Projects and Diapers

Latest projects.....

Edible alphabet

Chicken-scape on the windows with contact paper... Levi is in love

People always remark upon my son never having a diaper rash, "He's so clear!" The reason is simple, we are cloth diaper enthusiasts. We have even made the leap when going out and cut out disposables and have been using Flip diapers (one of the ONLY products by Cotton Babies that I will endorse, but that's a different post) They are just so dang easy and quick, and very compact.

Levi wears a disposable at bedtime because we have tried every method in the world to get him through in a cloth, but to no avail. This kid pees like a race horse. But even those leak most nights.

• The cloth diaper allows your child's rear to breathe. Even when wet, your child still has oxygen filtering through the diaper as he or she moves. 
• Synthetic diapers do not have this ability. 
• Cloth diapers are made of all natural fibers, are washed with low sudsing, non toxic soaps and are NEVER bleached (riiiight?) 
• Synthetic diapers are filled with a harmful chemicals including; Dioxin - at the top of the EPA's list of most toxic, cancer related chemicals; Tributyl-tin (TBT) - a chemical known to disrupt hormones;  Sodium Polyacrylate - this chemical was removed from tampons in relation to toxic shock syndrome. Also, the fumes released from all these potent chemicals bonding together has been linked to respiratory problems in young children. These chemicals and more are very common for children to be allergic to, thus causing a never ending stream of diaper rashes. 
• Cloth diapers are generally changed more often, such is the nature of beast.

• I've known many mothers who leave the house at 8am and go all the way until their Starbucks run at lunchtime before changing their child's diaper. Lo and behold, the child has a stubborn diaper rash that 'just wont go away!'. ("I just don't have the time!" Sure you do! When you change your perception on diapers, a lot of things change with it.) 

Many have the false idea that cloth diapers promote a rash. But thankfully, we've come a long way since our grandparents did it. The fibers used on covers, inserts and the like can stop your child bum from getting moist most days, and on other days, well ... you need to change to diaper more often!

Laundry Woes

My seven month old son has been in dutifully white cloth diapers since he was born. Cloth diapers are better for our environment, and less expensive down the  line. Yet, initially it is a large purchase to make. Costing anywhere from 200-$1000 to get a good "stash"

Not taking this ticket lightly, I decided to do all the research I could to discover how to keep my precious purchase looking its best, and lasting the longest.

Along the way, I discovered something amazing... My god, we have all been using WAY too much laundry soap all these years!


Stepping out of the shower, I pull a towel off the rack and put it to my face, instinctively taking a deep breath. After getting dressed and presentable, I go to my mother in the kitchen and say, "Mom, these towels stink!" She continues what she's doing, not bothering to look up "Ok, well I'll use more soap next time."


Little did I know then, the more detergent you use, the dirtier your clothing remains. The object of washing your clothes is not to make them smell good (If you insist on that, use some kind of stinky fabric softener) the object is so that they smell of nothing.

My mother in law told me once, "Grandma isn't happy unless she can see suds." I use that as a signal that I have used too much soap, and need to adjust my method. An excess of soap in the wash leads to soap build up, so each time you wash your clothes, your machine works harder and harder, trying to remove that soap, not the dirt or residue of day to day life.



"Method found that 53% of people don't use the recommended amount of detergent per washload, preferring instead to guess or, worse, to simply fill the cap up to the top—a practice that wastes more than half the loads a detergent bottle could wash, Method executives say."

When I tell people they are using too much soap, they look at me like a mad man. "Too much soap? surely, there is no such thing." but washing clothes is not like washing your hands - and  machines break down after too much abuse. This is a particularly tricky subject as more and more of us buy HE or "High Efficiency" machines that need even less, sometimes half the recommended dose.


So, here is a recipe I use on my diapers regularly for a good, hard cleaning, and on my towels when my parents come into town...


For a FULL load of laundry in a non HE machine

• Run a "soak" cycle... I bet you never even knew your machine had one
• 1/2 tsp Palmolive dish soap
• 1/2 cup borax
• Run a cycle per usual

After one - maybe two applications, your clothing, towels and diapers should be back to smelling like nothing.

Why use more than we need? You are essentially throwing money down the gutter. Read your labels and begin to develop an intimate relationship with your washing machine. Come check on the load every once in a while. See suds? Use less!

Your skin will feel softer, your towels will not offend and you will save money.


Take the test HERE