Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge Day 2

 

I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For 7 days I will be using only flat cloth diapers and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year there are over 450 participants from all over the world!

My supplies for the challenge:

Flats & Covers

12 flannel receiving blankets

6 Osocozy Birdseye flats

2 Rumpeez hemp flats

3 cotton stretch terry baby bath towels

6 flats made by me, of various fabrics (bamboo fleece, bamboo terry, velour, flannel)

3 T-shirt tie Diapers

3 Pockets

4 PUL covers

4 wool covers

2 fleece pocket trainers (for EC)

Accessories

12 micro fleece liners cut from diaper making scraps

12 single layer doublers/trifolds made from scraps

20 homemade wipes

1 Snappi

1 set of old style Boingos

Wash Supplies

camp style bucket washer

Ecos Detergent

rubber gloves

beach towel, I roll my covers up in the towel to help absorb excess water to speed dry time

drying rack

So far things have been going smoothly, I have washed 2 loads of flats so far. I am going to wash at every 8 flats so I don't have to do back to back wash loads.

The flats are drying inside today

Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 1

I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For 7 days I will be using only flat cloth diapers and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year there are over 450 participants from all over the world!

Why I am taking this challenge:

- Most importantly, to prove that it is possible to diaper a baby using only flats and that hand washing cloth diapers is NOT impossible. A lot of people can hardly afford disposable diapers, let a alone a $500 start up cloth diaper stash. Flats are the most affordable cloth diapering option and are the easiest to wash if you don't a have access to a washing machine.

- To be prepared in an emergency,  after the challenge I plan on keeping the flats and handwashing supplies in our 72 hour kit. In the event of a blackout, I will still be able wash our dirty diapers without issue. A trip to the store for disposables would not be an option.

- By signing up and completing this challenge, i am helping to raise money for Giving Diapers Giving Hope

- I am trying to pick up EC again with my son. I think that using flats will help out with that.

My Thoughts:
 I signed up for this challenge thinking it would be fun, exciting and easy. Lets see how i feel about that 6 days from now !

B wearing a LWI dyed Birdseye flat, origami fold (with wings under the front panel).

Are you up for the challenge?

I am officially signed up to participate in the second annual flats and handwashing challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry. This challenge was started  last year to help raise awareness and educate families on inexpensive cloth diapering. There are families that wash and reuse disposable diapers (yuck) or leave them on for extended periods of time to make a pack of disposable diapers last longer to save money.

Why flats? they are very affordable for even the tightest budgets, easy to handwash for those who dont have a washing machine, they line dry in a few hours, a large flat (32x32) can fit from birth (may be a bit bulky) until potty learning. There are many ways to fold a flat that can be fastened on a baby or be pad folded and in a cover or pocket. To further reduce the cost of diapering, items found around the home or thrift shops can be used as flats diapers: receiving blankets, flour sack towels,T-shirts, jersey sheets cut into squares.

Why am i participating?
To prove it CAN be done! If a busy work at home mom of three can cloth diaper without using a washer or dryer, than anyone can.

What am i using?
I have a total of 26 Flats right now
I bought 6 OsoCozy Flats , 10  flannel receiving blankets that i already had, and 10 that I made from various fabrics in my stash. I also bought 2 Rumpeez Hemp Flats which should be here in time for the challenge. I will be using an assortment of wool, PUL, and fleece covers that I made. For fasteners I have 2 diaper pins, 1 Snappi , and 2 sets of Boingos. Washing Supplies: 5 gallon bucket and plunger to make a camp style washer, The Laundry Tarts detergent samples, Rockin Green detergent samples, Ecos detergent and a drying rack

I am looking forward to the challenge and getting a little bit excited for it. I have started doing elimination communication with my son so it could be a very interesting week. I will be blogging everyday of the challenge, May 21-27. If you would like to sign up and the take the flats and handwashing challenge with me click HERE