Family Cloth Questions: Specifics

[Vienna77]

I've been reading through the threads here on the Family Cloth and am interested in getting started, however, I have a few questions that I don't see answered yet on here (or maybe I just missed it!).

First, I don't have a young child, so no cloth diapers. It's me, my partner, and his 12 year old son.

From what I've read, it seems like people keep cloths on top of the toilet with a spray bottle to moisten them. Questions:

1. What do people mix in the spray bottle?
2. Do you keep wipes separate (i.e.: pink for mom, blue for dad, green for kid) so that you are not sharing? Or do you share?
3. It seems some people like a pail with a bit of Bac-out and water in the bottom while others prefer a dry bucket that you just toss right in the wash. I probably do laundry once a week, maybe two, so what would my best option here be?
4. If I do use a dry bucket, will I need to worry about smell? I don't have a diaper pail so would likely be using a regular trash can.
5. For messy #2s, do you "scrape off" the cloth before you toss it in the bucket?

Thanks for helping me out. This is a totally new concept to me, but after reading about it, I'm anxious to try. I see no reason not to!

[broodymama]

1. What do people mix in the spray bottle?
We don't use a spray bottle, if we want them wet we just reach over to the sink.

2. Do you keep wipes separate (i.e.: pink for mom, blue for dad, green for kid) so that you are not sharing? Or do you share?
We share. If my washer doesn't get them clean enough so that we can share them, then there's a problem with my washer. I have a basket full in my bathroom and for the kids most of them just live in the changing table (2 kids in cloth still) and I grab a handful for the other bathroom as needed. Keeping them separated would be a huge PITA for me.

3. It seems some people like a pail with a bit of Bac-out and water in the bottom while others prefer a dry bucket that you just toss right in the wash. I probably do laundry once a week, maybe two, so what would my best option here be?
You might just want to experiment and see which method you like best. We use a dry pail (a small stainless lidded trash can with a Chico bag as a pail liner) and when it starts to get full I go ahead and wash a load of wipes.

4. If I do use a dry bucket, will I need to worry about smell? I don't have a diaper pail so would likely be using a regular trash can.
We just use a small trash can like this, and have never had a problem with smell.

5. For messy #2s, do you "scrape off" the cloth before you toss it in the bucket?
No, haven't had any problems with it.

[lapis]

[cristeen]

Well, I use cloth for pee only, which takes care of several of your questions. And since they're pee only, I'm the only one using them.

I don't keep any water on hand - not necessary for pee. And when it's TOM, then I just lean over to the sink if necessary.

I use a dry pail with a lid - just a basic garbage can. Unless you get pretty close, you're not going to smell it. One of the benefits of a non-airtight can is that pee-only cloths will dry pretty quickly.

[Amanda L]

1. What do people mix in the spray bottle?
I just use the sink if I need them wet.

2. Do you keep wipes separate (i.e.: pink for mom, blue for dad, green for kid) so that you are not sharing? Or do you share?
My husband rarely uses them and my son is still in diapers, but I don't separate - too much trouble!

3. It seems some people like a pail with a bit of Bac-out and water in the bottom while others prefer a dry bucket that you just toss right in the wash. I probably do laundry once a week, maybe two, so what would my best option here be?
I use a dry bucket and wash every two or three days. I would worry about a wet bucket "spoiling". I also tried a wet bucket for soaking during that time of the month and everything I had soaking came out of the washer dingy looking even after I used bleach. That made me pretty hesitant to soak anything else.

4. If I do use a dry bucket, will I need to worry about smell? I don't have a diaper pail so would likely be using a regular trash can.
I use a diaper pail right now, but I have used a trash can with a lid and didn't have smell issues.

5. For messy #2s, do you "scrape off" the cloth before you toss it in the bucket?
I don't (ew). I haven't had any problems, but I always do a cold pre-rinse cycle before my normal hot wash.

Family cloth sounds intimidating until you actually try it. I have found myself wanting to come home to use the restroom because I prefer my cloth to regular toilet paper!

[Vienna77]

This is all helpful. Thanks!

I tried to tell my partner about it last night, and I barely got through the first sentence before he was like, "no, no, no. I won't touch you!" I think he thinks it's grosser than it is. He begged me not to try it until we move to a place with two bathrooms. I think I just need to get the stuff and ask him to give me a week.

Guys can be so funny about that kind of stuff!