Maybe just 3, just to try.

I had spent enough time on the diaperswappers forums to know that well cared for, high quality cloth diapers had decent resale value.

I also discovered that diapers.com sold bumgenius 3.0s, and that 3 of them would add up to enough to get free shipping.  So, I figured I'd order 3 and try them.  If I hated them, I'd resell them and at least I could say I'd tried.

Before I ordered, I started researching washing methods, which led me down the sudsy, convoluted road to detergent land.