Just have to share...

I just have to share..


I got my detergent in the mail today and I am listening to the final rinse cycle for the diapers and doublers!!!!!!! To save time, energy and water, Dave and I decided to boil the diapers to loosen the wax instead of washing them 5-6 times. Washing involves a cold rinse, hot wash and cold rinse, plus drying the diapers fully before putting them in for another wash. Total time for one load: about 2 hours. Multiply 2 by 6.. 12 hours to fully prep my prefold diapers. 


Why do I have to "prep" my diapers? Because the manufacturing process leaves a lot of cotton wax in the diapers that will repel moisture. Not good for absorbency!! In order to remove this waxy build-up, you need to wash your diapers in super hot water with cloth diaper-safe detergent many times to really get it out. Boiling the diapers gets a TON of wax out and cuts your prep washes down to one. ONE. So I boiled about 4 at a time between two big pots and was done with the boiling process in about 2 hours. Dave was a huge help with stirring and transferring the hot diapers into the sink for me. After all the diapers and doublers (layered cotton pads that are for extra absorbency) were boiled, I put them through a cold rinse to wash out the waxy water, then did a hot wash with my Rockin Green detergent and cold rinse. Now I just have to put them in the dryer on low and I will have newborn diapers for Baby E!!!


I'm just so excited about cloth diapering, can you tell? Will post more about the diapers and include pictures when everything is all set! It's good night/morning for now - I'm exhausted from all this diaper stuff.


~Christine