the "A" word.

This post should be about my review of Country Save laundry detergent.  However, I am going to have to put that off until a later date.  I have had some major issues, with only 3 diapers, so I am unable to give an honest review of Country Save at this time.  So instead, I will share all about my battle, and how I've had to strip multiple times in just a few weeks.

For those who are new to my blog (welcome!), I did a review on the new (at the time) Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted diaper for overnight use.  I loved it!!  It seemed bulletproof.  But after only 1 short month of use, there were issues.  They never leaked, they were definitely great in that aspect.  Every morning when changing E, I was nearly knocked out by the strong smell of the dreaded "A" word......

Ammonia.

For an entire year of cloth diapering, I only once experienced this, after a brief affair with Tide Free & Gentle.  But one stripping and back to Tide original did the trick, no more stinky and leaky diapers.  I didn't even use anything special to strip them, just did multiple hot washes.  I knew my current ammonia problem was not caused by detergent build up.  After all, the Fab Duo's never leaked, even after all night.  And no other diapers, even the thick microfiber AIO's, smelled of ammonia.

In January, I tested EcoNuts Soap nuts.  Towards the end of that month, I started smelling ammonia every morning.  I suspected it was because the Eco Nuts just couldn't get the thick microfiber fitted clean enough, since the thick microfiber AIO's also had a faint ammonia smell.  I thought a good stripping would take care of it.

At the end of January, I soaked half of my clean stash in RLR Laundry Treatment. Then the entire next day I did hot wash after hot wash.  I think it was about 5 hot wash/cold rinse cycles (a few days later I did the other half of the stash in the same way).  I figured the diapers would have no more residue of any kind after this.  So I started my month long test of Country Save detergent.

For the first week or so, I could not smell any more ammonia.  Yay!!  But my joy did not last long.  This time it was only the Thirsties Duo Fab Fitteds.  Once the ammonia returned, I stripped the diapers again (all of them).  That only lasted one use.  After washing them again, I smelled the ammonia yet again.  Over the next couple of weeks, I tried multiple things to get rid of the stink

Adding white vinegar to the pre-rinse.

Adding an extra rinse, and even an extra hot wash.

Soaking in white vinegar.

Soaking in OxyClean.

Soaking in a white vinegar/OxyClean mixture.

Soaking only the Fab Duo's in boiling water.

Adding a little RLR to each wash.

I also bought Bac Out, and soaked them (and all of the other microfiber while I was at it, just in case) overnight.  I did this twice.  The inserts came out a brighter white!  But the Fab Duo's still had the stink.  This was the last straw.  I do not want high maitenance diapers.

Everyone told me to try a few drops of blue Dawn dish soap to strip.  And I was told to use Rockin Green's Funk Rock.  Or to spray them after each use with Bac Out prior to putting them in the diaper pail.  I know all the tricks, but I was tired of trying to get rid of ammonia that just did not want to stay away.  I even thought about ditching my detergent reviews and going back to Tide original.  But, I decided not to do that.  I figured if I was having problems with ALL of the diapers, not just these 3, then I would do that.  But it was only the 3 Fab Duo's that made a nice home for ammonia.

I'd had enough.  I am done with the Fab Duo's.  I am a little sad, though, since the diapers worked so well. 

In case you're wondering, I have an older top loader, not an HE machine. This is the first time I have ever had a problem with my wash routine in over a year of cloth diapering.

So for the last few nights E has been wearing a Thirsties Duo Diaper with an added bamboo/hemp gFlapper.  I only have 2 of those, and they are set aside for my husband to use (easy hook & loop).  So today I bought a Knickernappies OS Pocket, which includes 2 LoopyDo inserts (microfiber and hemp).  I hear amazing things about these LoopyDo inserts.  If this works, then E may have a new nighttime diaper. 

Next week, after getting back into a normal wash routine and stripping all of the diapers yet again, I will start my month long test of Rockin Green.  Without the Fab Duo's, I am hoping to be able to give an honest review.  I have another detergent planned for May, and will return to Country Save in June.

Blissful Booty Review and Giveaway -- CLOSED

This giveaway is CLOSED.

Congrats to Meredith Klobucnik!!

A few weeks ago I received a bag of fluffy goodness from Cathy, owner of Blissful Booty Cloth Diapers (who is local to the DFW area!).  She had contacted me about doing a review on her diapers, since I promote her business for the DFW Cloth Diaper Group.  In this goody bag were 2 Blissful Booty AIO diapers (size large), a 10-pack of wipes, a 5-pack of booster pads, a 4-pack sampler of  wipe water concentrate, a 6 oz spray bottle, and a natural lip balm.  I was unable to continue using the lip balm, though.  I really liked it... until the hives appeared (I am allergic to certain ingredients in some lip balms, this isn't the first time it's happened).

The Blissful Booty AIO has a soft waterproof out shell, a microfiber terry inner, an incredibly soft microfleece to wick moisture away from baby's booty, and inner gussets to contain any mess.  It is a sized diaper.  Using the sizing on her website, I told Cathy E needs a large (which said "large 21-35 lbs").  E is about 33" tall and 29 lbs.  The large fits him great, if not a bit big.  He has PLENTY of growing room in this diaper!  The hook & loop tabs need to be overlapped to give him a good fit. 

I was so excited to try this diaper that I had been hearing so much about.  I was proud that a local business woman (and mom) was creating such a buzz in the cloth diapering world.  As soon as we got home from a trip to a nature museum, I put the unwashed Blissful Booty CD on E.  He wore it for 4 hours before I finally decided to change him.  There were no signs of leaking anytime soon, but I hated that he had gone so long in the same diaper (I normally change him every 2 hours, but wanted to put the diaper to the test).  4 hours was my limit.  It didn't seem to bother E (who, surprisingly, did not poop in a brand new diaper!).

I was hooked then and there, and my nerves about trying it overnight were calmed.  He has gotten to the point where he needs a lot of absorbancy overnight.  A BumGenius 3.0 double stuffed does not last the night.  I added 2 of the booster pads to the BB, still a little unsure, but there were no leaks when he woke up!

Since the BB is an AIO, I expected it to take a long time to dry.  I was wrong.  It only need one cycle (an hour) on low heat to fully dry.  The other AIO's I have need about 80-90 minutes on low (and one even needs to be line dried overnight after all that time in the dryer).  So I would say it's a quick drying AIO.  I will soon be getting a clothesline, so I do not know yet how long it takes to line dry. 

I do want to mention that after the first wash/dry, part of the seam on the back elastic came undone, exposing the elastic.  I did inform Blissful Booty about it, just so they know, but it never effected the function of the diaper in any way.  If I knew how to sew, it would be a simple fix.  Cathy offered to stitch it up for me. 

The wipes are large enough to actually get a messy bottom clean, without getting your hands dirty.  I have tried a few cloth wipes before, but prefer store brand baby wash cloths.  But I find myself reaching for the BB wipes, especially for those really messy diapers.  One side grabs messy poo, the other side is smooth against baby's skin.

The wipe water concentrates smell so yummy!!  The four scents I got are Sugar Cookie, Jasmine Vanilla, CoCo Mango, and Baby White Tea.  So far I have used the Sugar Cookie and CoCo Mango.  Only 1/2 tsp is needed for every 6 oz of water, which goes a long way.  Not only does it smell good, but it also works!  I have tried several recipes for homemade wipe solution with no success.  I have been using plain water.  But I am loving the BB wipe solution!

I now know why there has been such hype about Blissful Booty.  It is a trim, absorbant, quick-drying easy to use diaper, backed by great customer service!  Despite the back seam coming undone, I love this diaper.  If E didn't have way more diapers than he needs, I would be getting more.


This giveaway is CLOSED.
How would you like to win a Blissful Booty AIO?  Since Cathy gave me 2 diapers, and, as I mentioned, E does not need any more, I decided to do a giveaway! 


Here's what one lucky person will win:
1 Blissful Booty AIO cloth diaper, size large
2 booster pads
1 sample size wipe water concentrate (Jasmine Vanilla)


Here's how to enter:  CLOSED
Leave 1 comment letting me know you have done all 3 things.  Leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.
1.  Follow my blog.
2.  Like my Facebook page (leave your fb name so I can confirm).

3.  Tell me one thing that your child did today that made you smile.

Winner will be drawn on March 31 (using random.org). 

Great Cloth Diaper Change 2011

It feels like so long since I've made a new written post!  Forgive me for my silence, it's been a bit hectic around here lately.

Why, you might ask, have I been so busy?  I am co-organizing my very first big event, the Great Cloth Diaper Change!  I have never organized an event like this before, so it is definitely a learning experience.  But it is a LOT of fun, and it will be well worth it in the end!  My co-host is Elise from Baby Rear Gear in Arlington. 

What is the Great Cloth Diaper Change (GCDC)?  It is an event to set the Guinness World Record(tm) for the most simultaneous cloth diaper changes around the world.  At this moment, there are 361 locations worldwide (and counting)!  That's at least 9,025 babies changed into a cloth diaper at one time!  We have 53 pre-registrants so far for our local event!

Think this seems a bit, well, silly?  Depends on how you look at it, I suppose.  Cloth Diapers have come a long way in the last 20 years.  They are no longer the Gerber prefolds and plastics pants.  While prefolds are still available, they are much more absorbant and higher quality.  Personally, I prefer other types of diapers, such as pockets, AIO's, and wahm AI2's (see here for more info on the different types of cloth diapers).

The whole point of the GCDC is not to set a world record.  Nope, that's cool and all, but the real reason is to raise awareness about modern cloth diapers.  There are so many wonderful reasons to use cloth diapers (environmental, economical, and health), yet they are still widely perceived as a thing of the past.  Up unitl a little over a year ago, I thought the same thing, and I distinctly remember saying "I will never use cloth diapers."  Ha!  Here I am now, a major cloth diaper advocate, member of the Real Diaper Association (and working on becoming a Circle Leader), working part time at a CD shop, and founder of the DFW Cloth Diaper Group.  The CD Group is now nearly 350 members, and growing every day!  I had no clue there were so many CDing families in this area, since I only knew a few prior to starting the group. 

We are still looking for small local businesses to support our event.  There are some costs involved, mostly for the location.  If you are interested in helping support our efforts in raising awareness for cloth diapers, please visit our website and fill out the contact form.  THANKS!!

If you are interested in participating in the GCDC, or just want to help out (we NEED volunteers!!), please visit our website http://www.dfwclothdiapergroup.com/.  We are super excited about this event!!  We must be crazy, because we are already talking about making this an annual Earth Day event!

This Moment -- True Love

Wordless Wednesday

Visit to Mimi and Baba's, way past bedtime.