Family cloth - support plz - Page 5

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by bcblondie

I don't. I think the blood would stain if you didn't wash with bleach. I'm going to get teh diva cup, though, so I'll be able to use the cloth wipes all month long!

Does it really matter? I mean, we're talking about cloth you wipe with, right?

But anyway, lots of us use mama cloth and I dunno about anyone else but mine aren't stained. I've used mine for 5 or 6 years. They are faded and I have one that was black but got sort of bleached with something (not bleach, I would never wash with that).

Also (we women are funny this way, aren't we, talking about this stuff) I'm on the rag right now and yes, I'm definitely still using the cloth, and it's coming out of the wash stain free. And the cloths are white. (Well, off white).

I think the important thing is to make sure you wash on cold.

I am not using anything weird like bleach or anything to wash with, just the usual laundry soap mixture (grated dove pure, washing soda and borax).

Oh, and I'm not even bothering to separate these things from the usual laundry. The only thing I did was make sure DH's new white sweater didn't go in with them, that's the only precaution I took.

Everything comes out clean and without even a hint of any odor. The first time I ran these through the wash, I gave all of the cloths a real good, close-up sniff

[bcblondie]

It wouldn't matter except that I use the same cloth for other things as well.

But it's ok, I rarely use pads. I only did these last couple cycles because I had some leftover from when I gave birth (before I knew about FC, mama cloth, etc). I'm using them up and then getting a diva cup.

[zech13_9_goforgold]

Another question: how do you dry your cloth if you line dry? I am thinking that hanging each one up individually would be alot of work (and look silly). So what do you do to dry them?

[accountclosed3]

when i have line dried, i just hang them up individually and don't really care if it looks silly. LOL

[laohaire]

OK, now here's the question in MY head. MIL and FIL are coming to visit in a few days. MIL is great, but she's also kind of an interrogator if you know what I mean. So I am already kind of thinking, should I put these cloths away when she's here? I'm not sure I want to get into a discussion with her about them.

It's not a matter of making a guest use them, we still have TP out and would definitely not expect them to use the cloth. I just don't know if I want to get into one of those discussions in length with MIL on what those cloths are and why we do it and don't we worry about XYZ... blah blah blah.

I mentioned it to DH, he said he didn't care, let her ask. But I know she is going to ask ME, not him!! Anyway I should probably leave it but it does honestly make me squirm a bit to make this known to my extended family. I'd feel the same way with my own mom, I might hide it when she comes next time too. (My father and FIL would never ask, probably never even notice... it's just a nosy mom thing).

[accountclosed3]

of course, it is up to you.

first, i now make DH field all questions and interrogations. in the past, i would answer, but i had to prepare and it just added to my stress. so, i asked DH to do that, and he said "but i don' tknow the answers! i'd have to prepare!" in this shocked/nervous voice. and i told him--what do you think i've been doing all of these years? i've been prepping before we go (or they come)! So now, he'll just say "Mom, we've looked into it, it's fine, it's what we want to do." and that's that.

[bcblondie]

I just lay my FC on top my dryer and freezer. It doesn't dry as fast but its easier than hanging each one.

As for guests asking about it... I don't have a separate pail for it, just DS's (covered) cloth diaper pail, so people probably just think my stash of wipes if for wiping DS. No one has ever asked.

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by zoebird

of course, it is up to you.

first, i now make DH field all questions and interrogations. in the past, i would answer, but i had to prepare and it just added to my stress. so, i asked DH to do that, and he said "but i don' tknow the answers! i'd have to prepare!" in this shocked/nervous voice. and i told him--what do you think i've been doing all of these years? i've been prepping before we go (or they come)! So now, he'll just say "Mom, we've looked into it, it's fine, it's what we want to do." and that's that.

I'm lucky in that respect, because DH is perfectly willing to answer his mother! He wouldn't even need to rehearse what he said either. "Yeah, mom, we wipe our behinds with those. Help yourself." The thing is, MIL has a way of cornering me when DH isn't anywhere around!!!

I was thinking about why I care, and I think it was just remembering *MY* reaction when I first heard of FC. DH's reaction was the same. Now, obviously we've come around but mostly because I kept reading about it and exposing myself to it. I just picture MIL learning what those are and forever thinking whatever she would think about it, because it's extremely unlikely she'll ever come across anyone else who uses it, or will read about it in a magazine, or anything (she doesn't surf online, and other sources of information on ths subject are pretty minimal).

[proudmomof4]

Originally Posted by laohaire

I'm lucky in that respect, because DH is perfectly willing to answer his mother! He wouldn't even need to rehearse what he said either. "Yeah, mom, we wipe our behinds with those. Help yourself." The thing is, MIL has a way of cornering me when DH isn't anywhere around!!!

I was thinking about why I care, and I think it was just remembering *MY* reaction when I first heard of FC. DH's reaction was the same. Now, obviously we've come around but mostly because I kept reading about it and exposing myself to it. I just picture MIL learning what those are and forever thinking whatever she would think about it, because it's extremely unlikely she'll ever come across anyone else who uses it, or will read about it in a magazine, or anything (she doesn't surf online, and other sources of information on ths subject are pretty minimal).

I think I can relate, I haven't even come out to my husband about it! But then, "strange" reactions seem to be the price we're paying from time to time for being not-so-mainstream. Your MIL (or whoever) doesn't need to like your decision. You've gone through your thought process and that's it then.
If she's really weirded out by FC there's probably no need to worry anyway because she might not even want to talk about it again.

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by proudmomof4

If she's really weirded out by FC there's probably no need to worry anyway because she might not even want to talk about it again.

Oh, she would talk about it again No worries on that

But so far (they are here) they haven't asked. And I haven't put them away. And we have kept using them.

[accountclosed3]

i get cornered too.

i say "it's all under control" or "we are happy with our choices."

seriously, MIL was HARPING about the chicken pox vax, and i just kept saying "we've talked to our doctor and are happy with our choice." she finally stopped asking.

[proudmomof4]

Originally Posted by laohaire

Oh, she would talk about it again No worries on that

Oh, so you got THAT kind of MIL!

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by proudmomof4

Oh, so you got THAT kind of MIL!

Heck, my own mother is like that. At least I love both of them

[BedHead]

OK, for someone who is new to this idea, can someone walk me through exactly how you use these things? I gather that it's up to me if I want to use them for both pee and poop, but I'm confused about how to store them till they're washed. I have teenagers so don't have a diaper pail, and when I did it was just a plastic thing with a lid that I dumped vinegar into. Do I really need a fancy stainless steel contraption? Or would an ice cream pail do? Does it need something in it? You say wash on cold? Or is that just for mama cloths? (I want to start using these too) Could I use one pail for both mama cloths and family cloths and wash them all together? So many questions. FYI I am positive that, at least for now, I will be the only one using the FC.

I also want to sew my own MC and FC - can anyone recommend a website with instructions? That are simple?

Oh, and ETA - what laundry load could I just add them to to wash? Someone said towels, but if I have MC in there too could I still do that? I have always washed my towels on hot - no idea why, just because my mom does.

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by BedHead

Do I really need a fancy stainless steel contraption? Or would an ice cream pail do? Does it need something in it?

You don't need anything fancy. Try something you already have and see if it works. I did that, and figured if it didn't work I'd at least have an idea for what I was lacking and buy that. But what I had worked - just a plastic container with a cloth lid draped over the top. I imagine a hard pail lid would do perfectly too.

Originally Posted by BedHead

You say wash on cold? Or is that just for mama cloths? (I want to start using these too)

It's just the blood you definitely want to wash on cold (to reduce staining). If you use them for Number Two I'd wash them on hot. For Number One I personally wouldn't bother (I wash mine on cold) but that's up to you.

Originally Posted by BedHead

Could I use one pail for both mama cloths and family cloths and wash them all together?

Absolutely. That's one of the advantages I am enjoying now that we use FC. I'd been using mama cloth for years but never really sorted out the management of the used ones. Poor DH would happen upon them in the sink or whatever. Now it's so easy, I just rinse and drop right in the same bucket as the cloth. Perfect.

Originally Posted by BedHead

I also want to sew my own MC and FC - can anyone recommend a website with instructions? That are simple?

FC is probably the easiest thing you could possibly sew, ever. Get material - most environmental is used scraps, old t-shirts, old sheets that you were going to toss, etc. Cotton is best, but I'm using a poly blend flannel from some useless sheets I had and they work perfectly fine. I think approximately 5x5 inch squares work the best. I have my flannel done in two ply, just quick stitches around the edges so they don't unravel. I did some very neatly sewing inside out and pulling it through and finishing off the remaining hole but I decided I didn't care that much and did the rest with right sides out and just finished off the edges.

Mama cloth has more variations and could potentially be more complicated. I did not sew mine, I bought mine from Lunapads. They have snaps. But honestly, if you liked, you could sew mama cloths just like FC, without any snaps or anything, just place them in underwear and that's it. (I've actually used FC in a pinch already and it was fine). I'm sure you can Google patterns, though.

Originally Posted by BedHead

Oh, and ETA - what laundry load could I just add them to to wash? Someone said towels, but if I have MC in there too could I still do that? I have always washed my towels on hot - no idea why, just because my mom does.

I wouldn't wash mama cloth on hot. I think you're going to find everyone has their own rules and standards. I'm on the most relaxed side - I'm not picky about loads, and would only avoid mixing this stuff with fancier clothes, work shirts, white sweaters, that sort of thing. But we're a family that dresses out of the Walmart catalog, iykwim. I think the stricter folks would wash with towels (bath towels, kitchen towels). I think it would be a shame to wash them alone, takes a lot of the environmental aspect out of it.

[BedHead]

laohaire thank you SO much for answering all my questions!!

[proudmomof4]

Guess what - we just were away for a vacation and I missed the FC already! I've never noticed how much papery stuff gets trapped (you know where)...

[bcblondie]

Lol. It's good to be home, eh?

[proudmomof4]

Yeah, it does - even though it felt a bit cold at first. (We were in Thailand for a "summer break", not exactly ecologically sound but a lot of fun.) I'm just surprised that I missed that part of life at home! LOL

On a related note, the diva cup saved me on one of our outings while we were on vacation. The bathrooms were "adventurous" (for lack of a better term) and I don't like to change (tampons or dc) when I can't wash my hands.

Anyway, living in China and having vacationed in Thailand, I can see even more that FC or diva cup / washable menstrual pads do make a lot of sense. There are still a lot of places in the world (Suzhou included) where the wastewater system is just not up for handling large amounts of toilet paper. I can definitely tell the difference in our house.

[bcblondie]

I just got the diva cup and I'm loving it!! I've had a few leaks though, overnight. I think it slides up and compromises the suction. I've been wearing it lower and it seems to have fixed it. Although my flow is lighter too so who knows. Still love it though. lol. I was chnaging tampons hourly. What a waste!