With These Hands

These 12 (Gerber)prefolds are going to get a lot of wear.

Why are they going to get a lot of wear?

Because my washer died. That's why.

Died how you ask?

In the non-draining broken pump kind of way.

We knew it was coming eventually, what with the noises it's been making, but it's still not so much fun when you're a full fledged 100% cloth diapering family.

So yeah, my dozen, cutely embellished because that's how I roll, prefolds are going to be getting a LOT of wear.

Everyone who is big on the hand washing says it's the best way to go, and that makes sense since if I get worried about how clean they're coming, I can boil them, which is something I'd NEVER do with pockets.

So since I've started using prefolds as my primary diaper, yesterday, I've learned something. 1. Three covers is not enough. Since Snapdragon is exclusively Breastfed, there is that whole poo-splosion thing that tends to get on the covers by the leg. Yes, this is because I fold my prefolds in thirds beneath the cover. Why? Because it's E to the A to the S to the Y. EASY.

I do have pins and plastic pants, but they leave red marks on his legs and the pins make me N-E-R-V-O-U-S. Which is strange, since I used them with Mongoosine all the time, but I was 10 years younger and therefore less paranoid.

Of our three covers, we have a Berry Plush, a Thirsties Duo Wrap, and the GroBaby shell set which I use with prefolds after he soaks the snap in soaker. Of these, oddly, I have to say, I like the way the GroBaby works with the prefolds best. The Duo Wrap would probably have my heart a little more, but it's quite nearly too small for my hulking 3.5month old, and so it's a little harder to wrestle on Mr. Snapdragon Rollingpants.

So yeah. I'll be washing these by hand.

From what I've read this means hot hot hot water, possibly disinfecting a plunger to use in my big sink in the garage as an agitator, and getting my self psyched to strip if I need to.

Not me, the diapers. Get your mind out of the gutter and back in the potty where this post started!

I've also read that I might need some sort of hand protective gear since detergents can be nasty on the skin. Eep! With my latex allergy, this should be interesting.

I'll keep you posted!