CD and laundromats?

[sarahope]

Ok, so my situation is DH, DS and I live in a tiny one bedroom without W/D hookups. DS is 4.5 months, and I really really want to switch to CD. I even already know how to use them - I'm the oldest of LOTS of kids and my mom CD'd exclusively. Prefolds and covers are right up my alley.
BUT
We are tied to a laundromat. Which I hate. And I am struggling to see myself hauling that many extra loads over. Even the cost is prohibitive - at 1.75 to wash per (smallish)load and 1.25 to dry, you can see how it would add up.

Do any of you manage to make this work, or are you all in a position to wash at home? I've told DH that when we next move (hopefully this fall) that we HAVE to find a place with hookups and we'll pick up a W/D off of Craigslist. And then it's CD full steam ahead.

Advice/sympathy would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

[curly_mommy]

Do you know if there are any diaper services in your area? That might be a good option, if one is available.

We used to live in a condo without a washer and dryer, and I did wash our cloth diapers in a community laundromat for about a year. It did work, but it was pretty pricey to pay for all those washes. I tried washing them in a counter-top washing machine a few times (which is essentially by hand) but they just didn't get clean enough.

So I've been there, it's hard, but it is doable. I just had to really focus on a schedule for washing and know that on certain days (and certain times of day, since you can't just throw a load in any time) diapers had to be washed.

At the same time, don't stress if it doesn't work out. I had two in diapers for a while while we were washing cloth in the laundromat, and it got to be really overwhelming. I was able to switch to a diaper service until we moved and my life changed. If you don't have a service available, and the laundromat situation proves difficult, I would just put cd'ing on hold for your own sanity!

Good luck!

[sarahope]

thanks curly_mommy, I really appreciate the advice! A service would be great. I haven't heard of any in the area but I will look deeper into it. I've heard that in some cases a service can be pretty cost comparable to sposies. I'm impressed you managed things the way you did even for a little while- two in diapers at the laundromat - wow!!

[sugareemoma]

Originally Posted by curly_mommy

Do you know if there are any diaper services in your area? That might be a good option, if one is available.

We used to live in a condo without a washer and dryer, and I did wash our cloth diapers in a community laundromat for about a year. It did work, but it was pretty pricey to pay for all those washes. I tried washing them in a counter-top washing machine a few times (which is essentially by hand) but they just didn't get clean enough.

So I've been there, it's hard, but it is doable. I just had to really focus on a schedule for washing and know that on certain days (and certain times of day, since you can't just throw a load in any time) diapers had to be washed.

At the same time, don't stress if it doesn't work out. I had two in diapers for a while while we were washing cloth in the laundromat, and it got to be really overwhelming. I was able to switch to a diaper service until we moved and my life changed. If you don't have a service available, and the laundromat situation proves difficult, I would just put cd'ing on hold for your own sanity!

Good luck!

Ohh, please tell me more about the hand powered washer! Did you use a cold soak, then wash then use hot water and still not get them clean? How un-clean were they? Did they still smell or just have some stains? I really want to give one a try to cut back on the mile hike with a backpack of dirty diapers but I don't want to spend $50 unless it will work. I had a washer but it broke and won't be replacd for a few more months.

[guest9955]

naking

i hand wash everything in our plastic wash tub and line dry in our bathroom. we live in an 1bedroom appartment. if you do a little everyday its better. we have mostly prefolds but i just ordered fitteds. :

[junipervt]

I wash at the laundromat & at $2 a load to wash it is still less $ than sposies. I only run 1 hot wash w/ a tiny bit of Allens & have had no stink or repelling issues w/ my natural fiber diapers. I did have a little ammonia w/ some of my microfiber inserts but a soak overnight in a 5 gal bucket w/ vinegar took care of that. You could always hang to dry. or run 1 dry cycle then hang whatever is still damp. I use 5 gal buckets as my pails, so I just bring the pails w/ me & dump in the washer. I've been doing this for 10m & the diaper washing is actually easier than my regular laundry.

I also have a diaper sprayer hooked to my toilet, so I spray the poop off into the toilet before the diaper goes in the pail.

[curly_mommy]

Originally Posted by sugareemoma

Ohh, please tell me more about the hand powered washer! Did you use a cold soak, then wash then use hot water and still not get them clean? How un-clean were they? Did they still smell or just have some stains? I really want to give one a try to cut back on the mile hike with a backpack of dirty diapers but I don't want to spend $50 unless it will work. I had a washer but it broke and won't be replacd for a few more months.

I wouldn't recommend the hand powered washer at all. They smelled and were overall nasty, but I might have just had a really bad experience. You would probably have more luck washing by hand in a tub, like lietuvama.

[sarahope]

thanks

thank you, all of you. it's great to hear stories from in the trenches: