consumer Reports and you'll be far better off. They're way too biased. If you try to use a FL on a non-basement floor, make sure you get it in writing that you have a full-credit return option if there's any problem. And now there's options for heaters on TL models too. Harmony has one, Oasis has one and if rumors are true, Bravos will soon have one which would mean the Cabrio wouldn't be far behind. Speed Queen and Fisher & Paykal TLs would also be good options. With both you can have deep rinses. SQ gives a decent spin speed and the F&P is a high spin speed. I was skeptical so I decided to do a quick search on the comment that everyone says you must have a FL with a heater. I looked at the first five links and not one made that requirement! One of the first sites on the list, along with a lot more, had this to say: Washing Machines A simple, inexpensive top loader cleans best. Some families actually buy a second washing machine, and love having 2 machines for their growing families long after the diapering years are over. That's not an option for everyone, but if you do find yourself in a position to purchase a new washer, do NOT buy a low water machine, unless you have a very real need to conserve water. A standard, simple top-loader cleans best. Super-heated cycles on expensive washers are not recommended for diapers since they will destroy the cotton, and the super-heating is not necessary. From our experience, very expensive front loading washers and automatic water level top loading machines make diaper washing more difficult than a simple, inexpensive top loader. More expensive does not mean "better at cleaning" when it comes to the price of washers. Except however, if you can get a warm rinse that is nice to have, because warm water helps rinse detergent residue easier than cold water. So, if you were about to buy a $1,300.00 washer, buy a nice $300 or $400.00 top loader instead and you just came up with $900.00 to spend on a very fancy cloth diaper wardrobe! It went on to say that FL will work fine too. Interesting comments. Many here admit that cotton diapers are best, and many here also concur that high heat damages cotton. Therefore it lends credibility that the heater might NOT be nirvana when it comes to washing diapers. The warm rinse comment was interesting too since Consumer Reports maintains that there is no difference in rinsing at cold or warm temps. But, considering CR.... I maintain there is no one best machine for everyone. Any of these mentioned will do a fine job IMO. Learning to use it properly is normally the key....See MoreInfo wanted-clothing size, diapers & growth experience
Comments (4)You can probably stick w/ the 3T's, esp. for the first part of the summer, unless she's a kind of chubby kid. But if she's pretty lean, those 3T's will last her for most of the summer. The thing w/ shorts is, they've usu. got elastic waists, plus they're made w/ room, bcs of diapers and the manufacturers making them roomy to fit the rounder kids. So kids can wear stuff for a while, in terms of how big around it is. It's the HEIGHT that they grow out of quickly. Shorts that are shorter this year than last, don't look funny. (Pants do, but shorts don't) They're only an inch or so shorter on the kid than before, so it doesn't matter too much. Shirts can be a problem, also because of height--my lean kids always could still fit inside their shirts, but the shirts started to get too short. My kids always wore their shorts for 2 years....See MoreDiaper Pail
Comments (8)The diaper genie type system usually works well. It probably depends a bit on local climate. To get it working as well as it will the idea is to twist off the sections securely and to twist in the diaper securely and then twist off that section securely. It should look sort of like oversized sausage links as a generalized pattern. (It seems like a big potential problem might be if there are lefties and righties doing the diaper changing and twisting in different directions inadvertently.) This one requires organization in terms of being able to get the special bag thingies and have them at the ready when refills are needed. The experienced odor is generally produced when dirty diaper contents are exposed to the room air and to people who can experience smell. A good seal is essential if there is going to be a diaper pail system of disposal. As with other odors which kind of are part of the human condition, fans and venting to the outside can help sometimes. I don't know if air purifiers help with odours but they might. Wash or wipe down the surface of the container with some bleach-containing cleanser every so often and that should help a little. If possible it might help to have the pail and changing occur in a bathroom rather than in a room where the baby or others sleep. That diaper champ thing apparently just uses regular plastic bags or re-uses ones you just might have around the house. It seems to really concentrate on the sealing part. I think there is no way to actually eliminate the odor completely so it might help to think in terms of minimizing problems. Store the pail when not in active use, somplace drafty or where there are venting fans. I like the genie, the champ seems very user-friendly and can use any bags... I don't think complete odor elimination is possible simply because infants are human beings with human bodies and all. P.S. One potential problem with the any bag system is that a lot of times there can be little holes in plastic bags (there probably can be in the diaper genie things too). It doesn't take much to, over time and with an increased number of diapers, end up causing increased odor problems....See Morelov2garden
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