Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Recap

Last week got very chaotic around here and I wasn't able to keep up with blogging everyday of the challenge, so I though I'd do a recap of my week.

The Stash!
I used a flats stash of:
7 Orange Diaper Co Bamboo toddler squares ($14 each new, I bought used of the BST)      $98
12 Target flour sack towels ($3.99/4 at Target)                                                                        $12
8 T-shirt flats (old shirts from my closet)                                                                                FREE
5 Flannel receiving blankets (left from baby shower gifts/hand-me-downs)                         FREE
                                                                                                                                              -----------
                                                                                                                                                $110

I used a mixture of covers including wool, Flip, TushMate, Best Bottoms and Puddles and Posies. Some of these covers are on their second or third baby so I didn't calculate the cost. The cost of my bamboo terry flats was what really drove up my total, but I LOVE them so!

For closure I have traditional diaper pins, Boingo Baby and Snappi.


Wash Routine!
The poopy diapers were sprayed in the toilet first with my SprayPal sprayer and placed in a 6 gallon bucket of water with some BacOut. Wet diapers went straight to the pail. When it was time to wash, I used a plunger to agitate, dumped them out, rung them out and filled the bucket again with cold water. Agitate again, dump, ring, fill bucket with hot water and some detergent, agitate (VERY well this time), dump, ring, cold water rinse, agitate, dump and ring!

I hang my flats on a collapsable drying rack and 2 Ikea octopus hangers that hang in my sunroom.

I've also been known to tie ropes across my deck! (I can't use anything permanent in our yard.)

Favorite Fold!

Origami! Hands down!

Origami fold with a Snappi closure

A receiving blanket folded origami style

My conclusion!

Everyone can cloth diaper! Your age, work status or financial status don't matter. You can buy the fanciest, most luxurious diapers available or use some t-shirts you already have laying around. No matter what, you're doing something good for your baby and good for our environment!

We're going to keep it up! Last year we used flats and hand washed only for 3 months after the original challenge!

Dr. Venkman used a t-shirt as a cloth diaper for baby Oscar in Ghostbusters 2

Now you see how easy it is even on the tightest budget. Why not give it a try. Leave me a comment and let me know your experience with cloth diapering?

Leah in the same flour sack towel flat at 3 months and 2-years-old!
The only difference is a second FST folded inside now for extra absorbency.

Day 1: Why I'm taking the Flats and Handwashing Challenge

Each spring for the past 5 years, Kim at Dirty Diaper Laundry has hosted The Flats and Handwashing Challenge! 

My newborn stash for Leah (May 2013) was entirely flats and I signed up for the challenge that year, but, since she decided she wasn't going to be born until the week before the challenge, I decided to simply challenge myself. I participated last year and loved it so much, I kept up with the hand washing for 3 months instead of just one week!

I advocate for cloth diapers year round and it's no secret that cloth diapers have saved our family a TON of money, but the Flats Challenge gives me an opportunity to really shine a light on my favorite style of diaper: FLATS!

A "flat" cloth diaper is simply 1 layer of fabric. It can be folded in a number of different ways to achieve the fit and absorbency needed.

A modern version of a flat cloth diaper:
Bamboo double loop terry "toddler square" by Orange Diaper Company
(measures approx 28"x28")

Why do I love flats? 

They wash well, rinse well and dry fast! All my favorite things! And all of those reasons also save you money! Not only can flats be a less expensive investment when starting out, but it takes less water to wash them, you won't need additional rinses and they dry quickly on a line or rack making the electric dryer unnecessary!


The Challenge:
Use only flats for 7 days. No washer, no dryer!

Why not give flats a try? It's a win-win!

#bringingflatsback #thisisyourgrandmothersdiaper

#flatschallenge #traditionaldiapers

Common Cloth Diapering Terms

OS: One-size. An adjustable diaper made to fit a wide range of shapes and sizes.

AIO: All-in-one. A one-step diaper system that has the soaker layers and waterproof cover all in one step.

AI2: All-in-2. A diaper that has 2 pieces. Most commonly a waterproof shell with a separate soaker that snaps in or is sewn in on only one edge.

Soaker: The layers within the diaper that soak up moisture.

Doubler: Extra layers added to make the diaper more absorbent. This differs from a soaker because it does not stand alone, but is added along with the soaker to "double" the absorbency of a diaper.

Liner: A single layer laid on top of the soaker between the baby and the diaper. Can be disposable and used to make poop clean-up easier or a re-usable fabric such as fleece to help wick moisture away from baby's skin.

Boingo: BoingoBaby™ cloth diaper fasteners.

Snappi: Snappi^™ Brand cloth diaper fastener.

PUL: Polyurethane laminate. A compound fabric made by laminating a cloth fabric to a thin film of polyurethane with a chemical process, thus making it waterproof.

TPU: Thermoplastic polyurethane. Basically the same as PUL, but the laminate is heat-bonded to the fabric rather than chemically-bonded.

Lanolin: A yellow waxy substance secreted by wool-bearing animals. Wool soakers need to be treated with lanolin periodically to maintain their water-resistant traits.

Hook and Loop: A type of closure also commonly known by the brand names Aplix™ and Velcro^™.

Stripping: A process by which your diapers and inserts are treated and “stripped” of mineral build-up, ammonia and/or soap residue.

Wicking: Wicking is the transfer of moisture from one place to another.  It is good when moisture is wicked away from baby’s skin through a stay-dry fabric. Wicking is a bad thing when moisture finds a weak spot or exposed area to leak out of. 


{Updates and additions coming soon}