Cleaning routines and pail methods

[FluffyPeanut]

I was using cloth, but took a 3-month break and now I'm ready to start using them again. But before I do, I have a few questions.

What is your cleaning routine? Does anyone here use coin-operated machines?

Do you use seperate diaper pails for the wet and soiled diapers or do you stick them all into one pail? I was using seperate pails for the wet and dirty diapers so that I could throw the dirty diapers through one load (in order to get rid of the poop) without dirtying the wet diapers in the process (I use coin-operated machines, so I don't have the option of throwing them through a spin-cycle). Now that I'm expecting baby#2, I'm wondering if it would be silly to have four diaper pails, rather than two.

If you have two children in cloth diapers, do you use seperate pails for each of their diapers or throw them all into the same pail? It seems kinda gross to me to throw them all together.

[Carla]

I have a very simplistic approach. I throw them in a big bucket (DH leaves them all over the place so I have to go on a diaper hunt before doing laundry :rolleyes: ), dump in the washer, and wash on warm with about 1/4 amount of normal detergent. We usually soak/dump the poops in the toilet and try to squeeze as much out before putting in the bucket, but we mix them. I imagine when the second comes, we'll just throw them all in together. I think how you pail is a matter of comfort and choice. I wash them all together, so I just keep them together.

[~Andrea~]

I've finally found what works for me, but I don't know about having to use coin machines.

I keep everything (pocket diapers, inserts, AIOs and the snap in soaker, and cloth wipes) all in my pail. I just use a trash can from Wal-Mart with a PUL liner inside (I tried the diaper champ, but it didn't hold enough and it was a PITA when it got full).

On wash day (every 2-3 days) I dump it all in the washing machine, bag and all. I run a short cold wash with cold rinse (no detergent). Then I run a long hot wash (with a little Tide) and a cold rinse. Then if I still see bubbles (which I usually do :rolleyes: ) I run a short hot wash with cold rinse again.

I hang all my pocket diapers (PUL and fleece) on a sweater rack ($10 at Lowes) and dry everything else on high in the dryer for 2 cycles.

[Brandi]

Okay, I just found this thread and I have a few questions.

1. If you use the dry pail method, do you dump the poop out and rinse the whole diaper first before putting it in the pail?

2. What about all the people saying you need to use vinegar and baking powder or whatever?

3. How often do you wash?

4. Doesn't the pail get intesely stinky?

5. Where do you store the pail?

6. Could you use something like the Diaper Genie? I guess that would be kind of a waste with the refill liners and everything, but I just wondered since someone mentioned the Diaper Champ.

Okay, I think that's all I have for now. Thanks for anyone who can answer any of these questions.

[~Andrea~]

Okay, I just found this thread and I have a few questions.

1. If you use the dry pail method, do you dump the poop out and rinse the whole diaper first before putting it in the pail? I dump the poop, but unless it's real nasty and won't come off, I don't rinse or dunk etc.

2. What about all the people saying you need to use vinegar and baking powder or whatever? I only use BS when I strip my diapers (when they get detergent build-up)

3. How often do you wash? every 2-3 days (went 4 this time :blush: )

4. Doesn't the pail get intesely stinky? it can, yes, but it's the urine, not the poop that stinks

5. Where do you store the pail? in the living roo,

6. Could you use something like the Diaper Genie? I guess that would be kind of a waste with the refill liners and everything, but I just wondered since someone mentioned the Diaper Champ. I used the champ, but I didn't care for it with the cloth. It didn't hold enough. Maybe if I washed every day :dunno:

Okay, I think that's all I have for now. Thanks for anyone who can answer any of these questions.

[Brandi]

Thanks Andrea!

[mamajenn2pnm]

Hi!

I have to use a laundromat most of the time, unless I have the chance to go to my parents' house and wash, which is rare (down to one car right now).

I've read so many different ways of doing things, but coin-op machines do make it a little different.

Okay, I didn't start out with cloth, but have been using it for a month - month & a half or so.

What I do (w/o the luxury of just being able to drop things in the washer 24-7)...

My "diaper pail" is a foot pedal trash can from Wal-Mart. It cost about $7. My pail liner is a nylon, drawstring, wet-bag that I got from the camping supply section of Wal-Mart for about $4. The can is 42 qts, and the bag is a good size...like 29" X 24 " or something like that. I got cheap air freshening disks from the grocery store, and stuck one in the lid to reduce odor, but with keeping the bag closed until I need to throw something in, and keeping the trash can closed, it cuts down on odor. SOMEWHERE, I saw a recipe for making your own diaper pail fresheners that can later be crumbled and thrown in the wash. Right now I have the pail in an upper landing. I'm thinking of moving it back to the hall by our bedroom. Just closer, and cooler (A/C unit back there), so will hopefully cut down on smell even more.

Wet diapers just automatically go in the liner, in the pail. I do try to rinse poopy diapers (I have a removable shower head, and can do this by spraying the diapers over my soaking bucket...this does involve dumping the poopy water & redoing until it's just clean) and even let them soak in water with some baking soda or OxiClean until the staining is mostly out. I wring them out I haven't had any staining this way. I do the same with poopied diaper wraps & lining materials. I know with BF poop you technically don't have to do anything because they say it just washes off, but I still like to. Especially since I can't just wash them right away.

When I do laundry, I get them all together, and ring out the ones that have been soaking, and just bring them in the nylon bag. Then off to the laundromat. Our laundromat has many different types of washers. My favorites for the diapers are these "double load plus" ones. I put the diapers in, sort of pushing them out and reversing the bag, and throw that in with them. The washers I use have different cycle choices. I start out by choosing the "cold wash-one cycle" setting, to rinse them, maybe with a wee bit of detergent or Oxi Clean. After the water stops running on that cycle, I switch to the "hot wash-2 cycles" setting. When the cold wash has drained and spun out, the washer refills with hot (I've put 1/4-1/2 cup of All Free & Clear in the 2nd wash compartment). Then I just let it go. It goes through the hot wash and about 3 rinses, so it's perfect.

I only have one in diapers right now, so I don't have an answer about diapers from multiple kids. I guess I'd use the same process, and would put them all together. They'd be washed together, so...

Right now, I wash about every three days. I'll be cutting that down a bit whenever I have a bigger stock of dipes...can go longer, you know?

HTH!


I was using cloth, but took a 3-month break and now I'm ready to start using them again. But before I do, I have a few questions.

What is your cleaning routine? Does anyone here use coin-operated machines?

Do you use seperate diaper pails for the wet and soiled diapers or do you stick them all into one pail? I was using seperate pails for the wet and dirty diapers so that I could throw the dirty diapers through one load (in order to get rid of the poop) without dirtying the wet diapers in the process (I use coin-operated machines, so I don't have the option of throwing them through a spin-cycle). Now that I'm expecting baby#2, I'm wondering if it would be silly to have four diaper pails, rather than two.

If you have two children in cloth diapers, do you use seperate pails for each of their diapers or throw them all into the same pail? It seems kinda gross to me to throw them all together.