Mailbox Mondays 8/9/10

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Every Monday I will answer user submitted questions.  They don’t have to be about cloth diapering!  I’ll always answer questions via email, but if you would like your question to be answered in a Mailbox Mondays post, send an email with the subject “Mailbox Mondays” to change.diapers.change.the.world at gmail dot com!

Ash says:

Hi Maria! Love your blog! You were the first blog I found that I started following when I started blogging. 🙂

So right now I am exclusive to only one brand of cloth diapers. But I want to get some other brands soon. My question is…When you have more than one brand of diapers, how do you wash them? I know that most brands have different instructions for washing, so do you just keep washing with whatever you find that works, or do you wash each brand separately?

Thank you!


Ash from The Adventures of Ash and Rowe

http://adventuresofashandrowe.blogspot.com/
 
OK let me stop doodling big puffy hearts around Maria + Ash and answer the question.  I love when someone tells me that they enjoy my blog, like my reviews etc.  It makes me feel all warm & fuzzy and happy.
 
This is a very, very timely question given my recent issues with my Rumparooz delamination.  Most of the differences in washing instructions (that I’ve noticed) have to do with the order of cold rinses/hot washes/cold rinses and when to use the detergent.  Some say it’s OK to tumble dry, some recommend hanging to dry. 
 
I always follow initial washing instructions, since some materials need to be washed separately a number of times to remove natural oils (like hemp.)  Some materials (usually organic cottons) need to be washed around 3 times to prep, and up to 10 times to achieve maximum absorbency.
 
Beyond that, I do what works for me.  Cold wash/rinse, hot wash/rinse with the occasional extra rinse.  I do not bleach my diapers, or use additives on them, though I do use an occasional dab of bleach (and/or RLR) on the inserts only, followed by many extra rinses.
 
If I had to keep track of specific washing instructions for each manufacturer and wash separately, I would lose my mind.
 
That brings me to the other issue.  Detergent.  The majority of diaper manufacturers have the same list of “no-nos” including enzymes, brighteners, whiteners, dyes, scents etc.  This issue is a hot button for me since the lack of “safe” affordable, local detergent is the #1 thing that stopped me from CD’ing from day 1 with my son.
 
Rumparooz, Drybees and at least one other (slips my mind right now) diaper company specifically recommend “standard” detergents like Tide, which contain dyes, scents and enzymes that are on the detergent black lists.
 
I stand by the idea that you should use what works for you.  Don’t use too much or too little, and rinse them clean. 
 
The problem with that is this: what if you have an issue with one of your diapers while it’s under warranty, and your claim is denied because you didn’t use the “right” detergent?  Well, I’m not terribly worried for myself, because my choices were disposable diapering, paying outrageous sums to have one specific detergent (that was on all of the “safe” lists) shipped, or to use what worked.
 
Also, warranties don’t cover staining, repelling or stink.  If a “safe” detergent isn’t getting my diapers clean, what good is it?
 
I really don’t like to use this thinking but, plenty of people have used any number of detergents with no issues.  I’m using what works for me and that’s that.  There’s no way I’m going to wash diapers separately so that some can be clean and stink free and others can be smelly, washed in pricey detergent, but covered under warranty!
 
In conclusion, yadda yadda, I bet you’re sorry you asked.  😉

Remember that my blabbing shouldn’t be taken as expert advice.  Always pay careful attention to the manufacturer’s instructions.  I’m not responsible for any damage or diaper injuries, insert other verbiage as you see fit to cover my hiney.  🙂

Bonus question since the first was so long, this is quick.  It’s just a snippet of an email since it wasn’t a MM submission.

How did you get your comments numbered?

I followed these instructions from Blogger Sentral.  Those are for use with blogger.  I’m sure I could fool around to get them nicer looking, but this was just one of my many HTML “projects” and I was ready to be done by the time I got it working!

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