Mailbox Mondays 2/21/11 - Prepping Diapers & Stinky Pails!

 

Every Monday, I will answer reader submitted questions in my Mailbox Mondays post, and ask you to weigh in your opinions.

Questions don't have to be cloth diaper related, just email maria at change-diapers.com with "Mailbox Mondays" in the subject, or Fill out my contact form for readers, which you will always be able to find on my Contact Page.

Julie says:

Hi Maria!!

First off I just want to say I LOVE your blog! It was one of the first cloth diaper related blogs I came across when I was pregnant and looking into cloth diapers. I had a couple of questions for you.

First off, I started my cloth diaper stash with a big purchase so it was easy to just throw all of the items in the wash to prep them all together. Nowadays, I find myself buying one or two diapers or inserts at a time and I would hate to run a laundry load for just a couple of items. Do you have any suggestions for prepping just a couple of diapers or inserts at a time?

Also, my daughter was exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, but now that she is almost 9 months and eating solids, I am finding that her diaper pail is getting MIGHTY stinky. I do try to spray the poopy diapers with my sprayer but that doesn't really seem to be helping. Any other suggestions?

Thanks so so much!

Sincerely,
Julie J.

I really appreciate hearing that you enjoy the blog, and find it helpful!  You really have no idea how warm & fuzzy that makes me feel!

If I get a new diaper that doesn't have special prepping instructions (if it's made of microfiber, microfleece, PUL etc.), I throw it in the wash with my other diapers once, then use it.  Things like organic cotton and hemp usually need to be washed at least three times before using, and will continue to gain absorbency for up to 10 washes. 

The problem is that they need to be washed separately, since the fibers contain natural oils that could be deposited onto your other diapers, and cause them to repel.  Check with the manufacturer/the product packaging, because some companies send natural fiber products partially prepped.  As annoying as it is, and wasteful as it seems, you really do need to wash them separately to protect your other diapers. 

I have heard of people boiling hemp prefolds/inserts to remove the oils faster, but I haven't tried that myself!  I would definitely suggest exercising caution if you try that, and I am not responsible for any burns or fires that may occur, eek!  "Ma'am, what were you doing when the fire started?"  "Errr, well, uhh...I was just...uhh...boiling my...hemp."

As far as your stinky pail goes, my first two suggestions would be to keep the pail open a crack, and to wash more often.  You'd think keeping the pail closed tightly would keep the smell in better, but I find that letting the air circulate means less stink.  Washing no more than every 2-3 days, and washing the liner each time helps quite a bit as well.  Wahmies pail liners have a swatch of fabric at the seam, where you can add a few drops of essential oil to help with the odor.  If yours doesn't have that feature, several WAHMs also make pail powder that you can use to eliminate odors and add scent.

How about you?  How do you prep new diapers when you only have 1 or 2?  How do you combat pail stink?

Kickin' Creations Review & Giveaway (CLOSED 9/21)

I originally contacted Mandy of Kickin' Creations to buy some wool dryer balls.  As it turned out, she was not happy with the new method she was trying (at the time) for making them, and didn't want to sell any to me until she was pleased with how they ended up.

We got to chatting and I agreed to review her cloth diaper safe laundry detergent, deodorizer powder (pail powder) and baby legs.  (She also sells sugar scrubs, burp cloths and more!)

Kickin' Creations items are normally shipped in nice, heat-sealed bags.  Since mine were samples, they were shipped in regular baggies. 

I received the detergent and pail powder, both in Wild Cherry Blossom scent.  Other scent options include: Sweet Pea & Jasmine, Lavender Essential Oil, Apple Cinnamon, Fresh Linen and Unscented.

I've had such a hard time with detergent, that I was really surprised and impressed by Kickin' Creations.  Like the other scented detergents I've used, the scent was very strong.  I could smell it as soon as I opened my mailbox!  I'm a little more sensitive to smells than others, so I put the detergent and pail powder in an OXO container for storage.  Like that, it made my laundry room smell great!

Each bag of detergent contains up to 70 wash loads, and sells for $15.00 plus $4.95 shipping.  A half-batch sample pack sells for $8.00 plus shipping.  The instructions are to use 1-2 tablespoons (3 to soak, less per load for an HE machine.) 

The first time I used it, I used a little more than I needed to.  After that, I used a little bit less, and while the laundry room smelled great while washing, the diapers rinsed clean.  When they were finished, they had a faint scent, but just smelled clean.  I used the whole bag (it lasted at least a week, I should have kept track!) and it worked wonderfully.

I use a Planet Wise large hanging wet bag as a pail, and don't have a lot of stink issues.  However, since I've started washing every other day, things get a little...eh..."gamey" by wash day.  The Stink Be Gone All Purpose Deodorizer Powder is available in the same scents as the detergent, and a 10 ounce package sells for $5.00 plus shipping. 

If you used it in a shaker bottle (relabeled for safety!) like an empty baby powder or spice container, it would be very easy to sprinkle a bit in your diaper pail or trash can. I just shook a little bit out of the bag onto the diapers as I added them to the pail & noticed some stink.  It really did a good job of neutralizing the odor.  My laundry room (where I keep my pail!) smelled fresh, not like flowery dirty diapers, hee hee.

Last up are the baby legs.  You really have to cut me some slack on my pictures.  Lately, trying to photograph my son feels like trying to photograph a squirrel on redbull.

The pair I received are navy blue, and like other WAHM baby legs, they are made from knee socks.

Mandy also makes a "Tiny Legs" version of baby legs for 0-3 month olds.  They sell for about $5.00 plus shipping.

I am looking forward to using these when the weather gets cooler and he gets that chilly gap between socks and pants!

Kickin' Creations sells both in the Cuties with Cloth Booties Congo (CWCB) on Hyenacart and the Bliss Congo.  Her CWCB store stocks tomorrow, September 15th.

Giveaway: Mandy is offering one reader his/her choice of any one in-stock item!  (Value up to $15.00)


Here's how to enter: All entries go in the form below.  Feel free to leave a comment about the post, or simply to remind yourself that you entered however, comments will not be counted as entries.  Mandatory entries include name, email address and the item you like best after visiting the Kickin' Creations CWCB store.  You may "like" the Kickin' Creations Facebook page for a bonus entry, and double your chances!  This post will be updated daily (or so) with the # of entries received, for those of you who like to know your odds.


I will accept entries until Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 at 9 P.M. Eastern.  I will select a winner using random.org's true random number generator and notify him/her by email.  View my giveaway rules page for complete details.  This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

# of entries as of September 21st, 2010 at 8:30 P.M.: 116



FTC Compliance: I was provided with review samples for the cost of shipping, and a giveaway winner will receive a free item as well.  I was not otherwise compensated for this post; I was not required or requested to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.