Flat Challenge Day 2

I didn't have a chance the past few days to get all the details down with my visiting father-in-law leaving, and sick kids, but the topic for today was supplies. What have I, and what do I now use for hand washing diapers? What does my stash look like?  What do I think is the bare minimum to get by.

Supplies: 

Flat diapers and covers - not shown
Diaper pail
Bucket and plunger to wash
A place to hang dry diapers
Detergent.

Optional:


Ecover laundry softener - helps soften line drying
Stool - to sit on so your back doesn't get sore.
Diaper Butler - clips to diaper for soaking, it's hanging off of the towel rack.
Diaper Duck - can help squeeze water out, it's hanging off the side of the toilet.

I have a 5 gallon bucket with a plunger that I use for washing about 8-10 diapers at a time. I have a larger 20 gallon rubbermaid container that I use for washing more than that and for regular laundry when we go camping.

I use 2 tsp biokleen liquid detergent for the 5 gallon bucket and maybe a tsp of oxyclean depending on how dirty the diapers are. We have hard water and that seems to work the best for us. I use only a tsp of fabric softener in the last rinse and omit it on a windy day, as the wind keeps the fibers from stiffening.

You don't have to have a bucket or plunger. In the past when laundry day rolled around and the machine decided to break (aack!!) was washed the diapers in the tub. I used a blunt stick (end of broom handle) for washing when the water was to hot and then used my feet for the rinsing using a grape stomping technique.

We currently have an expandable drying rack that I want another 2 of. I adore this rack like you wouldn't believe. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000TR5MW/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00
You can read my review, my name is Amber.

Other ways and places I have hung diapers and clothing to dry is: 

Using coat hangers with the diapers folded in half and then hooked the hangers over the shower rod, which was a little annoying when people wanted to shower.

Hooking the hangers over the door frame.

Outside hooking the hangers over the porch banister.

Outside on a strung up line.


How I hand wash:

1.) Rinse: Soak diapers over night in warm water, maybe plunge a few times before dumping the water.

2.) Wash: Fill bucket with hot water and detergent and mix with the plunger. Add diapers and plunge for about 4 - 5 minutes. Let rest for 4 - 5 minutes and then plunge again for 4 - 5 minutes. Do this until you have about 15 minutes of plunging.

3.) Rinse: Dump water, and press most of the soapy water out of the diapers. Refill bucket with hot water and add diapers. Plunge for 5 min, dump water, squeeze most of the water out of the diapers. Repeat this time with warm water and wringing the diapers out as well as you can. Sometimes you can see soap bubbles when you fill the bucket for the second rinse. If this happens rinse 1 more time with warm water.

Plunger, bucket, diapers during rinse cycle.

4.) Wring the living daylights out of them. Seriously, this is the key to fast dry times! I sometimes will wring again as I get to the bottom of the pile when I'm hanging stuff up.

5.) Hang dry.

Tip: If you need some diapers and covers to dry faster here is a trick I learned from my Aunt who learned from my Grandma. Lay a couple of diapers and covers out on a towel. lay another towel on top. Carefully fold the whole thing in half and tightly roll up. Hold onto the sink or wall and carefully walk on the roll to squeeze out any extra moisture. I do this with my woolies every time to shorten the drying time and save my arms. This works when your traveling and want items dry before you leave the next day as well.

Here is my drying rack in action!

Flat Diaper Stash:

6 GMD large flats
6 Flat fitted pockets with 6 small flats pad folded inside.
6 Bamboo terry flats
6 Disana tie nappies

Covers:

2 Thirsties duo size 2
2 flip covers
2 Blueberry covers
2 wool covers I up-cycled from sweaters for nights.

The bare minimum to get by with? For a Toddler I would say 12 flats, for an infant 18 at least. Covers vary for child, I would say at least 4 for a toddler and 6 for an infant. I wouldn't want to do the bare minimum with line drying. I would want to have a comfortable amount that I wasn't stressing over getting dry before needing again.
A comfortable stash would be 24 flats for a toddler and 30 for an infant. I use them in other ways (burp rags and mopping up spills) than just diapering and I would run out of diapers if I had the bare minimum.