Ok, the washing of the diapers.

This is truly NOT a daunting process, nor does it take long. But in order to BEST help you understand the process, I have taken pictures (many!), but don't be overwhelmed, it really doesn't take long!

-Storing the diapers:

We keep all our diapers in the top drawer of the dresser (with the changing table on top). Inside we keep diapers, cloth wipes (in wipe container) lotion, and newborn inserts for night times (more on inserts later).




Wearing:

Here is my 6 month old looking adorable in his bum genius diapers.

The diaper pail:

After the not-so-adorable part comes, you simply take the diaper off (exactly like a regular disposable) and put it in the pail.


http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10542216

There are many types of pails, but we opted for a large trash can for our pail. When we travel (by car) we use this pail:


http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2527001

We started out using this pail but it only fits about 10-12 diapers and I have 28 so I wanted to go longer without washing.


Washing:

When the pail is full you take the diapers and dump them in the wash as is (if you use a liner for the pail, that goes in too):



WITHOUT USING detergent, you run a rinse cycle on COLD for 10 minutes




Then, without doing anything with the diapers, you pour in the detergent (more on kinds to use later, but here is the kind we use, sold at Walmart):





and run a full cycle on HOT. If for some reason your washer doesn't automatically run another rinse cycle at the end, you'll need to set it to do so (though I'm pretty sure they all do).

So each wash gets a rinse on COLD, a full cycle on HOT, a follow up rinse cycle on COLD



Drying diapers:

When the diapers are done you simply take them out and dry them. The inserts *should* come out while being washed, but every once in a while one gets stuck (especially the little newborn inserts). Don't worry they're still clean!

How do you dry them?

I line dry mine. I was told by friends who paved the way before me that dryers can be harsh on the outside of the diapers. And I have a line both in my basement and my backyard (was there when we moved in!) So I line dry them.



The bummer with winter is that it takes MUCH longer to dry them in the basement than outside. In the spring/summer/fall it's about 2-4 hours outside and in the winter/basement it's about 36 hours. Huge difference! So I love hanging them outside :)





However, the dryer is NOT the devil.



You paid for your diapers, you can certainly do what you want with them. When we travel, we don't feel the need to drape our diapers all over our friends/family members homes, so we just toss them in the dryer. It's not the end of the world :) And they're done faster!

Assembling them:

When they're dry I throw them all in a basket and assemble them while I'm watching TV!

Each diaper comes with three parts:

1. The outside:



This is what the poop/pee gets on, but it's thin and NOT absorbent. You never want to put this on a child without an insert in it, it won't hold anything

2.The insert. This is a full size insert. This is what absorbs the pee/poop and keeps it from leaking out.




3. Each diaper also comes with a newborn insert (that is much smaller). Those never worked on our son, but we do use them to make his diaper more absorbent at night time (we use a full size AND newborn in one diaper).

All you have to do is stuff the insert in the diaper through the pocket:



Fold the flap


and it's done!




Then I fold them to store them:


That's it :)