If washing
CD's is THE reason, or even A reason that you won't even consider CDing then I am here to let you know that it really is not that much more work. I have a stash of around 16 CD's and I wash every other day. That seems like a lot, but once I got my "washing system" down, it is just another part of the day that I don't even blink an eye at.
First, the set up. Next to my changing table I have a Rubbermaid trash pail that I line with a
diaper pail liner (you can get these at any CDing website). When I take the diaper off, and there is only pee in it, I pull the insert out (if it is a
pocket diaper) and throw it into the pail. If there is poo in there, I just place that in the toilet and flush. When Sam was exclusively breast feeding his poo was entirely water soluble so I would throw the CD straight into the pail as it will wash right out in the washing machine. There have been times where I have done the toilet dunk and that works (I don't get disgusted easily in this regard). Now that he is on solid foods I have ordered a
diaper sprayer and can’t wait for it to get here! I keep some baking soda on his changing table and sprinkle that in the pail after a poopy diaper.
When it is time to wash, I take the pail liner filled with the dirties and place them in the washing machine. This has been a trial and error process and I have learned a lot from following
Diapershops.com on Facebook. The method I use is what works with our HE front load washing machine and our very hard water. First things first, I use
Rockin' Green CD laundry soap in Hard Rock and love it and absolutely adore their 2 sided, magnetic laundry scoop! I start with a warm/warm cycle and use half of the recommended amount of Calgon water softener along with half of the small side of the scoop full of Rockin' Green (remember, I have a front load machine so I generally use, at most, half of the recommended). Once the first cycle is complete I run a second cycle on hot/cold with half of the large side of the scoop full of Rockin' Green. The keys to this cycle are: to pause the cycle once the machine fills with water and add 2 pitchers full of HOT water through the detergent port and let it stay on pause for as long as my machine allows in order to soak and to add an extra rinse to the end of this cycle. That's it for washing, it may seem like a lot but like I said, I HAVE IT DOWN.
On to drying. I do not put anything with PUL (the diaper covers, pail liners) in the dryer to help them last longer. I like to dry my
CD's outside so that they can sun in order to get any stains and smells out. The sun acts as a natural bleaching agent. I do put my
inserts,
prefolds,
doublers, etc. into the dryer for a brief amount of time so that we do not get "crunchy diaper syndrome."
Once dry, I stuff my
pocket diapers with their
liners and place them all into their drawers and that's that. No folding. Stuffing yes, but that isn't necessary, I just do it so that I don't have to stuff when I am changing him. And honestly, most of the time the clean diapers lie in a pile in front of the changing table for a while before being put away.
A few key notes:
• Do not use dryer sheets with your CD's, they can cause build up which makes them repel
• Bleach is not recommended on CD's
• Check with your CD manufacturer's website as to their washing recommendations
Well, that is all I really have to say about washing. I promise, it isn't nearly as bad as it seems.
Happy Cloth Diapering!
By: Michelle P.
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