Family Cloth...what nobody ever told you - Page 5

[bjorker]

Question for you all-- do you sew the edges of your cloth to avoid freying? Do you need to, or only with certain fabrics ... ?

I've been inspired to go cloth by posts here in the past, but I still haven't made the step towards doing so. I tried to, but I thought I needed to sew up the edges, and I couldn't navigate the big ol' clunker of a sewing machine that I'm borrowing. I don't know too much about such things, so I thought I had to-- but if it's just an old T-shirt... do I not need to do that?

If not, I'm totally shredding up old clothes tomorrow night.

I'm all excited again. You guys rock!

[jenoline]

Originally Posted by bjorker

Question for you all-- do you sew the edges of your cloth to avoid freying? Do you need to, or only with certain fabrics ... ?

I've been inspired to go cloth by posts here in the past, but I still haven't made the step towards doing so. I tried to, but I thought I needed to sew up the edges, and I couldn't navigate the big ol' clunker of a sewing machine that I'm borrowing. I don't know too much about such things, so I thought I had to-- but if it's just an old T-shirt... do I not need to do that?

If not, I'm totally shredding up old clothes tomorrow night.

I'm all excited again. You guys rock!

I didn't bother sewing the edges...I'd never have gotten started if I needed to do that (although I had planned on it at one point). The edges ravel a little bit, but not too much. I think it will take a long time before they ravel enough to not be useable any more.

Just be sure to cut your wipes big enough. There's another thread where the mama cut them too small and they weren't absorbing enough. I find that cotton t-shirts are not as abosrbant as flannel items.

[Juliensiss]

TMI I know. What do you do with the cloth if there is alot of BM on it? I also want to switch to cloth wipes for baby and toddler. When there is alot do you swish? Does any one have a measured wet solution? I am need specifics

[CryPixie83]

Originally Posted by Juliensiss

TMI I know. What do you do with the cloth if there is alot of BM on it? I also want to switch to cloth wipes for baby and toddler. When there is alot do you swish? Does any one have a measured wet solution? I am need specifics

I would just handle poopy wipes the same way you handle poopy dipes (assuming you use cloth).

To the previous poster, I have a few cloth wipes now that I made a couple nights ago out of an extrememly well-worn Gap t-shirt, I just cut them into 6 inch (roughly) squares, no sewing required. I'll be raiding our clothes as we're packing to move this week for other absorbant, but well-worn clothes I can cut up.

DH saw the cloths on the back of the tank the other day and asked if I had switched to cloth tp and shockingly seemed really cool with it. It old him yes, but so far just for pee, I don't have enough wipes made to use for bm yet and I'd like to get a wipes warmer before venturing that direction.

[Beeblebrox]

Originally Posted by Juliensiss

TMI I know. What do you do with the cloth if there is alot of BM on it? I also want to switch to cloth wipes for baby and toddler. When there is alot do you swish? Does any one have a measured wet solution? I am need specifics

When one of us has a BM we spray a little distilled water with a few drops of TTO on our thicker cloth wipes. We wipe and then put in the bin. When it comes time to wash we wash as we would anything else and add a little baking soda for good measure. HTH.

[soybeansmama]

I don't mean to grossify things, but what do you moms do during AF week!?
If you use cloth for these occassions do you put them in a special solution so that they don't stain or smell too terribly?

Sorry if this has already been adressed...

[EricaLeigh]

Weel I use a diva, so I still wipe with cloth, while it is in. I have some dark wipes, so staining, isn't a prob. If I wipe with the diva out, than I rinse the wipe out when I'm done with it.

[SAHMinHawaii]

Originally Posted by sunshinestarr

It's really sad.. I probably go through a roll a day on my own.. I use so much TP it's sick. I'm a real weirdo. This will be much better for me, and I can't wait to start!!!

Just kidding. LOL I am bad with quantity of TP too..i try to be careful but sometimes i just don't pay attention.

[sunshinestarr]

Originally Posted by SAHMinHawaii

Just kidding. LOL I am bad with quantity of TP too..i try to be careful but sometimes i just don't pay attention.

OMG SAHMinHawaaii that's the most adorable picture I think I've ever seen!!! (In your sig)

[SAHMinHawaii]

Thank you. I hadn't looked at the pic in a while. My dh is actually away for school right now, so that pic is bittersweet. My dh said its hard to sleep without us there with him. I told him to put three pillows next to him to make him feel squished. lol

[MCsMom]

This has been a very intersting read. My mom was telling me that she wanted to swich to cloth tp and I thought she was a little strange. But after reading this, I could possibly consider it in the future.

[sunshinestarr]

[momtoNatalee]

B/c of this thread I switched to family cloth and LOVE IT!!! I hate paper TP now and will NEVER go back. Thanks for all the great info!

[sunshinestarr]

I still haven't switched. I'm kinda scared to. While I was still pregnant, I brought it up to DH and he suggested that we see how the cloth wipes work with the baby first. Well DS is 9 weeks old and the cloth wipes are going great.. I need to read this thread again to get my courage back,

[kellid]

i'm so glad this thread is back. i haven't done it either, but i think about it alot. i would be the only on in the house to do it, then when my son potty trains he might do it to, depending on if my husband gets his thought on him and tells him how weird mamma is for doing it. dh did admit though that cloth wipes were more efficient that wet wipes, so.........:

[Pen]

We made the switch a while back and now we can't imagine being dependent on TP again. At first DH was: 'fine - whatever YOU want to do YOU go ahead and do but that's just not for me.'

I don't know when it happened but we haven't had TP inthe house for quite sometime. And yes, DH still lives here.

The funny thing is when we are expecting company, Dh has to go out for a six pack and TP.

[kellid]

Originally Posted by Pen

The funny thing is when we are expecting company, Dh has to go out for a six pack and TP.

[StrongSingleMama]

I am so glad I read this. I know it sounds dumb but even though I use cloth wipes for DD I never even considered using them for myself. I talked to DH about this and he was grossed out and is totally against it but I think I am going to try it. I am pregnant and have to pee all the time so I go through TP like crazy this would def. help cut down on costs.

I have a few questions though. Can I just keep the used wipes in a wet bag like I use for diapers? Can I wash them with DD's diapers and wipes? Should I use them wet or dry or does it matter? If I use them wet should I just spray them with water or is there a solution that you all use on them?

[BeagleMommy]

For anyone nervous about making the switch, try this.
Just use it for pee. After a few days of the softness of t-shirt on my sensitive parts, I was sold. And the rest has just evolved.

I'm thinking of getting a pretty stainless steel trash can for the used wipes that can double as a cloth diaper holder when the baby makes his or her appearance.

It's really the best use for old t-shirts I can think of. It also worked well with DH's old undies- the nice, soft boxer briefs that are too small now. I say, go for it! It's not as strange as it sounds.

[StrongSingleMama]

^the t-shirt thing is a good idea. I think I am going to try that! Like you said I think I will ease into it slowly and just try using it for #1 and then maybe as time goes on use it for number 2 as well.