I put the AIO's (all-in-one, basically the absorbant cotton part of the diaper is attached to the waterproof part, so all you have to do is snap it on and go...kind of like a disposable) that my mother gave me in the washer today to see if I could figure out why they weren't very absorbant and waterproof anymore. They look fine on the outside, not very dingy and all the snaps work perfectly, but the first time I used one the boy got a tiny contact rash and soaked straight through the vinyl outer layer onto his clothes.
I added 2 Tablespoons of Borax and some vinegar to help strip any detergent residue (which causes diapers to be stiff, not absorbant, and not waterproof) there might be out, set the wash cycle on Heavy Hot, and walked away. Came back 10 minutes later to check on them, and this is what I saw. I restarted the cycle after the water drained the last time, and washed them again with no soap at all. SAME result. Third time, a little better, but not much. No wonder they weren't absorbing well! Good thing I'm not paying for the water here, because I could be ar this all day. Hopefully when all is said and done, I will have 15 more clean and perfectly usable diapers in my "stash", and won't ever have to do this again.
Hmm, after re-readin that post, I can think of all kinds of parallels to my own life. Anyone else?
Although you wash yourself with soda
and use an abundance of soap,
the stain of your guilt is still before me,"
declares the Sovereign LORD.
Jeremiah 2:22
and
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:7
5 comments:
wow....never thought so much soap stayed with the clothes...and great verses!!
ever since you referred to the aio I gave you I have been trying to remember what that would be - and today I finally got it! Those fancy diapers were way before their time. I think I got them for Carolyn. They were FREE at the local TOPS store. I asked the cashier how much they were (they were unmarked) and she said $13 or $15 or something. I said I wasn't interested then, but that there was a whole cart full of unmarked ones. She called the manager (memorably named "Tom Arnold" (like the "actor") ) and he said, "You would USE those things? My wife would never USE those things" I said, "sure, but not at that price" so he said "you can have them". Free. I was pretty happy.
They got harder and harder. They needed to be stripped. Who knew? (not me).
So, do they work any better now?
Geez! That's insane!
Good luck stripping them. I hope they turn out to be good diapers when it's all said and done! :)
Amanda
(presleycaedmon on DS)
is THIS the reason why I see so many danged rashes on people? If THAT is what's on cloth diapers, what's on "normal" clothes? (jim keeps getting this awful contact derm rash from the cheap trauma gowns-they have cloth at the wrists and he has to wear them so long he comes home with rashes after car accidents!)
yeah, so at least 10 cycles later, they're much better, although I have yet to actually try them out.
mom: don't scare me like that!
amanda: good to meet you :) I actually recognize that pic of you and your daughter, lol.
lil B: well, MY diapers don't look like that normally, and yes, that probably does explain J's rashes. perfumes and dyes in disposables give babies a rash, and residue on clothes is never good either (go figure).
Ever since I started washing diapers I find myself using about half as much detergent in all the rest of my clothing as I used to, (and they still smell great).
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