Thirsties Fab Wipes and Booty Luster Review and Giveaway! CLOSED

When I started cloth diapering, using disposable wipes got real old, real fast.  I kept wanting to ball the wipe up inside the diaper like I did with sposies.  It was a pain to remember to pick them out and throw them away!

When I ran out of the disposable wipes I had, I cut up some burp cloths that were laying around.  I didn't like them as burp cloths because they were very thin and washcloth-like.  I doubled them over and zigzagged them.  Not easy since they were super stretchy!

Not only are they not pretty (LOL) but they're actually kind of scratchy compared to materials used in cloth wipes.  I also don't always have enough since I don't have to wash every day anymore.  I was finding myself using several for a diaper change and having to scrub a little bit, which isn't fun for my little guy.

I really wanted cloth wipes, but I was kind of scared to buy some and not like them.  I wanted to find a brand I liked, and buy a nice pretty stack of them, rather than have a mismatched collection!

I've heard Thirsties talked about in my cloth diaper groups.  Both the Duo Diapers and the Duo Wraps came up an awful lot when I was asking other cloth diapering mamas about night time diapering.  I haven't tried either of those yet, but Thirsties agreed to send me a 6-pack of their fab wipes and a 4 oz. (travel size) bottle of their booty luster wipe spray.  There's a giveaway too, so keep reading!

"Thirsties® is a small (but growing!) cloth diaper company committed to greener parenting and Eco Friendly solutions, not to mention 100% USA Made quality!  Erin, the owner of Thirsties, started this business with an old sewing machine and $100 5 years ago.  Through her hard work and diligence, her company is now one of the leaders in the cloth diaper industry.  Our diapers are now made by work at home mothers, and very close to our Canon City warehouse, reducing our carbon output. Erin and I are experienced cloth diapering moms, and offer our knowledge to our retailers and customers alike."

The wipes!  Oh my goodness, if you could feel these things.  Buttery soft is an understatement.  I feel bad for wiping my son's tush with those rough burp cloths.  :-(

The wipes are cotton velour on one side and microfleece on the other.  Both sides are super soft and the white side is nice to be sure you got the tushie clean.  They're 8 x 8 (after washing and drying) and will fit in a wipes warmer or empty wipes container.  The washing instructions say to dry on low, but I dried them on high with my diaper inserts and had no trouble.

It's been a while since I bought disposable wipes, but my rule of thumb was that I wouldn't buy them for more than 2.5 cents per wipe, and under two cents per wipe, I would stock up.  That was the "sensitive" brand.  (Add a scoffing "ha!" to that please.) 

I seemed to use a zillion wipes, but let's just say 15 per day for simplicity here.  That's a cost of about $9 for a month.  If you're buying smaller refill packs or tubs, not shopping sales and clipping coupons, your cost per wipe will be a lot higher.  For me, a 6 pack of thirsties wipes ($10.75 MSRP) would pay for itself in just over a month.  So even if I had bought three dozen wipes, they would have paid for themselves by now. 

I'll just skip right over the issue of ingredients in disposable wipes and impact on the environment and add that based on the reviews I've read, people continue to use these wipes long after their kids are out of diapers.  Wiping faces, cleaning the house.  Let's see you do that with a "used" disposable wipe!

The compulsive side of me feels the need to point out how nice and pretty they look stacked up all nice and neatly.

I had to run a quick load of diapers to avoid using those nasty burp cloth wipes on him!  I want to buy 3 more packs of these.  I think that would give me enough to have some upstairs and downstairs, not have to wash every day, and be able to ditch the burp cloth wipes!

The Booty Luster ended up being a whole lot nicer than I expected.  To be honest, I thought it was going to be a pre-mixed, overpriced version of every other wipes solution.  Sorry, I was wrong!

The ingredients are: Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, 100% Pure Coconut water, Organic White Honey, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Glycerin, Humectant Moisturizers, Avocado and other Organic Ingredients.

The "other organic ingredients" is a little bothersome to me.  Edit: Those "other organic ingredients" are just purified water, so no worries!  Anyone who has experience with food allergies will tell you how irritating listed ingredients like "natural flavoring" can be!  My son doesn't have any topical allergies that we know of, so I didn't pursue this.  I do like that it uses Grapefruit Seed Extract as the anti-fungal ingredient, rather than Tea Tree Oil.

I'm used to squirting away and wiping, squirting some more, wiping etc.  I had a hard time getting used to needing only 2 squirts of the booty luster.  My son's tush wiped clean easily, felt smooth and clean, no residue at all.  The spray came out with just the right mist, though we did have a few drips.  The scent was very light, but pleasant.  Like a very light, summery citrus.

The MSRP of the 4 oz travel size bottle is $6.25, and the 8 oz bottle, $11.00.  That's a little spendy for cough*cheap*cough, ahem, frugal me.  However, using the math I did earlier, this would most likely still be cheaper than disposable wipes and very convenient to boot.  I'm not sure how long a bottle will last, I'll have to update on that.  If I can get used to only needing two squirts, it will probably last a long time!

If you want to drool over all Thirsties has to offer (and maybe leave a not so subtle hint with some dog-eared pages), you can request a catalog on their website.  Just go to www.thirstiesbaby.com/catalog.htm.

Want it?  Find a retailer at thirstiesbaby.com.  Or, win it!

Thirsties is sending one lucky blog reader just what I got!  A 6 pack of fab wipes (your choice of boy or girl colors) and a 4 oz. bottle of booty luster!  U.S. Residents only.

Here's how to enter (the first entry is mandatory, you may do any, all or none of the rest as you choose!):

Please be sure to leave your email address in at least one of your comments if it's not visible in your profile.  If you win and I can't find contact info for you, I will choose another winner.

1. Visit http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/ and tell me what else you'd like to try. 

2. Follow my blog publicly.  Current followers count, comment saying you're a follower to get your entry.

3. "Like" me on Facebook.  Current, uh, "likers" (?) count.  Comment saying you "like" me on FB to get your entry.  (They like me, they really really like me!)

4. "Like" Thirsties on Facebook.  Same as above.  Current likers/fans count & leave your comment to get your entry.

5. Follow me on Twitter.  Current followers count, comment saying you follow to get your entry.

6. Tweet about this giveaway.  Please include @chgdiapers and link to this giveaway.  You may use this example if you like.  "@chgdiapers is giving away Thirsties wipes and Booty Luster until 5/14  http://bit.ly/dsSyLJ #clothdiapers #giveaway"  Limit one tweet per day, please comment with the permalink to your tweet for your entry.

7. Blog about this giveaway and link back to it.  Leave a comment with a link to your blog post for your entry.

Then do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around while patting your head and rubbing your tummy and...ok that one was just for fun!

I will accept entries until Friday, May 14th at 9 P.M.  I will use random.org's true random number generator to select a winner.  I'll notify the winner by email and s/he will have 48 hours to claim the prize!

Win it Wednesday!

Stop by and enter some great giveaways and link yours too! 

Here are my current giveaways:

Spot Girl Cloth Napkins, ends 5/1/10

Inspired by Finn Baltic Amber Jewelry, ends 5/2/10

Soda Stream Fountain Jet Starter Pack, ends 5/5/10

QwertyO reusable Swiffer Wet Jet pads, Clorox Ready Mop pads or reusable produce bags, ends 5/11/10

Thirsties Fab Wipes & Booty Luster, ends 5/14/10

All five of my giveaways are Prizey.net editor's picks!

Please enter any of your own giveaways in the linky below.  You may enter other giveaways you've found as well, just make sure they're not already listed before entering.  Thank you!

Please include the description of the prize and the giveaway end date.  Be sure to link directly to the giveaway post.

Grab the code below the linky and post this list on your own blog.  Links only need to be entered here and they will show everywhere the code is pasted.

QwertyO Reusable Ready Mop / Swiffer pads / Produce Bags review & giveaway! CLOSED

.

Long ago and far away, Etsy and I weren't acquainted.  *gasp* I know.  Therefore, when I was looking for a reusable pad for my Clorox Ready mop, I had nowhere to look really, but Ebay.

This is what I got:

It did the job I suppose, but the overhanging material constantly got flipped under and gummed up the works, then the fleece flaps would slip out and the whole pad would fall off.  Plus, it was made out of a prefold, so it often ended up just absorbing most of my liquid instead of actually mopping the floor!

Not too long ago, I was browsing Etsy and came across QwertyO's Store.  She makes ready mop pads (these also fit the regular/not wet jet swiffers), pads for the Swiffer wet jet, reusable produce bags and reusable sandwich bags.  The bags are made by her 17 year old daughter.

QwertyO generously offered to send me a pad for my ready mop.  She is also sponsoring a giveaway, so read on my fellow moppers!

Susan also sent a Swiffer wet jet pad to share with a friend.  I intended to test, photograph and review it as well, but I'm still hunting for someone local who still has one.  Many people I know got rid of theirs because of the chemicals, but she included instructions for opening your wet jet solution bottle and making your own, earth friendly solutions!

The package really was a present!

Instructions for homemade solution were right on the package.

The Swiffer pad packaging includes a link to instructions for opening the bottle of solution to fill it with your own.  It's all terry and has the same velcro attachments as the disposable pads.

The ready mop pad is microfiber on one side and terry on the other.

The wide border of terry allowed me to really secure the pad onto the mop.  I was able to mop without having to stop and stuff it back in at all!

I love my QwertyO reusable pad.  It's so nice to be able to grab my ready mop for quick cleanups, without dragging out the mop and bucket.  Now I can do it more efficiently and in half the time since I don't have to wrestle with my old pad!  Doesn't my floor look great?

Want it?  Buy it at QwertyO's Etsy shop.

Want to win it?  QwertyO is generously offering one lucky reader his/her choice of a set of wet jet pads, a set of ready mop pads or a combo set of 7 reusable produce bags.  Susan chooses the colors.

Here's how to enter:

1. Visit QwertyO's Store and tell me which of the 3 options you would choose if you won.

2. Follow my blog publicly. Current followers count. Comment saying you're a follower to get your entry.

3. "Like" me on Facebook. Current fans count. Comment saying you're a fan to get your entry.
4.  Follow me on Twitter. Current followers count. Comment saying you're a follower to get your entry.
5. Tweet about this giveaway. One tweet/entry per day. Comment with a link to your tweet to get your entry. (Please be sure to include @chgdiapers and a link to this post)  You may use this if you like: Reduce your footprint. @chgdiapers has a #giveaway for reusable mop pads or produce bags made by QwertyO. Ends 5/11 http://bit.ly/
6. Write a blog post about this giveaway and link to it. Post a comment with a link to your post for your entry.
7.  Add QwertyO as a favorite shop on Etsy. Comment that you added her as a favorite to get your entry.


I will accept entries until Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 at 9:00 P.M.  Please note that all of my giveaways are available to residents of the U.S. only unless otherwise specified.


I'll use random.org's true random number generator to select a winner, then notify the winner via email.


Please be sure to leave your email address in your comment if it isn't in your profile.  If I can't find contact info for the winner, I will choose someone else.

Thank you to QwertyO for providing the two pads for review and the products for the giveaway winner as well!

Naturoli Soap Nuts

My friend Tonya is switching her household to all "green," one week at a time.  She's writing in on Cafemom's The Stir.  Here is the post that prompted the one I'm writing right now!  At the bottom of the post you can read the posts from prior weeks as well.

Anyhoo, when she bought her Naturoli soap nuts, she noticed that they were cloth diaper safe and offered to send me some.  I've been using them on my cloth diapers for over three weeks now and I am so grateful to her for sending them to me!

What are soap nuts?  They're the dried husks of the soapberry.  They contain saponin, which works as a natural surfactant.  They can be used for a lot more than laundry as well.

Laundry use is easy.  Put 1/2 ounce (about 5-6 pieces) in the muslin bag.  you can use this "batch" for about 5 loads.  If you grab it out of the washer before the rinse cycle, you can extend the life a bit.  It doesn't hurt them to be thrown in the dryer (which I have done!)

Close the bag.

Then toss it in with your laundry.

The laundry directions tell you how to make a liquid, and how to wash in cold water.  They include a handy pamphlet as well.

They didn't suds much, but they worked!

The soap nuts smelled vinegar-y to me, and somewhat like a pungent berry.  Their surface felt a bit slippery.  If I agitated them in the sink they would make some suds.

Mine never did turn gray (the directions say they will be gray & mushy when they are ready to be pitched), but when they were "used up" I noticed that they no longer smelled, weren't slippery and looked mushy.

I used the soap nuts on all of my laundry for three weeks, and I was amazed.  My laundry came out smelling like nothing.  Just clean.  Even my stinky kitchen dish cloths, which is amazing.

Before I used the last few, I wanted to order some for myself!  Here are the costs I figured (based on my shipping zip code).

4 oz/40 loads $7.95 + $3.41 shipping=$11.36 or 28.4 cents per load

8 oz/80 loads $11.95 + $4.26 shipping=$16.21 or 20.2 cents per load

16 oz/160 loads $17.95 + $10.05 shipping=$28.00 or 17.5 cents per load

32 oz/320 loads $26.95 + $13.20 shipping=$40.15 or 12.5 cents per load

48 oz/480 loads $34.95 + $15.80 shipping=$50.75 or 10.5 cents per load

64 oz/640 loads $41.95 + $18.15 shipping=$60.10 or 9.4 cents per load

They also have value bags of broken pieces for as little as 4.5 cents per load.  The more you buy, the more cost effective it is.  It would be a great idea to go in on an order with a friend (or friends) and split it.  Honestly, I don't care how much they cost.  They work, and it will still be cheaper than disposable diapering! 

I'm a bargain hunter, so the detergent we use for our clothing costs 0-2 cents or so per load.  I really couldn't justify the expense right now, so I settled on the 32 ounce bag for the diapers only.  I tried to balance value per load with the total cost.  Plus I always seem to get stuck with stuff that stops working for me as soon as I stock up!

If you want to make sure the soap nuts go as far as they should, (and you have a kitchen scale) you might want to weigh them as you use them, to be sure you're not using too many.

I ordered the 32 oz bag.  With the weight of the bag itself, it was just over 2 lbs.

Here, four weighed 1/2 ounce.

Here, it took six.

It doesn't really matter, but just know that you could potentially be using 50% more than you need if you just grab 6 every time.  We have an HE washer and soft water, so I may just use 4 every time.

My order came with 2 muslin bags.

Here you can see just how huge the bag is!  Yes I know, paper towels, ick.  We rarely use them and I want unpapertowels!

If you've tried other detergents and they haven't worked, or if you're just looking for something new and truly all natural, give soap nuts a try!

Edit August 2010: I have the worst luck with "soap."  These stopped working for me for some unknown reason.  My diapers started coming out smelling like they weren't washed, and the soap nuts were getting broken in the machine.  The pieces were working their way out of the bag even though I cinched it tightly, and would get stuck on diapers/inserts, and left a couple of spots on them as well.

Abby's Lane Gift Certificate Giveaway WINNERS!!

I've selected winners for the Abby's Lane Gift Certificate giveaway using random.org's True Random Number Generator. 

First up is the grand prize winner of the $25 in gift certificates.

The winner of the $25 certificate is Tim, Allyson and Kids!

Next is the runner up, winner of the $5 gift certificate!

The winner of the $5 Gift Certificate is Heidi J!

I'll be contacting both of you with your gift certificate codes within the next 48 hours!

Thanks to everyone for entering, I wish I could pick all of you!

Making yogurt without a yogurt maker A.K.A. Crock Pot Yogurt

I looked at yogurt makers a few years ago, but dismissed the idea because of the cost and space issue, as well as mixed reviews.  When I saw this blog post about making yogurt in your crock pot, I knew I had to try it.  We go through tons of the stuff.  We eat it plain, with a little fruit, or with a drizzle of agave nectar.  It's the only thing my son will eat with gusto!

I am blessed to have a handful of stores near me with reasonable prices; I choked when I saw the comment that someone was paying $6.00 for a 6 pack of YoBaby?!  Eek!

Regular whole milk yogurt costs me about $3.69 for 32 oz, or 11 1/2 cents per ounce.  The brand of Greek yogurt I like (tastes the best, has the best texture and has the highest protein content) costs $1.79-$1.89 for a 7 oz container.  Well, that's the price where I will buy it!  It's over $2 many places.  That is 25 1/2-27 cents per ounce.

The cost to try making my own yogurt was $3.29 for the milk, plus the cost of 1/2 cup of yogurt.  I figured it didn't hurt to try, and if it was a disaster, I was just out a few bucks.

I read through all 300something comments and got ready to try.  When it was suggested to get the freshest milk possible, I took that to heart.

Thanks ladies!

Sorry the pics aren't that great, I forgot my camera & took these with my phone.

Just for cutes & awws, a calf less than a month old napping.

About 5 days old.

Saying hello!

Back at home, I got things ready.

Set my crock pot on low.

Ick, why do I not realize how dirty household objects are until I photograph them?

I poured the whole half gallon of milk in the crock pot.

Put the lid on, then set my timer for 2 1/2 hours.

When the timer went off, I unplugged the crock pot, leaving the lid on, and set the timer for 3 hours to allow the milk to cool somewhat.

When the 3 hours of cooling was up, I ladled out 2 cups of the warm milk, and measured out 1/2 cup of my starter yogurt.

Whisked together.

Poured the mixture back in the crock pot.

Stirred.

Then I put the lid back on.  Here's where people seemed to run into problems.  You have to "incubate" the yogurt for about 8 hours, and you need to keep it warm in that time.  People wrapped the crock in towels, put it in the oven, put it in a warmed then turned off oven, put it in the oven with the light on, even put it on heating pads.

I had a ginormous insulated bag, so I put it in there, then left it on the counter!

It stayed in there, overnight, for about 10 hours.  I was anxious to see it in the morning!

Woo-hoo!  Yogurt!!

I spooned out two 1/2 cup portions and froze them, to use as starters for future batches.  Word is, you can only use a batch as starter maybe 5 times, before the bacteria lose potency...or something.

 Many comments said it was too thin, or thinner than store bought.  people were adding powdered milk, gelatin, pudding...mine was great.  I think it must have something to do with the temperature.  Mine seemed to be the same consistency as store bought.

Half, I put in a clean yogurt container.  Mine is on the left.

I thought the homemade yogurt tasted much more mild, almost sweet, compared to the store bought.  I was afraid it would end up too tart.  Next time, I think I will incubate it longer.  Maybe 12 hours.

I wanted to make some Greek yogurt with the other half, so I lined a strainer with opened coffee filters, then set it over a bowl.

Spooned the yogurt in.

I let it sit in the fridge for a few hours, until it seemed like most of the whey had drained, and the consistency was similar to Greek yogurt.

I got almost a cup and a half of whey!  I want to try to use it in pancakes.

The consistency was great!

I dished it out into 4 servings of about 4 ounces each.

Yummy.

Just a little more mild/sweet than store bought.

The yield was about 32 ounces of regular yogurt and 16 ounces of Greek style (volume was reduced by about half by draining).

Cost of regular, about 5 cents per ounce.  Greek about 10.2 cents per ounce.  Much better than 11.5/25.5 cents per ounce for store bought.

I want to try 12 hours next time, and I also want to try with low fat milk.  I was worried that we wouldn't be able to consume it all in the 7-10 days in which homemade yogurt is best, but it's about half gone already in just one day. So, I may make myself a batch of low fat yogurt!  I think it's safe to assume that the nutrition content is equal to that of it's ingredients.  So around 160 calories/8g protein for 1 cup of regular or 1/2 cup of Greek made with whole milk and whole milk yogurt.

No preservatives, added sugar, processing etc.  Just deliciousness!

I also want to try draining some overnight to make yogurt cheese!

Let me know if you give this a try, it seems the key is keeping it warm overnight!