Family Cloth...what nobody ever told you - Page 10

[kellid]

Originally Posted by AmandasMom

cloth is great! I have in my bathroom what DD calls my "butt bottle", its just a bottle filled with water that I rinse with after pee and BM's, then pat dry with the cloth. It's a great system when you have your period too. You can rinse off all the dried blood and all .that and feel fresh and clean.

This seems kind of acrobatic, and possibly very messy......no? I like when the sink is next to the toilet. Lean and wet cloth .

[vivalamama]

How Many? and other newbie questions

So, we just made the switch, woohoo!
my 6yo DD is so excited cause 'now we won't use up more trees'

I cut up some flannel fabric, and we have about 25-ish 6x6 inch wipes... is that enough? It's me, DD1, and occasionally pottylearning dd2. DH isn't on board, yet (resistance is futile ). We do diaper laundry every 2-3 days. How many do you have for your family and how often do you wash?

Also, the flannel doesn't seem *that* absorbent (been washed twice). do I need to use something different or will it get better with more washes?

And finally, I got a little metal trashcan, with the stepper-on-er pop up lid thingy (I love the interesting word usements I structure ) and don't quite know what to use as a liner. Right now I just have a grocery sack in there. I tried putting a wetbag in there, but it was red and looking at it just gave this crazy 'BIO-HAZARD Do Not Touch' vibe :

I think that's it for now... I've been thinking about doing this for a while now- thank you for the inspiration!

[wallacesmum]

It's just me and ds, and I think we have about that many, but maybe a few more. See how it goes. There are different weights of flannel. The heavier old bed sheets are the best, IMO. If you are comfortable with this, you could check your Goodwill and see if they have some cotton flannel sheets; might be an inexpensive approach. For a can liner, we use dh's old soccer ball bag, but we are using a big open pail because we have diapers too. Doesn't smell at all, actually. They make mesh laundry bags, which is what I would recommend, if you don't have a former soccer player in the house.

[rere]

Originally Posted by CKinAK

So, we just made the switch, woohoo!
my 6yo DD is so excited cause 'now we won't use up more trees'

I cut up some flannel fabric, and we have about 25-ish 6x6 inch wipes... is that enough? It's me, DD1, and occasionally pottylearning dd2. DH isn't on board, yet (resistance is futile ). We do diaper laundry every 2-3 days. How many do you have for your family and how often do you wash?

Also, the flannel doesn't seem *that* absorbent (been washed twice). do I need to use something different or will it get better with more washes?

And finally, I got a little metal trashcan, with the stepper-on-er pop up lid thingy (I love the interesting word usements I structure ) and don't quite know what to use as a liner. Right now I just have a grocery sack in there. I tried putting a wetbag in there, but it was red and looking at it just gave this crazy 'BIO-HAZARD Do Not Touch' vibe :

I think that's it for now... I've been thinking about doing this for a while now- thank you for the inspiration!

I used two layers of flannel.

You'll be able to tell quite quickly how many you need but it sounds like you have a good amount.

I don't have a liner in the pail.I just spray it down with vinegar after I dump the wipes in the wash.

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by rere

I don't have a liner in the pail.I just spray it down with vinegar after I dump the wipes in the wash.

That's exactly what we do. Lately I've also taken to adding some borax to the bottom of the pail as well.

[rere]

Originally Posted by pampered_mom

That's exactly what we do. Lately I've also taken to adding some borax to the bottom of the pail as well.

OOO..I have some borax.Maybe I'll do that.

[mykdsmomy]

I am so intrigued by this but have two stumbling blocks...first, the "ick" factor. I could maybe handle my own dirty wipes but the thought of my entire family's booty stains just makes me queazy.

The second and bigger fear is GERMS.....I think vinegar would be diluted, no?

[MommyErin]

Originally Posted by mykdsmomy

I could maybe handle my own dirty wipes but the thought of my entire family's booty stains just makes me queazy.

OMG!! <wiping crumbs off keyboard>
LOLOLOLOLOL!

Though when I think about it, DH's (Bless his heart) underwear has skid marks, DD's too, for that matter, and DS is potty learning so we have an accident at least once a day. I'm already dealing with plenty of "booty stains" -- what's a few more??

[mama_daba]

i really want too do this but i don't have my own washing machine and i get embarrassed easily washing my cloth pads so i imagine this would be harder for me. i am thinking after my baby is born i will start using cloth wipes for the baby and then maybe use them for myself just when i pee.

my husbands only worries about it has to do with his very hairy butt (makes it hard for him to wipe). otherwise if we had a washing machine and dryer he would bee all for it.

[vivalamama]

Originally Posted by moonfroggy

i really want too do this but i don't have my own washing machine and i get embarrassed easily washing my cloth pads so i imagine this would be harder for me.

I'm guessing no one at a laundromat would have a clue as to their actual purpose, you know? Looks just like a baby washcloth. Not to make you paranoid, but I think cloth pads would be more conspicuous.

As far as the liner goes... would any moisture or 'yuck' or borax or whatever mess up the inner of a metal pail, rusting or whatever? I have a mesh laundry bag for delicates (like I own anything delicate, ). so maybe that would work?

If you use borax, do you need to do an extra rinse in the laundry? (which I would anyway if they were in with the diapers, but if I threw some in with the towels, say). I'm not really familiar with the use of borax.

I forgot to say that I sewed my wipes up, so they are two layers, it just doesn't seem like the flannel itself is really absorbent. maybe just needs more washing....

[rere]

Originally Posted by CKinAK

As far as the liner goes... would any moisture or 'yuck' or borax or whatever mess up the inner of a metal pail, rusting or whatever? I have a mesh laundry bag for delicates (like I own anything delicate, ). so maybe that would work?

If you use borax, do you need to do an extra rinse in the laundry? (which I would anyway if they were in with the diapers, but if I threw some in with the towels, say). I'm not really familiar with the use of borax.

I forgot to say that I sewed my wipes up, so they are two layers, it just doesn't seem like the flannel itself is really absorbent. maybe just needs more washing....

I have a plastic pail so I'm not sure about the metal can.

I do an extra rinse with vinegar whenever the wipes are in the wash.My gal is done with dipes so they're allways in with something else.

I found old recieving blankets to be more absorbent than the flannel but the flannel has worked fine.Plus a lot of the time I'm wetting the flannel to wipe my gal's butt.She likes the warm water.

[rere]

Originally Posted by moonfroggy

i really want too do this but i don't have my own washing machine and i get embarrassed easily washing my cloth pads so i imagine this would be harder for me. i am thinking after my baby is born i will start using cloth wipes for the baby and then maybe use them for myself just when i pee.

my husbands only worries about it has to do with his very hairy butt (makes it hard for him to wipe). otherwise if we had a washing machine and dryer he would bee all for it.

Cloth would probably be easier on the hairy butt.Especially if he gets it wet first.

[mama_daba]

Originally Posted by rere

Cloth would probably be easier on the hairy butt.Especially if he gets it wet first.

i thin so to but for some reason it worries him a lot

[Wild Flowers]

My dh is pretty hairy. He much prefrers a wet wipe to tp now. Much prefers.

[TrishWSU]

Originally Posted by mykdsmomy

I could maybe handle my own dirty wipes but the thought of my entire family's booty stains just makes me queazy.

I just throw mine in a wet bag, then dump the whole thing in the wash so I wouldn't know which booty stains belong to me or BF! And like a PP mentioned~I already wash his undies, and while I don't look for 'em I'm sure they have some stains on them too!

[Abarat]

Just hopping on here to check in. Thanks thomlynn for pointing me to this thread!
I'm getting ready to make the switch and have been learning a lot reading over these posts. Wish me luck as I convince DH. I have no clue how it's going to go over with him.

Thanks!

[Yooper]

A year (and change) ago, this thread inspired me to switch my whole family to cloth. Dd had just potty learned and we had all of her CDing wipes sitting around. Dh did not even think to protest. We were both unemployed at that time and needed to keep spending down. Even the little things count.

Anyway, I thought I would share some of the logistical tricks I use. We have two bathrooms. One also has the washer so we just throw the wipes in directly. The other is upstairs. I use a little flip top, plastic bin that we had sitting around from many many other uses. I line it with an old pillow case. This is nice because I do not have to look at anyone's booty marks. I throw the entire pillowcase in the wash. And it has never stunk

We started with dd's old wipes. They have quite a history. I thought I would share for comic value......

The wipes started out as flannel sheets. Dh got them as a HS graduation gift in 1993. They lived on his dorm bed for two years (we went to school in a really cold climate). Then they lived on his apartment bed for two years. Then we got married and they went on the guest bed. They started getting ratty so they turned into our camping sheets. After they developed a hole in the fitted sheet, the top sheet made a brief stint as our picnic blanket. Then both parts were used again to cover our bikes in the garage during the winter and our skis during the summer. We got a better garage and had dd. So I made them into double layer wipes. They wiped her for 2.5 years and are now our family cloth Talk about recylcing.......

I have gone on to make more as some of the original wipes have worn through and we just needed more (I only wash wipes once a week). So I hit the second hand store and got another set of flannel sheets (history unknown) for $1.50. I also have a jersey top sheet that I bought on the same trip to the second hand store. After re-reading this thread, I have decided to make them into nose wipes. We use hankies now but they still seem too rough.

I am no expert on the washing and germs issue. I am pretty lax in that area. I even line dry them indoors during the winter. I do, of course, wash them on hot and use a vinegar rinse. But I do wash them with other items. Usually white clothing (socks and undies). I just cannot handle a not-full washer.

[Shirelle]

The wipes started out as flannel sheets. Dh got them as a HS graduation gift in 1993. They lived on his dorm bed for two years (we went to school in a really cold climate). Then they lived on his apartment bed for two years. Then we got married and they went on the guest bed. They started getting ratty so they turned into our camping sheets. After they developed a hole in the fitted sheet, the top sheet made a brief stint as our picnic blanket. Then both parts were used again to cover our bikes in the garage during the winter and our skis during the summer. We got a better garage and had dd. So I made them into double layer wipes. They wiped her for 2.5 years and are now our family cloth Talk about recylcing.......

That is SO awesome. I love hearing how creative people can be with recycling.

We are still using regular TP....I will admit that family cloth seemed extreme to me, but I am really getting used to the idea. I recently made the switch to Mama cloth. I made my mama cloth out of ratty cloth diapers that were falling apart, and one of dh's old flannels. Dh thought the idea was absolutely horrific at first, but I just went ahead and did it.....hey, the first time he has a period, he can decide how to deal with it

Now, I'm really contemplating family cloth. We spend about $1.25 a week on TP, and every little bit helps.

[kellid]

Another funny story. My husband did not even know I clothed because he bauked about it when I first mentioned it to him. I use wipes on 9mo and 3yo. So I converted too, without his knowledge. There has always been and ongoing battle of who used the last of the toilet paper and did not replace the roll. Well, in was him of course and he tried to blame me a couple of times and finally I told him it wasn't me, I don't even use it, and he looked at me suprised at first......then when he understood the situation, the look on his face was priceless. The toilet paper roll get changed now. He tried leaving the one bathroom empty for the longest time to try to prove a point until he emptied the 2nd bathroom and didn't have a choice but to change it, OR CONVERT! I'll let you know if that miracle happens.

[rere]

Yooper you're a genius.A pillow case...that's what I need.My wet bags don't fit into my pail and I didn't like the idea of using a plastic bag everytime.It's been working fine with no pail liner but sometimes I wish I didn't have to bring the whole pail down stairs.I never thought of an old pillow case.Thanks for sharing!