Hand washing, line drying

[ardeur]

I am the oldest of 8 children and consider myself a veteran at diaper changing between all my siblings and all my years nannying. I am ashamed to admit that I have zero experience with *cloth* diapering of any sort. Everyone I know has always used disposables.

DH and I are determined to cloth diaper for a myriad of reasons I won't go into. OS AIOs (i.e. bumGenius 4.0) sound wonderful, but they are expensive (a deal breaker for us) and I hear they take the longest to dry. I need a way to wash the dipes by hand in our tub somehow since we only have access to laundromat washers (expensive!). So I need diapers that work well with hand washing and line drying. I'm thinking covers and prefolds might be a good place to start when the time comes?

Any words of wisdom for me? Does anyone else hand wash and line dry their dipes?

[MrsRicearoni]

I've never hand washed but I did see this posting on a CD blog I've read about hand washing diapers:
http://www.theaccidentalwallflower.c...h-diapers.html

She also has an updated post about using a portable washing machine which may be something to consider investing in for the long term:
http://www.theaccidentalwallflower.c...r-laundry.html

[foggierbard9]

I have done the handwash/line dry for a week or so at a time for trips and such. I can tell you flats are much easier to get clean than even prefolds when hand washing and they are one size, so you won't have to size up as the baby grows.

[ardeur]

Originally Posted by MrsRicearoni I've never hand washed but I did see this posting on a CD blog I've read about hand washing diapers: http://www.theaccidentalwallflower.c...h-diapers.html She also has an updated post about using a portable washing machine which may be something to consider investing in for the long term: http://www.theaccidentalwallflower.c...r-laundry.html

Portable washing machines are not allowed in our apartment (among other things, too), and our little water heater only gets hot water a couple weeks during the year when the weather is really hot. We typically have to boil water when we want it hot.

[starbeam]

i would do flats and wool covers. wool covers especially need to be washed pretty much only when/if they get poop on them and it's very easy to handwash wool. flats are going to be easier get clean than any other type of dipe and they're the cheapest type too, and they'll dry the fastest. i would go to greenmountaindiapers and read about flats and wool covers. you'll have to find another link to talk about handwashing the dipes, but green mountain has great info about the dipes and covers themselves and about how to handwash the wool covers

[nonipie]

Flats and covers are the way to go. I have hand washed in the tub and flats were much easier than prefolds. Covers can be hand washed in the sink very easily. Diaper Rite smalls are perfect from birth and then padfolded when they get older so truly one size. Get some hemp doublers and maybe fleece liners and you are good to go. For full-time use I would do 3 dozen and maybe 8 covers. Thirsties Duo would work from birth and then Flips would fit about 12lbs and up.

[mali]

I'd recommend flats and an easy cover, like flips. I get the hand washing to save money and avoid the laundromat, and you could do that with this combo.

Frankly I think you're likely to find your time worth more than the money you save...and with this combo you can wash in any washer with pretty much any detergent and get good, clean results.

Fwiw, I wash either in my illegal hook-up-to-the-sink washer or at the laundromat (on the days I really need to wash and my landlord is around) and then line dry with this combo. The flats and flips line dry really quickly, even on rainy days when I have to hang them inside.

[CntryMama]

I would do flats too! I love how clean they get - they have never smelled and air dry outside in mintues or inside super fast! I really like Flip covers with mine...

[nahrie]

Flats work great for handwashing and dry much faster than prefolds do. Covers I really like with them that dry super fast are Flips and Econobums. Also, for a ton of helpful information, head over to dirtydiaperlaundry.com and search for the flats and handwashing challenge. They've done it for 2 years in a row, and many blogs participate, giving so many helpful tips (including how to make a camp style washer so you don't have to use your hands on dirty diapers)

[kannondicarpo]

I agree on flats. I do not have to hand wash but I've been there in the past and prefolds are hard to get clean.

I DO line dry everything though and even in the Hawaiian sun it takes a full day for prefolds to dry sometimes while the flats are dry within a few hours even if it's rainy and overcast. Good luck mama.

Oh, and our flats are actually Walmart brand kitchen towels (ahhh, I can't think of the name...maybe someone will chime in or I'll come back and edit). Anyways, you can find them near the hand towels, they are super thin and inexpensive.