Family Cloth...what nobody ever told you - Page 3

[MamaRabbit]

I would love to use cloth TP and diapers, but we don't have a hot water washing machine. Only cold. The only hot water in the whole house comes from the electric water heater for the shower. Any suggestions?

[EricaLeigh]

Could you take certain loads to a laundomat, or relatives house?

[veggiekicks]

so, am I the only one who has had to fish a few wipes out of the toilet? It's hard to break the habit of throwing my tp in the toilet after wiping. It's been a week or two since my last mishap, so maybe I'm over it now.

Other than that, the cloth wipes are great! It's so nice to see how long a roll of tp lasts now that we're only using it for #2... Every time I dump my wipes into the laundry I can't help but think how cool it is that I saved that much paper

[EricaLeigh]

Originally Posted by veggiekicks

so, am I the only one who has had to fish a few wipes out of the toilet? It's hard to break the habit of throwing my tp in the toilet after wiping. It's been a week or two since my last mishap, so maybe I'm over it now.

I think I threw 1 in, the kids did a couple times. But I guess I'm really pretty consious of it.

Originally Posted by veggiekicks

Other than that, the cloth wipes are great! It's so nice to see how long a roll of tp lasts now that we're only using it for #2... Every time I dump my wipes into the laundry I can't help but think how cool it is that I saved that much paper

I think the same thing when I wash them too!

[allaboutcloth]

I love cloth wipes and haven't used TP in forever. We've had the same roll for about a year (it's only their for guests...). You'll get used to it and stop throwing it in the toilet... just takes some time. I keep a bottle of water near the toilet and clean before wiping, I feel that wiping doesn't clean enough.. . I also love cloth tissues. They are so much more gentle on my nose.

[cam&kat's_mom]

I would SO love to ry cloth but when i jsut mentiond it to DH his expresion was priceless. kinda like "you've really lost it woman!!" and oH how DD woudl miss unrolling teh TP in the bathroom. But i think for the kids and I we might give ti a try adn DH only goes to teh bathroom every few days, I swear!, so we'll keep regular TP for him around!

[JefsJen]

I must say I'm not totally sure how I came across this thread. But I'm glad I did. I have NO clue what "EC" means, but I know you kind and loving ladies would enlighten me.

I use cloth diapers on my babies and am expecting number 4 in abut 7 weeks or less now. I am also planning on using the cloth wipes. I always used my peri bottle with homemade wipes solutioin inside and carried that around in my dipe bag.

Now, the reason for my posting, other than asking what "EC" means. LOL I am PG, like I said...and to bathroom I go, all night long... all day long. And I am sick alot. And when I puke, I pee. And I tend to grab a wad of tissue and cover up the area to avoid peeing all over myself or the floor. NOW, if I just used cloth wipes (tp) when I pee'd and when I puked, I would save SOOOO much TP. I told DH about this thread and he was like, "That's rediculous." LOL Well, he takes several "dumps" a day and couldn't handle it and I probably couldn't handle washing all of his poo'd on wipes. So it would only be me doing it.

But I wanted to say thanks for the great idea! I'm gonna try it out! WOOHOO!

[kvan]

Me too! We are now a totally paper-free house except for dh's TP.
We started just after the op (my buddy irl ). My dh doesn't use them, and ds is still in diapers, so it is just me.

I cut up 2 old pique polo shirts and one t-shirt, and have MORE than enough wipes to last until wash day. The pique is the best fabric

We have a two-hanging-bag system for ds's diapers anyway (one poopy, one wet). So I just walk the wipes to the appropriate bag after use.

Our sinks are right next to our toilets, so I can just reach over and wet one when need be.

It is amazing how much paper you save, and it really DOES feel much cleaner.

I still use TP on occasion at home (like when someone is visiting, so I don't have to walk past them on the way to the hanging pails ).

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by JefsJen

I must say I'm not totally sure how I came across this thread. But I'm glad I did. I have NO clue what "EC" means, but I know you kind and loving ladies would enlighten me.

EC= Elimination Communication. Using the potty/toilet with infants, and either not using diapers at all or not using them full-time.

Now, the reason for my posting, other than asking what "EC" means. LOL I am PG, like I said...and to bathroom I go, all night long... all day long. And I am sick alot. And when I puke, I pee. And I tend to grab a wad of tissue and cover up the area to avoid peeing all over myself or the floor. NOW, if I just used cloth wipes (tp) when I pee'd and when I puked, I would save SOOOO much TP.

How much are you peeing when you puke? If it's just a few dribbles, the cloth wipes would be enough, but it might just be easier to use diapers. Like maybe the infant-sized prefolds the new baby doesn't need quite yet?

[Tigerchild]

Huh.

I have been wondering what to do with the cloth pads that I'm retiring (they were getting a little worn out after 8-10 years!). They are frayed at the edges and a little threadbare for actual menstrual use, but I think some can be converted to mama wipes.

[JefsJen]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

How much are you peeing when you puke? If it's just a few dribbles, the cloth wipes would be enough, but it might just be easier to use diapers. Like maybe the infant-sized prefolds the new baby doesn't need quite yet?

nah, it's not enough for one of the NB dipes, just a wipe would do. It's just like a trickle. LOL

Thanks for the clarification on the terminology.

I can't wait to try this out!

[CryPixie83]

Originally Posted by Attila the Honey

I just took some flannel I had laying around and cut it into squares with pinking shears. Some dark colored pieces and some light. I figure that until we discover what works for us the best I am going to keep it very simple.

the flannel doesn't fray?

[Samjm]

Hi Ladies

I so never thought I'd post on a thread about this

Since DD is currently in (cloth) diapers, I think I'm going to switch to cloth tp for at least myself. I can just combine the dirty stuff with my diaper laundry.

I had totally planned to start last night, but AF arrived. I'm just a little squeamish about starting with that, so I may just wait till she's gone before I start.

But I did have a question about cloth TP and menstrual blood. Doesn't the blood stain the cloth? I know it has stained underwear in the past, so I'd assume it would stain any cloth wipes I use too. I don't think I'm comfortable with stained cloth.

When I spoke to DH about switching to cloth last night, his first response was No! When I carried on talking he switched to "LALALALALALALALALALALALA I'm not hearing this"

[CryPixie83]

Originally Posted by Samjm

But I did have a question about cloth TP and menstrual blood. Doesn't the blood stain the cloth? I know it has stained underwear in the past, so I'd assume it would stain any cloth wipes I use too. I don't think I'm comfortable with stained cloth.

When I spoke to DH about switching to cloth last night, his first response was No! When I carried on talking he switched to "LALALALALALALALALALALALA I'm not hearing this"

Hydrogen peroxide will get blood stains out, just like with mama cloth for AF.

BTW your DH sounds like mine.

[~pi]

Originally Posted by CryPixie83

the flannel doesn't fray?

IME, it takes a while to fray. You can just snip the frayed bits off if you want, or you can decide to hem at that point once you've decided that the flannel is the way to go.

I like this thread a lot. We used to use cloth when I was growing up and it was so much more comfortable. I got away from it for a while because of unwilling housemates and/or lack of laundry facilities (I am not dedicated enough to wash cloth wipes by hand; washing my clothes by hand was time-consuming enough for me thankyouverymuch ) but DH and I are talking about doing it now that we're planning to have a babe in CDs and expect to be doing a lot of laundry anyway.

DH is totally on board, and I'm wondering if it's because he has actually tried it. For those with skeptical DH's, maybe if you could convince them to try it for a week, they would come around? It really does feel better. My DH would still prefer a bidet, but that would take more space and money than we have right now.

[kathirynne]

Suggestion

Originally Posted by jodskiinca

Someone else...use[s] a cloth laundry bag inside their tp bucket and when they wash them, they put the open end of the bag into their front loader and push it from the bottom until all of the tp comes out. Then, they toss the cloth laundry bag in with it and start it up!

Could you use a mesh laundry bag instead of a cloth one? (I have one I use for my daughter's ballet tights so that they don't get tangled up with the other clothes.) Then you wouldn't have to even empty it.

I would love to try this idea, but there is NO WAY my teen-age boys would make the switch. They are usually pretty tolerant of my "crunchiness", but I think this would be pushing it. (Maybe I'll just make some "wipes" and use them for myself...)

[Spencersmom]

I just recently switched to using cloth tp. I was so hesitant about telling my dh. He has been so tolerant up to this point but I was sure this would push him over the edge. I busied myself getting everything ready, cut up the t-shirts, got the wet bag, etc. And then I put all the stuff in the bathroom and didn't say a word. He finally said, "hey, what's all this cloth stuff for? You starting to use cloth for toilet paper too?" And I said, "As a matter of fact I am. I figured you didn't need to know since it doesn't really affect you." He says, "Well why not?" I say "because I am only using them for pee so you won't be needing them." After that, all he said was "just make sure you put that stuff away when we have company. I don't want anyone seeing that." I said, "I know, they might think your wife was weird!! " And that is was the end of it. He hasn't said a word since.

So maybe just don't tell your dh until you are doing it. I think maybe it sounds crazier when you say it then when they actually see you doing it. I don't mean ACTUALLY see you doing it but they see how it's laid out and that it really doesn't affect them at all. Then what can they really say?

As for my dh using it, in theory it sounds like a good idea in order to save paper and all that, but I just can't imagine seeing his poopy wipes . That is just wayyyyy TMI for me .

Oh, and I have my AF now. I have been using cloth while my Keeper is in because there is no spotting but when I dump/rinse I use reg tp. I used white t-shirts to make my wipes and I don't want to have them stained. Right now peroxide sounds like too much work. But maybe once I get used to doing this, I would change my mind.

[EricaLeigh]

Hi Karin & Tammy! It is so cool to have friends IRL who are like-minded! I'm so glad so many people who might not have considered wiping with cloth are thinking about it & trying it!

[MaryLang]

Do you think its ok to put the cloth TP in with the cloth dipes even without using vinegar with it? I can only use A&H detergent and hot water, nothing else, my dd is very sensitive to even vinegar in the wash. I'm just worried about contaminating the dipes.

[monkaha]

What size are y'all finding works well? Like when you cut up recieving blankets or tee shirts, how big do you make 'em?

Thanks!