Mailbox Mondays 1/24/11 - Discolored inserts

 

Every Monday, if I've received a submission, I will answer reader submitted questions.  Questions don't have to be cloth diaper related, just email maria at change-diapers.com with "Mailbox Mondays" in the subject!

Rachell says:

Hi Maria

I have a question about inserts.
Some of my Microfiber inserts have discolored to a light brown with darker brown streaks. Is this ok? And what can cause this?

Rachell

Hi Rachell.  The first thing that comes to mind is discoloration from mineral deposits in your water.  Do you have hard water?  Do you notice buildup/stains in your sinks, bathtubs/showers or toilets?

Is your other white laundry (non-diaper laundry) discolored too?  Are you having stink issues?  Was the discoloration gradual or sudden?  What is your wash routine?

I know that's a lot of questions!  If you have hard water, you will most likely be having buildup issues in your sinks etc. and be having stink issues with your diapers.  If that's the case, you may need a detergent designed for washing cloth diapers hard water, like Rockin' Green's hard rock.

If you're not having any of the other typical hard water issues, you may need to switch up your wash/rinse routine a little bit.  I do get a little bit of streaking staining when a messier BM seeps into the insert.  The best treatment for stains seems to be some good, old fashioned sun!

Another thing to try (if you don't have an issue with bleach) is to wash the inserts only with about 1/4 cup of bleach.  Then, continue to rinse the inserts until there are no suds and no residue in the water, and you no longer smell the bleach.

I do think the cause of the discoloration is most likely to be deposits from your water, but if you aren't having any issues with stink or repelling, it's really just a cosmetic issue!

How about the rest of you, have you had this type of discoloration?  Did you discover what was causing it?

The future of Cloth, Part III of ? Types and sizing

This is part 3 of my ramblings on the future of cloth.  See Part 1 and Part 2 if you missed them!

As modern cloth evolves, I expect to see more "hybrid" diapers like the Amp Duo Diaper and the Softbums Omni.  Diapers that allow you to use them as a pocket diaper, all-in-two, or a cover with prefolds.  So you don't necessarily have to choose and invest in just one type.  We've already seen a pretty big boom with the hybrid/all-in two styles with wipe-able shells like the Best Bottom Diapering System, the Flip and others.

I also hope/expect to see even more insert options, more natural fibers, trim inserts, perhaps combined with a soft, wicking fabric on top, like microfleece.  I think if there were even more disposable/flushable/compostable inserts available, it would help people test the waters with cloth, and realize that washing the inserts really isn't a big leap!

One-size diapers have gained enormous popularity in the past few years.  When I researched cloth in 2004 for my daughter, I don't recall seeing any pocket diapers with the "snap down" rise one-size feature that is so common today.  Bumgenius was founded in late 2005, but I don't know who was the first to do this style.  I believe the "one size" fold down rise that's common on fitted diapers today, was introduced by Mother-Ease.

While they are great, in the future I see more companies considering a two-size system like the Thirsties Duo Diaper.  I didn't start cloth diapering my son until he was about 14 pounds at 4 months old, so I don't have experience cloth diapering a newborn.  Many "one size" diapers claim to fit starting at 6 or 8 pounds, but I hear many say they didn't fit well until about 10 pounds, and I don't at all doubt that is truth.  This means that most people will need to purchase newborn/extra-small diapers, unless they plan to use disposables in the beginning.

On the other end of the spectrum, Moms with larger babies or late potty trainers (learners) say the "one-size" diapers didn't fit through potty training.  Not only that, but you can't necessarily expect a diaper that's been in constant use for 2 1/2-3 years, to last through another child.

The two size diapers seem to be the perfect compromise between sized and one-size diapers.  No need to buy newborn, one-size and extra-large, or newborn, small, medium etc.  Two sizes truly cover the range from newborn to potty training.  it seems like such an ingenious idea to me, I'm surprised more companies haven't caught on.  I am still hoping that Bumgenius will come out with a mini-one size pocket diaper!

I think I'm going to stop here since I'm trying not to make these posts tl;dr worthy (too long, didn't read!)  I have more on my mind about the future of cloth, so stay tuned!

Mailbox Mondays 11/8/10

Every Monday I will answer user submitted questions. They don't have to be about cloth diapering! I'll always answer questions via email, but if you would like your question to be answered in a Mailbox Mondays post, send an email with the subject "Mailbox Mondays" to Maria at change-diapers dot com.

Naomi says:

Hey Maria,

Talk to me(us) about hemp vs. bamboo. Any recommendations of brands for a hemp or bamboo insert?

Overnight diapers for my 3 year old are getting pretty bulky. I usually sandwich a terry hemp doubler between two microfiber inserts in a generic pocket. That usually does the trick, but I've only got two of the hemp guys and when I'm out, I stuff the poor pockets to the gills with microfiber (3 inserts or 2 inserts with a mf towel). While dd doesn't seem to care about the bulk, it gets hard to stuff and when family sees her overnight diaper it is pretty comical.

I don't mind bulk, but am wondering which material to try and get inserts of. I've heard a lot about wool covers, but right now can only afford to stay with my pockets for overnight and just get a couple used inserts.

Great question!  I've been fortunate in that several of the diapers I've purchased/reviewed came with natural fiber inserts, and they are definitely top notch for nighttime diapering.

In no particular order, first is the insert that came with my Babykicks Bumboo Pocket Diaper.  This is 55% hemp and 45% cotton.  Babykicks also sells Joey Bunz, Joey Bunz Premium (both sized) and doublers separately.  (There should be some in the CSN giveaway in the Merry Fluffy Christmas event!)  

My Amp Duo Diaper came with a 2-layer hemp insert, as well as a bamboo insert.  The inserts look like a smallish prefold that you trifold, and they also come in 3-layer hemp, as well as organic cotton.
 

My Blueberry Minky was one I bought after only cloth diapering for about a month, and it was my first experience with a microfiber/hemp combo.  It's a one size insert that snaps down to different sizes, and a 3-pack retails separately for $19.95.
 

 
These doublers were kind of random.  They were loose in the package with the Blueberry diapers I bought last year.  I believe they are organic cotton and bamboo doublers but I'm not entirely sure.  I use both of them at night.  I have 4 night time diapers in my rotation right now.  My Guerilla Fluff Utilitarian with a Mobums Wool Interlock Night Night Soaker, a Dypes by Dixon Sweet Slumber fleece pocket stuffed with the superdo, and two Bumgenius 3.0 pockets, one stuffed with a microfiber insert and one of the random hemp/cotton doublers, the other stuffed with the loopydo with the second random doubler in between.
 

 
Speaking of which, I wholeheartedly recommend the Knickernappies Superdo and Loopydo inserts.  I purchased these out of utter desperation when my son was soaking every insert I had, and I was creating a monster leg gap by putting 3 inserts in a pocket.  They really are rather pricey at $7.50 for a loopydo and $12.95 for a superdo, but I think they are worth it.  I tried to be cheap and buy the large size for my son's medium diapers, but they are quite bulky folded over.  I love the microfiber/hemp combo because the microfiber whisks the moisture away from my son's skin, and the hemp locks it away. 

OK, I feel like a paper towel commercial.  Really though, if you are looking for a solution for a heavy wetter, I highly recommend them.  The only problem I have with them is that they can become quite stinky.  When I notice that, I wash (inserts only) with about 1/4 cup of bleach, then rinse rinse rinse until the water is clean and the inserts don't smell like bleach anymore!
 
If I had the money to spend, I'd love to have more superdo/loopydo inserts.  I've been wanting to buy some mediums for a while but I've been trying to stick to the budget!

These are just the inserts I own, there are of course lots of other natural fiber inserts/prefolds out there!

So how about the rest of you?  Do you have a favorite natural fiber insert?

Knickernappies Superdo and Loopydo Inserts

My quest to keep my son dry through the night led me to try several things.  Our Bumgenius 3.0s were working well for a while, but I was having to add so many doublers to the diaper that it was creating a leg gap.  Since my son recently started rolling over on his side at night, this was a problem!

I started reading reviews of inserts on diaperpin as well as many online stores.  The reviews led me to Knickernappies.

The LoopyDo 2G prewashed inserts have 2 layers of hemp french terry as well as 2 layers of microfiber.

Hemp usually requires prepping to remove the natural oils and make it absorbent, but these inserts are prewashed so you an use them right away, though they will continue to become more absorbent with subsequent washings.

Those 4 layers are sewn in a loop so they dry more quickly, saving time and energy costs.

They come in 3 sizes: Small measuring 12"x5.5", Medium measuring 14"x5.5" and Large measuring 16x5.5".  I should have purchased a medium, but I bought a large instead.  I simply folded a portion of it over and stuffed it into the pocket diaper (like a bumgenius one size insert, minus the snap).  It worked wonderfully, though obviously a little bulky.  Not a big deal for me since I was using it at night only. 

It was wide enough to fill the whole pocket as well.  I have a problem with a few of my pocket diapers where the included insert is narrower than the pocket, allowing for gaps and shifting, which always leads to leaks for us.

I used the LoopyDo in a Bumgenius 3.0 pocket diaper on the medium setting, along with the BG insert and a hemp doubler.  I had no leg gap and no leaks, though all of the inserts were saturated in the morning.   I would definitely use a LoopyDo in any pocket diaper for naps, car trips and so forth, but I'd buy the appropriate size.  It's too bulky for daytime when folded over.

I also bought a SuperDo 2G prewashed insert.  These have SIX layers of hemp terry and two layers of microfiber.  This insert is made for heavy wetters and overnight, and is more absorbent than two microfiber inserts together. 

Other than the # of layers, it is the same as the LoopyDo. 

Here it is in a Drybees Fleece night time diaper.

I bought a large in the SuperDo as well and I definitely should have bought the medium.  I am able to use it in my medium diapers but it is much, much too bulky and creates gaps.  I should buy a medium but with a $12.95 MSRP, it will have to wait.  I've spent way too much money on my night time diapering quest over the past month!

Here you can see how much thickness the extra 4 hemp layers in the SuperDo (bottom) add over the LoopyDo (top).

Here you can see both Knickernappies inserts compared to a Bumgenius insert.

The only thing I don't like about these is that they are sized.  Well, I like that they are sized, it really reduces the bulk.  My wallet doesn't like that they are sized!

In short, if you are looking to purchase an insert, buy one of these!  I bought mine from Abby's Lane.  Good prices and fat and free shipping!

Biokleen Bac Out

I had noticed that some of my diapers, specifically the BumGenius, had a stinky smell to them.  It seems that "microfiber stink" is fairly common, but the stink I was experiencing wasn't an ammonia or urine smell, it's more of a musty, wet towel smell.

Enter Biokleen Bac Out Stain & Odor eliminator.

I had read up on it online and found it at my local organic market.  It was $7.99 plus tax for a 32 oz concentrated bottle.  The same size bottle without the sprayer was $1.00 less.

Here is the info as listed on the container:

Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator

with Live Enzyme Cultures:

It seems everyone has a Bac-Out story. Bac-Out’s live enzyme-producing cultures attack pet, food and beverage stains, organic waste, and odors until they are gone, digesting them back to nature, safely and naturally. Bac-Out is safe to use around children and pets, even birds.

• Lime Peel Extract cleaning power

• Destroys the toughest odors so they are gone for good

• Excellent for mold and mildew

• Preferred by commercial carpet cleaners nationwide

It seemed a little spendy, but it is a concentrated bottle and it foams when you spray it.  I wish I could capture that in a photo, but I haven't been able to.  I figured if it saved my inserts from stink, it would be well worth it, being cheaper than new inserts!

I sprayed each diaper and insert quite liberally and used a good bit of the bottle. 

I didn't initially realize that I was supposed to soak the diapers after spraying, I washed them right away.  The spray smelled wonderful, a fresh, lime scent, and left the diapers simply smelling clean.

I even sprayed the washing machine itself, hoping it might help with some of the mustiness I've noticed.

I've got my shower curtain liner soaking now, and I hear it is great for pet odors.  I had used Odo Ban for pet odors in the past, but I'm not a big fan of the eucalyptus scent.

I have to wait & see if it does the trick on the diapers!

Edit August 2010: As of today, the only thing I've found that truly takes the ammonia smell out of my microfiber inserts is a dab of bleach.