If there's one thing that I've learned over the years of working with different brands/styles of diapers and all the different detergents and routines is this.....it never hurts to try something different. If it doesn't work, you just switch to something else....strip and start over. AND if something works for you then stick with it....even if it doesn't work for everyone.
Showing posts with label laundry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label laundry. Show all posts
Friday, December 7, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
Sweet Pea Special
Sweet Pea spent a few wonderful days with my Mother this week and had quite a few adventures. From making tea cakes to laundry soap.....yep! Laundry soap! Since she is 10 years old now and quite the word smith like her Daddy, I asked her to be my latest guest blogger. I don't recommend using this on cloth diapers because using Borax can void your warranties. I also don't know how well it would work or if it would build up. I know some mom's swear by homemade detergent for cloth diapers, but I've never tried it. I was very impressed that she enjoyed working with her Grandparents and wanted to share with you all!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Troubleshooting Diaper Problems
After choosing the type of diaper that you want to use for your newborn, there are a few things to do before they are ready. The first thing to do with your newborn diapers is to prep them for use. I suggest doing this when you are about 32 weeks along so that they are ready to go right from the start. Here is a link to my post for new to cloth parents; it explains the different styles of cloth diapers and other great information. To prep your stash means to wash them and have them clean and dry for your first diaper use.
When your diapers are prepped and ready to go, the next step is to figure out where you are going to keep them. Cloth diapers do take up more room than their counterpart, the disposable diaper. I personally like to keep mine in a cute box nicely stuffed and folded. That way I can just reach out and grab one when I need it. The box is on top of the dresser next to the cloth wipe warmer.
When you have a problem with leaks, the first step is to look at how the diaper fits. If there is a gap in the legs or waist that is too big, that could cause a leak. If part of the interior fabric is sticking out of the back, waist or legs, that could cause a leak too. I've even found out that if your diaper is fitted too tight, that will also cause leaks. I always go by the rule of thumb for fit.....if I can easily slip my thumb in between the elastic and my baby and easily pull the diaper out a finger width, then it should be a good fit. If it is more tight or loose than that, then I readjust the diaper.
If fit is not the problem, then your next step is to look at repelling problems. Repelling is when the fabric doesn't absorb liquids. Repelling could be caused by build up of detergent or minerals from your water. All you need to do is strip your diapers. Also make sure that you are not using non cloth diaper diaper creams or petroleum based products on your baby when they are wearing cloth diapers. These products cause repelling problems in cloth diapers and they will also void most warranties. One other factor to repelling is the type of detergent that you use. I strongly suggest using a cloth diaper specific detergent like Rockin Green, Crunchy Clean, or Ruby Moon; to name a few. They are less likely to cause build up problems than name brand detergents.
If all else fails and you just need a little advice....always feel free to leave me a question or send me an email. I always love to help if I can. thetrophywife (at) obsessionsottw (dot) com
When your diapers are prepped and ready to go, the next step is to figure out where you are going to keep them. Cloth diapers do take up more room than their counterpart, the disposable diaper. I personally like to keep mine in a cute box nicely stuffed and folded. That way I can just reach out and grab one when I need it. The box is on top of the dresser next to the cloth wipe warmer.
When you have a problem with leaks, the first step is to look at how the diaper fits. If there is a gap in the legs or waist that is too big, that could cause a leak. If part of the interior fabric is sticking out of the back, waist or legs, that could cause a leak too. I've even found out that if your diaper is fitted too tight, that will also cause leaks. I always go by the rule of thumb for fit.....if I can easily slip my thumb in between the elastic and my baby and easily pull the diaper out a finger width, then it should be a good fit. If it is more tight or loose than that, then I readjust the diaper.
If fit is not the problem, then your next step is to look at repelling problems. Repelling is when the fabric doesn't absorb liquids. Repelling could be caused by build up of detergent or minerals from your water. All you need to do is strip your diapers. Also make sure that you are not using non cloth diaper diaper creams or petroleum based products on your baby when they are wearing cloth diapers. These products cause repelling problems in cloth diapers and they will also void most warranties. One other factor to repelling is the type of detergent that you use. I strongly suggest using a cloth diaper specific detergent like Rockin Green, Crunchy Clean, or Ruby Moon; to name a few. They are less likely to cause build up problems than name brand detergents.
If all else fails and you just need a little advice....always feel free to leave me a question or send me an email. I always love to help if I can. thetrophywife (at) obsessionsottw (dot) com
Monday, October 17, 2011
Getting your new stash ready!
I am at 38 weeks now and the nesting phase has come and gone. We are officially to the 'Get this baby out of me' phase. While trying to be patient for Peanut to make a Grand Debut, I have gotten our new stash of Newborn Diapers all ready to go. Prepping brand new cloth diapers can be easy. I am excited to share with you how I do it.
The first thing that I do is learn more about the brand of diaper. Most microfiber pocket diapers can all be prepped and washed the same, but there are little variations that can make prepping them different. Some use different types of waterproof fabric (PUL or TPU), or a different interior than microfiber. I always check to see if is a specific way that the brand suggests to prep their diapers for first use.
To prep new cloth diapers that don't have specific instructions, I just do a hot wash cycle on heavy with an extra rinse. I love to use Dropps for my detergent. I think it does a very thorough job of getting any residual shipping chemicals off of the diapers. Then I dry them in the dryer on low to help set the laminated fabric.
There are exceptions to this. Cloth diapers that have hemp or bamboo need to be prepped by themselves. This is because there are natural oils in these fabrics that will stick to your microfiber and cause repelling. Once prepped though, they can be washed with everything else because the oils will be gone.
Prepping hemp and bamboo diapers is the same process as other diapers. The one difference is that you need to put them through at least 3 wash cycles. When I only have a couple of these diapers (not enough for a small load), I just put them in with Little Man's clothes or baby blankets. I make sure that they make it through 3 or 4 different loads with the Dropps detergent. If you have hemp or bamboo inserts that have no snaps, you can boil these for 5 minutes in a pot on the stove in plain water. This will release all the oils too. I don't suggest doing this with the diaper shells though.
You can also do an overnight soak on your diapers if you want to make sure that they have a really deep clean too. When it comes to diapers, I don't think that you can over wash them.
The first thing that I do is learn more about the brand of diaper. Most microfiber pocket diapers can all be prepped and washed the same, but there are little variations that can make prepping them different. Some use different types of waterproof fabric (PUL or TPU), or a different interior than microfiber. I always check to see if is a specific way that the brand suggests to prep their diapers for first use.
To prep new cloth diapers that don't have specific instructions, I just do a hot wash cycle on heavy with an extra rinse. I love to use Dropps for my detergent. I think it does a very thorough job of getting any residual shipping chemicals off of the diapers. Then I dry them in the dryer on low to help set the laminated fabric.
There are exceptions to this. Cloth diapers that have hemp or bamboo need to be prepped by themselves. This is because there are natural oils in these fabrics that will stick to your microfiber and cause repelling. Once prepped though, they can be washed with everything else because the oils will be gone.
Prepping hemp and bamboo diapers is the same process as other diapers. The one difference is that you need to put them through at least 3 wash cycles. When I only have a couple of these diapers (not enough for a small load), I just put them in with Little Man's clothes or baby blankets. I make sure that they make it through 3 or 4 different loads with the Dropps detergent. If you have hemp or bamboo inserts that have no snaps, you can boil these for 5 minutes in a pot on the stove in plain water. This will release all the oils too. I don't suggest doing this with the diaper shells though.
You can also do an overnight soak on your diapers if you want to make sure that they have a really deep clean too. When it comes to diapers, I don't think that you can over wash them.
I also am very proud to announce a Big Event that is coming up in January!
I am so excited to get a chance to tell you all about the great newborn diapers that I will be using from Day One with Peanut. I have invited some really amazing fluffy bloggers to join in the fun. We will be talking about cloth diapering newborns and other great information. We will also be sharing some great reviews (and Giveaways!!) for some pretty amazing sponsors. These are not just limited to Newborn diapers; we will also be showcasing some one size diapers and accessories too. So don't worry if you don't have a Newborn anymore, we don't want to leave anyone out.
Keep an eye out for more information. Feel free to grab the Event button so everyone can join in the fun too!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Washing your cares away.
Now that we all know about the different variables that can affect your cloth diaper laundering, we can get more specific on how to wash and maintain your fluffy stash. I'm going to start by talking about the types of pails to use to store your dirty diapers. There are dry pails that consist of either a wet bag or an actual pail with a pail liner. You simply toss your soiled diaper in the pail after flushing down any solids. Then you take it to the washer on wash day and away you go! This is recommended by most modern cloth diaperers. Then there is the wet pail. The wet pail is a pail that is filled with water to put your soiled diapers into. Then you have to drain it out on wash day and fill again with fresh water. The reason the wet pail was originally used was to help ward off the stinkies and stains that came when using the cotton prefolds/flats way back when. This was because the washing machines or hand washing diapers was not as efficient or effective as machines and hand washing are now. The wet pail is really not necessary now with the advances that we've had with diaper manufacturing and better machines, water quality and detergents. The wet pail also poses some serious problems. Having standing water can cause an increase in mold, mildew and foxing (foxing is the red, rusty colored stains that come from a build up of minerals from water with a combination of mold). If you use a wet pail, it needs to be stored in a dry and cool area of the house. The other problem with wet pails is that they are a potential drowning hazard. Plus, the inconvenience of having to lug a heavy water-filled pail to the laundry room or having to take your diaper to the wet pail that's stored in the laundry room after every change (not recommended because of the heat and humidity in those rooms) seems like a big hassle to me. Not to mention having to dispose of the water that is filled with human waste before laundering. I would suggest that if you want to use a wet pail, to only do it with prefolds/flats. Wet pails are very hard on modern cloth diapers that use PUL and other waterproof fabrics. It is, however, your choice as to what type of pail works for you.
Every diaper style (and even each brand) will launder differently. Prefolds, flats and fitteds can be laundered and dried at a higher temperature (as long as there are no snaps). Plus you can use laundry aides that you can't use with PUL (like vinegar, borax, bleach, and other whiteners/brighteners). I always suggest that if you do use these types of additives, that you fully wash and rinse afterward to make sure that there is no residue left that can irritate baby's bottom. Personally, I stay away from these harsh chemicals except for vinegar. Vinegar is my go-to cleaner for almost everything. Pockets, AI2s, AIOs and Hybrids need to be laundered and more importantly dried at lower temperatures. They require a little more finesse from your routine.
Laundry routines vary greatly for each person. The number one thing that everyone needs to do (no matter what type of pail you use) is the first rinse. This is very important. It removes the bulk of soiled product from your diapers. After that, the routines vary greatly. Find what works best for you from warm or hot water used, water level in the washer, heavy or normal agitation, type and amount of detergent, and need for extra rinses. Fell free to contact me if you want help finding that routine that works best for you (if I can't help, I know just the people who can!)
Diaper maintenance is a very important thing to do. Some people believe that there isn't a need to strip diapers if you are washing perfectly every time, but the truth is that no one can wash perfectly every time. Regular diaper maintenance will extend the life of your diapers and is a good thing to do to prevent problems from occurring. Think of it like changing the oil in your car. I try to 'maintain' my diapers once every 6 weeks unless needed sooner. Your diapers don't have to smell or cause rashes to do a maintenance wash, but if they do cause rashes or smell bad then it is definitely time for it. There are many different ways to strip diapers and, just like your wash routine, you need to find the one that works best for you. I'm going to tell you about a few that I like to do.
The overnight soak: This is very easy to do and great for those in between times when you don't have a problem with your diapers, but you want to maintain them. The way that I do it is I do my first cold rinse. Then I start my hot, heavy, full water wash cycle and I add twice as much detergent as I would with a normal wash. Then I let the washer agitate for 1 or 2 minutes to get everything moved around and the detergent dispersed in the water. I then leave the door open (or stop the cycle) and I let it sit overnight or about 8 hours. I start the cycle again and let it run through. After the first cycle is done, I start a second hot water cycle with no detergent in it. To finish, I throw everything in the dryer or put everything in the sun to dry (depending on the weather and the time of year). For those of you with an HE machine: If you can't stop your wash cycle by the push of a button, you can always do an overnight soak in the bathtub. To do that, fill your tub with hot water, your diapers and detergent. Then swish it around to get the detergent distributed. When your time is up, empty your tub and step on the diapers (with clean feet) to squish out excess water. Take them to your washer and do a hot wash cycle. If there are still bubbles or smells like detergent, then do an extra rinse or wash cycle.
The strip: This is great to do when you have a problem or you sense that your diapers need a little more deep cleaning. The way I do it is to start with my first cold rinse (I only skip this if I'm stripping diapers that are already cleaned and dry). Then I start my hot, heavy, full water wash cycle and I add 1 teaspoon (yep, just a little tsp!) of Blue Dawn Dish soap
to the washer. *It is important to only use the blue colored Dawn; like what they use to clean off poor little ducks that get caught in oil spills.* Then let your wash cycle go. After the first cycle is done, you continue with a second hot wash cycle with no detergents. Continue additional hot wash cycles until the rinse cycle runs clear with no bubbles. For me, this usually takes 3-4 wash cycles. Finish up by drying your diapers. I like to do this every 4-6 months or so unless I have some problems because it is a little more labor intensive with all the extra wash cycles. For HE users: Add the dawn to your detergent area when the water is running through it just a few drops at a time and make sure that you don't exceed a tsp.
The boil: Yes. You can boil some things. *DO NOT boil anything that has PUL or other waterproof materials, elastic, snaps or aplix. You will melt your fabric and snaps if you boil them.* What you can boil is your inserts with no snaps and prefolds/flats and other natural fabric diapers. All you have to do is fill a large pot with water, put in your inserts/diapers in, and boil for 5 minutes (you can put a plate on top to weigh down the inserts so they can't float). I always boil my hemp inserts. It is the perfect way to prep hemp inserts and to maintain them because it gets the natural oils out that cause repelling and it thoroughly cleans them.
Maintaining your diapers will help ward off the dreaded 'stinkies' and it will keep them working like new. I always love how soft and white my diapers come out as after a maintenance wash. I also do a maintenance wash when I switch detergents or if I use a different washer (like when traveling). Happy washing!!!
Every diaper style (and even each brand) will launder differently. Prefolds, flats and fitteds can be laundered and dried at a higher temperature (as long as there are no snaps). Plus you can use laundry aides that you can't use with PUL (like vinegar, borax, bleach, and other whiteners/brighteners). I always suggest that if you do use these types of additives, that you fully wash and rinse afterward to make sure that there is no residue left that can irritate baby's bottom. Personally, I stay away from these harsh chemicals except for vinegar. Vinegar is my go-to cleaner for almost everything. Pockets, AI2s, AIOs and Hybrids need to be laundered and more importantly dried at lower temperatures. They require a little more finesse from your routine.
Laundry routines vary greatly for each person. The number one thing that everyone needs to do (no matter what type of pail you use) is the first rinse. This is very important. It removes the bulk of soiled product from your diapers. After that, the routines vary greatly. Find what works best for you from warm or hot water used, water level in the washer, heavy or normal agitation, type and amount of detergent, and need for extra rinses. Fell free to contact me if you want help finding that routine that works best for you (if I can't help, I know just the people who can!)
Diaper maintenance is a very important thing to do. Some people believe that there isn't a need to strip diapers if you are washing perfectly every time, but the truth is that no one can wash perfectly every time. Regular diaper maintenance will extend the life of your diapers and is a good thing to do to prevent problems from occurring. Think of it like changing the oil in your car. I try to 'maintain' my diapers once every 6 weeks unless needed sooner. Your diapers don't have to smell or cause rashes to do a maintenance wash, but if they do cause rashes or smell bad then it is definitely time for it. There are many different ways to strip diapers and, just like your wash routine, you need to find the one that works best for you. I'm going to tell you about a few that I like to do.
The overnight soak: This is very easy to do and great for those in between times when you don't have a problem with your diapers, but you want to maintain them. The way that I do it is I do my first cold rinse. Then I start my hot, heavy, full water wash cycle and I add twice as much detergent as I would with a normal wash. Then I let the washer agitate for 1 or 2 minutes to get everything moved around and the detergent dispersed in the water. I then leave the door open (or stop the cycle) and I let it sit overnight or about 8 hours. I start the cycle again and let it run through. After the first cycle is done, I start a second hot water cycle with no detergent in it. To finish, I throw everything in the dryer or put everything in the sun to dry (depending on the weather and the time of year). For those of you with an HE machine: If you can't stop your wash cycle by the push of a button, you can always do an overnight soak in the bathtub. To do that, fill your tub with hot water, your diapers and detergent. Then swish it around to get the detergent distributed. When your time is up, empty your tub and step on the diapers (with clean feet) to squish out excess water. Take them to your washer and do a hot wash cycle. If there are still bubbles or smells like detergent, then do an extra rinse or wash cycle.
The strip: This is great to do when you have a problem or you sense that your diapers need a little more deep cleaning. The way I do it is to start with my first cold rinse (I only skip this if I'm stripping diapers that are already cleaned and dry). Then I start my hot, heavy, full water wash cycle and I add 1 teaspoon (yep, just a little tsp!) of Blue Dawn Dish soap
The boil: Yes. You can boil some things. *DO NOT boil anything that has PUL or other waterproof materials, elastic, snaps or aplix. You will melt your fabric and snaps if you boil them.* What you can boil is your inserts with no snaps and prefolds/flats and other natural fabric diapers. All you have to do is fill a large pot with water, put in your inserts/diapers in, and boil for 5 minutes (you can put a plate on top to weigh down the inserts so they can't float). I always boil my hemp inserts. It is the perfect way to prep hemp inserts and to maintain them because it gets the natural oils out that cause repelling and it thoroughly cleans them.
Maintaining your diapers will help ward off the dreaded 'stinkies' and it will keep them working like new. I always love how soft and white my diapers come out as after a maintenance wash. I also do a maintenance wash when I switch detergents or if I use a different washer (like when traveling). Happy washing!!!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Let's talk laundry!
Every laundry routine is as unique as every family. Even though it's great to hear from other people what works for them, it is still a trial and error that everyone needs to go through. There are so many different things that can cause something to work for one person but not another. So today I'm going to address some of these variables.
The first variable is your type of diapers. Cotton and all natural fabrics will wash differently than man made fabrics like microfiber. Prefolds, flats and fitteds will launder more easily than pockets, AI2s and AIOs. This is because they are more often a natural fiber and they have no PUL fabric to content with. Pockets, AI2s and AIOs are a little more finicky. The typical microfiber, suede cloth or rayon made from bamboo tend to have more build up and stink problems than natural fibers. Not only that, but they also have PUL or other kinds of waterproof fabric, elastic, and snaps or aplix that you have to be careful how hot they get and what types of chemicals they interact with.
Another thing that makes doing your cloth diaper laundry different is what type of washer you use. The traditional top loader is favored among cloth diaper users. This is because you can adjust the water levels easily. You can also open it to look inside at the diapers and how they are getting cleaned. The agitation is different compared to a front loader. Front loader machines (or HE machines) are more efficient and use less electricity and water. There are ways to 'trick' your front loader into adding more water. You can add a soaking wet towel, which will add weight, to increase water and it will also give more texture for your diapers to agitate against. You can also manually add water to the detergent fill area on some machines. I haven't had much experience working with a front loading washer, so I can't really say if one is better than the other. I just know that they are different.
One of the hardest things to figure out is the type of water. Many things come into play when it comes to water. The biggest one is hardness. You can find out your water hardness level by contacting your local city offices or a local water treatment company. There is also a map that you can check here. Hard water will make it more difficult for your detergent to produce suds or to break down the oils and dirt on your diapers. It can also cause mineral deposits from the hard water. Another part of your water is the pH level and other additives. Your city has guidelines as to what they add or how they process their water that has to be reported to the State. You can contact your local city office for this information too. You can rent or buy a water softener for your house. This is a great choice because it will help you cut down on shampoos and soaps of all kinds and it will leave your skin and hair softer and less likely to have rashes or dry skin. It will leave less build up on your appliances, counter tops, sinks, showers and tubs. Your dishes and glasses will come out with no spots from your dishwasher. If that is not an option, you can also buy cloth diaper detergents that are made specifically for hard water.
Now you have to decide what you want your washing routine to be like. Every cloth diaper washing routine should include a rinse to start. This helps wash out the excess ammonia build up and any solids that might be lingering. Then you have to decide whether you want to do just one wash cycle or if you want to add an extra rinse at the end of that wash cycle. Some detergents work better with an additional rinse; others don't need it. This will also affect how often you need to do regular diaper maintenance too (meaning stripping or soaking your diapers.) Regular diaper maintenance is a lot like maintaining your car. You don't necessarily have to do it, but it will help avoid problems in the long run and it will keep your diapers newer, longer.
Another variable is how old your child is and what they eat. This can make a big difference in how you do your cloth diaper laundry. Exclusively breastfed babies have much easier diapers to take care of compared to formula fed babies. There is little to no smell to breastfed baby waste, it doesn't stain, and it's a different, lighter consistency. Once your child starts eating solids, your diaper routine will change again. Solid food baby waste will vary as much as the food your child eats. Some foods will make baby waste smell very acidic and heavy of ammonia.
The last variable is the weather and the phases of the moon. OK, so I'm being a little tongue in cheek, but the weather can play part in how you wash your diapers. Heat and humidity will make cloth diaper laundering difficult. Smells will be more pungent and stains will seem to set faster. Rainy days will also affect it too. Sometimes random things will cause problems with your cloth diaper laundry and you just can't explain it, but it will solve itself before you can figure out what happened.
I look forward to sharing more about how to find a solution to your cloth diapering problems and different ways to strip different kinds of diapers later in the week!
The first variable is your type of diapers. Cotton and all natural fabrics will wash differently than man made fabrics like microfiber. Prefolds, flats and fitteds will launder more easily than pockets, AI2s and AIOs. This is because they are more often a natural fiber and they have no PUL fabric to content with. Pockets, AI2s and AIOs are a little more finicky. The typical microfiber, suede cloth or rayon made from bamboo tend to have more build up and stink problems than natural fibers. Not only that, but they also have PUL or other kinds of waterproof fabric, elastic, and snaps or aplix that you have to be careful how hot they get and what types of chemicals they interact with.
Another thing that makes doing your cloth diaper laundry different is what type of washer you use. The traditional top loader is favored among cloth diaper users. This is because you can adjust the water levels easily. You can also open it to look inside at the diapers and how they are getting cleaned. The agitation is different compared to a front loader. Front loader machines (or HE machines) are more efficient and use less electricity and water. There are ways to 'trick' your front loader into adding more water. You can add a soaking wet towel, which will add weight, to increase water and it will also give more texture for your diapers to agitate against. You can also manually add water to the detergent fill area on some machines. I haven't had much experience working with a front loading washer, so I can't really say if one is better than the other. I just know that they are different.
One of the hardest things to figure out is the type of water. Many things come into play when it comes to water. The biggest one is hardness. You can find out your water hardness level by contacting your local city offices or a local water treatment company. There is also a map that you can check here. Hard water will make it more difficult for your detergent to produce suds or to break down the oils and dirt on your diapers. It can also cause mineral deposits from the hard water. Another part of your water is the pH level and other additives. Your city has guidelines as to what they add or how they process their water that has to be reported to the State. You can contact your local city office for this information too. You can rent or buy a water softener for your house. This is a great choice because it will help you cut down on shampoos and soaps of all kinds and it will leave your skin and hair softer and less likely to have rashes or dry skin. It will leave less build up on your appliances, counter tops, sinks, showers and tubs. Your dishes and glasses will come out with no spots from your dishwasher. If that is not an option, you can also buy cloth diaper detergents that are made specifically for hard water.
Now you have to decide what you want your washing routine to be like. Every cloth diaper washing routine should include a rinse to start. This helps wash out the excess ammonia build up and any solids that might be lingering. Then you have to decide whether you want to do just one wash cycle or if you want to add an extra rinse at the end of that wash cycle. Some detergents work better with an additional rinse; others don't need it. This will also affect how often you need to do regular diaper maintenance too (meaning stripping or soaking your diapers.) Regular diaper maintenance is a lot like maintaining your car. You don't necessarily have to do it, but it will help avoid problems in the long run and it will keep your diapers newer, longer.
Another variable is how old your child is and what they eat. This can make a big difference in how you do your cloth diaper laundry. Exclusively breastfed babies have much easier diapers to take care of compared to formula fed babies. There is little to no smell to breastfed baby waste, it doesn't stain, and it's a different, lighter consistency. Once your child starts eating solids, your diaper routine will change again. Solid food baby waste will vary as much as the food your child eats. Some foods will make baby waste smell very acidic and heavy of ammonia.
The last variable is the weather and the phases of the moon. OK, so I'm being a little tongue in cheek, but the weather can play part in how you wash your diapers. Heat and humidity will make cloth diaper laundering difficult. Smells will be more pungent and stains will seem to set faster. Rainy days will also affect it too. Sometimes random things will cause problems with your cloth diaper laundry and you just can't explain it, but it will solve itself before you can figure out what happened.
I look forward to sharing more about how to find a solution to your cloth diapering problems and different ways to strip different kinds of diapers later in the week!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Ruby Moon Detergent Review and Giveaway! - CLOSED
To round out this month celebration of my cloth diaper favorites is one of the most important things for cloth diapering parents besides the diapers.....Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent!!!!
I stumbled upon Ruby Moon in my long search for different kinds of natural detergents. I was drawn to Ruby Moon products because of her experience with mainstream detergents was like mine. I also love to purchase WAHM detergents and lotions because I've found that they use high quality ingredients with allergies in mind.
We received our bag of Ruby Moon cloth diaper detergent in the scent of Sweet Clementine. I loved how light, tangy and not too overpowering the scent was. It is such a refreshing smell. The powder is a nice fine powder and not sticky at all.
We are currently in an area that has moderate hard water but we have a water softener. I tried out Ruby Moon and realized there was a big build up of minerals and other detergents from our extreme hard water at home. It took two wash cycles with 2-3 tbsp of detergent each for the diapers to smell clean in the washer. I was shocked to see them so white, but even better than that they were all so fluffy too! I haven't found my normal routine with any of our detergents yet with the new water and washer, plus I think that the extreme heat and humidity doesn't help either. I am so grateful to have the Ruby Moon though, because it has made stripping my diapers a breeze! To strip with Ruby Moon I do my cold rinse, followed by two hot wash cycles with 2-3 tbsp of Ruby Moon in each. They come out so clean, soft and smelling fresh. It works so much better than any other way to strip that I've found, plus it takes less time and less washing and rinsing cycles!
Ruby Moon Natural Detergent has graciously offered one lucky reader a chance to win a bag of Ruby Moon detergent of their own!
* Ruby Moon Natural Detergent was provided free of charge to me for the purpose of this review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion. The opinions in this review are mine alone and were formed from my experience with this product. My personal experience and opinions of this product may differ from your own. Facebook is not affiliated with this Giveaway. All information provided cannot be copied or reused without credit. Use of photos without consent is strictly prohibited.
I stumbled upon Ruby Moon in my long search for different kinds of natural detergents. I was drawn to Ruby Moon products because of her experience with mainstream detergents was like mine. I also love to purchase WAHM detergents and lotions because I've found that they use high quality ingredients with allergies in mind.
We received our bag of Ruby Moon cloth diaper detergent in the scent of Sweet Clementine. I loved how light, tangy and not too overpowering the scent was. It is such a refreshing smell. The powder is a nice fine powder and not sticky at all.
We are currently in an area that has moderate hard water but we have a water softener. I tried out Ruby Moon and realized there was a big build up of minerals and other detergents from our extreme hard water at home. It took two wash cycles with 2-3 tbsp of detergent each for the diapers to smell clean in the washer. I was shocked to see them so white, but even better than that they were all so fluffy too! I haven't found my normal routine with any of our detergents yet with the new water and washer, plus I think that the extreme heat and humidity doesn't help either. I am so grateful to have the Ruby Moon though, because it has made stripping my diapers a breeze! To strip with Ruby Moon I do my cold rinse, followed by two hot wash cycles with 2-3 tbsp of Ruby Moon in each. They come out so clean, soft and smelling fresh. It works so much better than any other way to strip that I've found, plus it takes less time and less washing and rinsing cycles!
Ruby Moon Natural Detergent has graciously offered one lucky reader a chance to win a bag of Ruby Moon detergent of their own!
To Buy:
Go to Ruby Moon Natural Detergent.
To Win:
Leave a comment below for each entry.
Please leave your email address on every entry
(or let me know if I can access your email on your GFC account).
Mandatory Entry:
Be a GFC public follower and tell me your GFC name.
Additional Entries (leave one comment for each entry):
1. 'Like' OTTW on Facebook and tell me your First initial and Last Name.
2. 'Like' Ruby Moon on Facebook and tell me your First initial and Last Name. (You don't have to, but it would be nice to thank them.)
3. Follow OTTW on Twitter and leave your Twitter Name.
4. Tell me the scent of Ruby Moon that you'd like to try.
5. Grab my button, put it on your blog or website and leave the URL link. (2 entries)
6. Grab my Event Button for your blog or website and leave URL link. (3 entries)
7. Click my Google +1 button at the bottom of the post. (2 entries)
![]() |
| (This is what the Google +1 button looks like.) |
This giveaway will end August 1st, 2011 at 9:00 pm CST.
Winner will be drawn via random.org. Winners will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond before new winners will be drawn. Giveaway is open to citizens of the US and Canada who are 18 years or older. Only entries that follow the rules will be entered. One set of entries per household. Every entry is checked!
* Ruby Moon Natural Detergent was provided free of charge to me for the purpose of this review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion. The opinions in this review are mine alone and were formed from my experience with this product. My personal experience and opinions of this product may differ from your own. Facebook is not affiliated with this Giveaway. All information provided cannot be copied or reused without credit. Use of photos without consent is strictly prohibited.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Summer Cloth Diaper Celebration!!
Welcome to Obsessions of The Trophy Wife's Summer Cloth Diaper Celebration!
This month I plan to have a little fun and talk about the cloth diapering products that I love to use every day.
Thank you so much to the sponsors of this event:
and
Stay tuned and pass this along. Every week I'm going to showcase a cloth diapering product that I love to use everyday. There is going to be great information and some giveaways too!
Feel free to grab my event button.
Leave me a comment here if you post it on your blog or website.....You have an opportunity to comment here through the month of July! It could lead to a special surprise for you!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Crunchy Clean Review and Giveaway - CLOSED
I have been using cloth diaper detergents since the mishap we had trying to use commercial detergents at the start of our diapering days. I used the brand that I had heard of from everyone. Then, I was lucky enough to find Crunchy Clean. When I stumbled across their Facebook page, I started to wonder....There other cloth diaper detergents out there? What makes them different? So I started my quest of researching other cloth diaper detergents.
I contacted Crunchy Clean to get some answers to my questions. They so generously sent me a Hard Water Starter Kit. It had a couple little bags of their detergent in unscented, Honey Vanilla Love Dust, and a regular bag of Monkey Farts. It also had Monkey Farts Sprinkles in it, which is a pail deodorizer. I have never used a pail deodorizer and I was very excited to get a chance to try it out.
I have a very sensitive nose, and being in the first trimester makes it even more sensitive. In fact, most smells would just not sit well with me. I had to refrain from using most of my favorite detergents, body washes, etc. Even before getting pregnant, I still had to be cautious about detergent smells. I found only 2 scents from my favorite detergent that I could use. So I was a little cautious about trying new scents, but Oh My!! They are amazing. I loved the soft, tangy, banana scent of the Monkey Farts! I love the name too. The Honey Vanilla LOVE Dust was sensual and very light. It has a hint of chocolate and vanilla to it and reminds me of my favorite Latte when I used to drink coffee. What I love the most is that even with the unscented version, there were no undertones that were off or funky that I find with most detergents. It was always a very clean and light smell. I am impressed with the time they take putting together all of their scents. The Sprinkles are amazing too. They really did the trick on those overnight diapers that I swear could get up and walk out of the pail on their own. The scent didn't overpower the pail, it just masked the ammonia smell. I think Sprinkles will be a standard addition to our diaper stash from here on out!
I love the bags that they use. I have never had a problem resealing the top either. I have used Crunchy Clean to prewash, to soak and for my regular cloth diaper laundry. Every time I am amazed by the results. For prewashing, I love how it really takes the ammonia stink out. When I did an overnight soak, I was shocked that the water looked SO clear (at the beginning and even with the yellowish color to it at the end of the soak). It didn't look murky like it usually does with other detergents. For my regular every other day washing, I really love it. I love how I only have to rinse and then wash....no need for an extra rinse or an extra wash cycle like I've experienced before. I really love this because it saves me time, money and water! It really is clean rinsing, even with my extremely hard water! It has made my washing routine so easy.
They have two different types of detergent. One is formulated for Cloth Diapers. The other is for the rest of your laundry and has added soap to help with stains and grime. They have Hard Water formula and a regular formula. I also love their reasonable prices! They have been wonderful to work with. Their customer service has been exceptional. I was having some problems before starting to use Crunchy Clean and they helped me figure out how to solve my problem very quickly. I didn't have to switch to prefolds or disposables to strip my stash....all it took was one overnight soak!
Here's my rundown of Crunchy Clean:
* Product was provided free of charge to me for the purpose of this review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion. The opinions in this review are mine alone and were formed from my experience with this product. My personal experience and opinions of this product may differ from your own.
I contacted Crunchy Clean to get some answers to my questions. They so generously sent me a Hard Water Starter Kit. It had a couple little bags of their detergent in unscented, Honey Vanilla Love Dust, and a regular bag of Monkey Farts. It also had Monkey Farts Sprinkles in it, which is a pail deodorizer. I have never used a pail deodorizer and I was very excited to get a chance to try it out.
I have a very sensitive nose, and being in the first trimester makes it even more sensitive. In fact, most smells would just not sit well with me. I had to refrain from using most of my favorite detergents, body washes, etc. Even before getting pregnant, I still had to be cautious about detergent smells. I found only 2 scents from my favorite detergent that I could use. So I was a little cautious about trying new scents, but Oh My!! They are amazing. I loved the soft, tangy, banana scent of the Monkey Farts! I love the name too. The Honey Vanilla LOVE Dust was sensual and very light. It has a hint of chocolate and vanilla to it and reminds me of my favorite Latte when I used to drink coffee. What I love the most is that even with the unscented version, there were no undertones that were off or funky that I find with most detergents. It was always a very clean and light smell. I am impressed with the time they take putting together all of their scents. The Sprinkles are amazing too. They really did the trick on those overnight diapers that I swear could get up and walk out of the pail on their own. The scent didn't overpower the pail, it just masked the ammonia smell. I think Sprinkles will be a standard addition to our diaper stash from here on out!
I love the bags that they use. I have never had a problem resealing the top either. I have used Crunchy Clean to prewash, to soak and for my regular cloth diaper laundry. Every time I am amazed by the results. For prewashing, I love how it really takes the ammonia stink out. When I did an overnight soak, I was shocked that the water looked SO clear (at the beginning and even with the yellowish color to it at the end of the soak). It didn't look murky like it usually does with other detergents. For my regular every other day washing, I really love it. I love how I only have to rinse and then wash....no need for an extra rinse or an extra wash cycle like I've experienced before. I really love this because it saves me time, money and water! It really is clean rinsing, even with my extremely hard water! It has made my washing routine so easy.
| Left: Other CD Detergent; Right: Crunchy Clean Both: 1 tbs. detergent in 8 oz. of water |
| This is from the other side with sunlight going through it. Right: Other brand; Left: Crunchy Clean |
Here's my rundown of Crunchy Clean:
Great scents with no strange undertones.
Awesome resealable bags (that actually reseal!)
Great for prewash, soaks and regular wash cycles.
Clean rinsing!
Works great on Hard Water.
Great price.
Amazing Customer Service.
Crunchy Clean has the Trophy Wife's seal of approval!
Crunchy Clean has very generously offered TWO lucky readers a chance to try out their detergent!
They are giving you an opportunity to pick out anything you want!
The first winner will get a $15 gift card and the second will receive a $10 gift card.
To Buy:
Go to Crunchy Clean or find a retailer near you.
To Win:
All entrants must be GFC followers of OTTW!
Please leave your email address on each entry!
Manditory Entry:
Go to Crunchy Clean and tell me what your favorite scent is. Also leave your GFC name.
Extra Entries:
(worth 1 each, leave separate comments)
Join The Trophy Wife on Facebook!
Join The Trophy Wife on Twitter!
Join Crunchy Clean on Facebook! Let them know OTTW sent you!
Join Crunchy Clean on Twitter!
* Please leave your Facebook/Twitter name if different from your GFC name.*
Crunchy Clean will send the lucky winners a gift card. $15 to the first winner and $10 to the second winner.
This giveaway will end May 6th, 2011 at 9:00 pm CST.
Winner will be drawn via random.org. Winners will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond before new winners will be drawn. Giveaway is open to US and Canada citizens who are 18 years or older.
* Product was provided free of charge to me for the purpose of this review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion. The opinions in this review are mine alone and were formed from my experience with this product. My personal experience and opinions of this product may differ from your own.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Let's Rock It! - CLOSED
Happy Birthday to Me! Happy Birthday to Me!
Yep....it's my birthday today (and it's a big one too)!
It's my Golden Birthday!
It's my Golden Birthday!
I want to celebrate it by posting
My very first Review
My very first Review
and
.....drumroll, please......
Giveaway!!!!!!!!!
I just love how Rockin' Green has used references to music in their products. From formulas ranging from Soft Rock, Classic Rock and Hard Rock (for soft to hard water) and using a play on the names of different rock bands for their scents. Rockin' Green sent me samples of their Hard Rock 2.0 in Rage Against the Raspberries, Smashing Watermelons, and Mighty Mighty Marshmallow to try out and review. I was excited to try them all....it made doing laundry for the next two weeks very exciting!
I started with the Mighty Mighty Marshmallow. I thought that it would be a really sweet smell. To my surprise, it wasn't overpowering at all. It was a very light, sweet and tart smell. It was a very clean smell.
Next was Smashing Watermelons. I was expecting it to be a light summery smell, but it was more sweet than I thought it would be. It smelled like watermelon candy.
I saved my favorite scent for last. I've always been a fan of raspberry smells. I was very pleasantly surprised when I opened the bag. It was a very lovely raspberry scent!
I loved standing by the washer as it filled because the smells would waft up into the room. When pulling the damp diapers out of the washer, I noticed that the smells were gone. It just smelled clean like our Bare Naked Babies does. After drying, they still just smelled clean. I liked that the scents didn't linger.
Rockin' Green does such an amazing job of taking care of our cloth diapers. We love it so much that we use it on everything. I love how fluffy my towels get after coming out of the wash! Plus, we love the staff over at Rockin' Green. They are amazing at trouble shooting those stubborn problems and helping to set up a great wash routine that meets your individual needs. Their customer service is above and beyond what you normally find these days. They really do rock!
To Buy It:
Head over to Rockin' Green where you can purchase directly or
check out where to find your local retailer.
Need to know which formula you need? They can help!
To Win It:
One lucky person will win their own bag of
Rockin' Green detergent from Rockin' Green!
All entries must follow the rules or they will not be posted.
I do check every entry, so please play fair.
All entries must follow the rules or they will not be posted.
I do check every entry, so please play fair.
Mandatory Entry:
Comment Below Please
Follow OTTW using Google Friend Connect. You have to follow publicly for it to count.
Please leave your email address and a little message.
This is mandatory and must be done first for any extra entries to count.
Extra Entries:
Please leave your email address with each entry.
Please use one comment for each entry.
1. Follow OTTW using NetworkedBlogs
2. Like OTTW on Facebook and leave me a note that you stopped by.
(Leave your Facebook name)
3. Like Rockin' Green on Facebook and tell them 'Hi' for me!
4. Stop by Rockin' Green and tell me your favorite formula and scent.
5. Add the OTTW button to your blog. (Worth 2 Entries, please leave separate comments)
6. Tell me what your favorite OTTW post is or something new you learned from OTTW.
Rockin' Green will send the lucky winner a 45/90 bag of their choice.
This giveaway will end February 14, 2011 at 9:00 pm CST. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Winner will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. Giveaway is open to US and Canada citizens who are 18 years or older.
I was provided samples at no cost by Rockin' Green to try and review. I was not provided monetary compensation for this review in any way. The information provided is my own personal opinion.
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