Day 4 Flats and Handwashing Challenge

I wanted to re-cap a little bit from yesterday as I wasn't able to cover some of the other things I had gotten done. I jinxed myself when I said I would be in for it the next day because right after posting that, BOTH of them had some major poopies! It's okay though, my trusty fleece liners helped me out when putting it in the toilet, came right off with no problems. I tried boiling some water lastnight as well so I could get the poopy diapers really really clean. I boiled a few soap nuts as well for my detergent. If you've never used soap nuts here is the site I have bought mine from. Green Virgin Products, they work great and they last forever! Plus, the bag they come in is nice too, I like to use it to hold small things around the house.

I also went ahead a folded my flats differently which allowed me more room on our changing table. I only use our table for storing the diapers, I don't change my kids on it anymore because they are too big for it now. But it makes great shelving! My stash has litterally been cut in half! The fitteds, pockets, daddy diapers and the rest of the covers are in our room, and I haven't touched them since the challenge! Here's a look at just our flats stash. I also folded them like I used to fold my prefolds. I don't know why I didn't think of doing it that way in the first place! I just pad folded them and they are ready to be used in a hurry.

The rest of the receiving blankets are on the second shelf with the normal flats and the wipes, fleece liners, and the rest of the covers are on the top shelf. The covers that are hanging are the ones that are in rotation. I really am LOVING how simple everything looks and I am even giving my best friend some of our Goodmama fitteds this weekend. She is due in June and I am excited that she has decided to cloth diaper. I am just down the street from her if she ever needs any help. I will just use my flats from now on and the rest of our fitteds and pockets after the challenge.

As for this morning, the kids woke up and Camryn had a little bit of leaking going on and I can't figure out if it was due to the cover or not because the back of the flats were still dry so it really shouldn't have leaked. I guess I will try the cover again tonight and see if it leaks then. Nate woke up dry as can be! But man, his diaper sure did smell! I think I will use some boiling water from now on to try and cut out the stinkies. I've heard a lot of poeple saying that the wet pail method is working great for them and it is also helping them with stinky diapers. So I could probably add that into my routine as well. I also feel like I've got the whole washing process down by now. It's only taking me about 20 minutes to get a full load done, that averages about 10 to 12 diapers.

I also found a video on how to fold a flat in the origami fold to make it tighter around the legs and give it gussests. I had a comment yesterday about someone preferring the origami fold the best and for some reason my computer wasn't letting me comment on anything! I can never get a good fit with the origami fold and I always have extra fabric around the legs so it has never been a trim fit for us, or maybe I just really suck at the origami fold. Anyway, thank you to Trisha Wieber (I don't know her blog or I would link it) for the video! I will most certainly practice this today!

Day 4 is going great and I am really enjoying every part of this challenge. I honestly wanted to cry when I did my first wash and I was thinking, "what the he** did I get myself into?!" BUT... I have figured out all the hard parts and now it's actually kind of fun! This will be a life lesson I will always carry with me, or if I ever go camping at least I'll know how to wash my clothes right? ;)

That's all for today my fellow fluffy friends!

To read more about the Flats and Handwashing Challenge visit Dirty Diaper Laundry. Here is where you can find all the rules: FHWC Rules