"Ask Rachael": How Do I Clean Cloth & Hemp Diapers?

04/01/2010

Cotton & Hemp Diapers
For First Time Use : Wash & Dry diapers before using.
Cloth Prefold Diapers
Wash & dry white diapers 2x.
Wash & dry unbleached diapers 4-5x (or until a spoonful of water poured onto a dry diaper is absorbed.) The additional wash/dry cycles for the unbleached diapers are necessary to remove the natural cotton seed oil from the fabric.
For both styles, the diapers will shrink, fluff-up and become more absorbent after washing. The diapers will get much thicker and softer and have a “quilted” appearance.
Hemp Diapers
Wash & dry diapers  4-5x (or until a spoonful of water poured onto a dry diaper is absorbed.) The additional wash/dry cycles for the Hemp diapers are necessary to remove the natural plant oils from the fabric.
Regular Washing Routine for ALL DIAPERS
1. Place wet or soiled diapers in a dry diaper pail.
2. Empty your pail of diapers into your washing machine. run a cold water rinse cycle or a cold wash to help prevent stains and odors. Wash a maximum of 3 dozen diapers per load.
3. Wash on HOT water/cold rinse with long cycle. Use 1/2 recommended amount of detergent. Rinse 2x
Optional : adding 1/3 cup of baking soda to your wash helps to remove detergent residues and odors.
If you have hard water, you may also add 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser during the final rinsing.
4. Dry on Medium or High heat.
Please don’t use fabric softeners, they create a film on the fibers which hinders absorption. Do not use soaps such as Dreft or Ivory Snow as they cause buildup. Do not use chlorine bleach, use non-chlorine bleach when necessary.
For Soiled Diapers
If you use our flushable liners, when baby poops just peel off the soil liner & flush in the toilet. If you don’t use liners, shake out the poop into the toilet. Occasional sunning of clean, wet diapers will reduce or eliminate staining. After sunning, toss in the dryer to soften them up.
HINT: If odors are a problem, mix a little water with some Borax

Cotton & Hemp Diapers

For First Time Use : Wash & Dry diapers before using.
Cloth Prefold Diapers
Wash & dry white diapers 2x.
Wash & dry unbleached diapers 4-5x (or until a spoonful of water poured onto a dry diaper is absorbed.) The additional wash/dry cycles for the unbleached diapers are necessary to remove the natural cotton seed oil from the fabric.

For both styles, the diapers will shrink, fluff-up and become more absorbent after washing. The diapers will get much thicker and softer and have a “quilted” appearance.
Hemp Diapers
Wash & dry diapers  4-5x (or until a spoonful of water poured onto a dry diaper is absorbed.) The additional wash/dry cycles for the Hemp diapers are necessary to remove the natural plant oils from the fabric.


Regular Washing Routine for ALL DIAPERS
1. Place wet or soiled diapers in a dry diaper pail.

2. Empty your pail of diapers into your washing machine. run a cold water rinse cycle or a cold wash to help prevent stains and odors. Wash a maximum of 3 dozen diapers per load.

3. Wash on HOT water/cold rinse with long cycle. Use 1/2 recommended amount of detergent. Rinse 2x
Optional : adding 1/3 cup of baking soda to your wash helps to remove detergent residues and odors.
If you have hard water, you may also add 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser during the final rinsing.
4. Dry on Medium or High heat.
Please don’t use fabric softeners, they create a film on the fibers which hinders absorption. Do not use soaps such as Dreft or Ivory Snow as they cause buildup. Do not use chlorine bleach, use non-chlorine bleach when necessary.

For Soiled Diapers
If you use our flushable liners, when baby poops just peel off the soil liner & flush in the toilet. If you don’t use liners, shake out the poop into the toilet. Occasional sunning of clean, wet diapers will reduce or eliminate staining. After sunning, toss in the dryer to soften them up.

HINT: If odors are a problem, mix a little water with some Borax or baking soda and cover the bottom of the diaper pail. Change this solution with each load of diapers.

or baking soda and cover the bottom of the diaper pail. Change this solution with each load of diapers.

Let me first say thank you to everyone who submitted a cloth diapering question!  I loved getting the questions on our blog and on our Facebook page!  We randomly selected a winner- and congratulations goes to Janel C. - the winner of our “Ask Rachael” giveaway who posted the following question on our Facebook Page:

How do you wash cloth diapers, can you use regular detergent?

Janel,

It’s easier than you imagine.

You can launder wet and soiled cloth diapers yourself at home using your regular detergent- but you will want to avoid fabric softener and chlorine bleach- as these cause build up and irritation to your baby’s skin. And don’t use soap such as Dreft or Ivory.

Wet diapers : You can just throw them into a dry pail. ( No need to soak)

Poop Diapers : Before placing soiled diapers in the diaper pail- remove the “poop” from the diaper.  If you’re using our biodegradable/ flushable liner, the soiled liner can be safely flushed in your toilet. If you don’t use liners just shake out the poop into the toilet. If your baby is  breast feeding, the poop is often very soft and runny (sorry for the graphic description) and not so easy to get off the diaper. Instead many parents choose to just wash these diapers every other day and not bother with trying to get the poop off. This is up to you.

Wash Day : Start by emptying your pail of diapers (no more than 3 dozen diapers at a time) into your washing machine and running a cold water rinse cycle  (this helps prevent stains and odors).   Then wash diapers on a HOT water/cold rinse on a long cycle and use half of the recommended amount of detergent. An optional choice is to add 1/3 cup of baking soda to your wash  (this helps remove detergent residues and odors).  Rinse twice.   Dry on Medium or High heat or hang ‘em in the sun.

Before using for the First Time : When washing your cloth or hemp diapers for the first time, there are a few easy steps to make sure your diapers are fully absorbent and ready for use. ( See our website for this information )

Thanks for your question Janel!  We will be getting in touch and sending you a free Fitted Organic Hemp Diaper with Organic Cover!!


By Rachael Flug | Posted in How To's, Natural Diapering, Rachael's Musings | Comments (0)

Tis A Gift To Be Simple

12/12/2009

Wishing you the Simple Joys of Life

One positive that has emerged from the difficult times we are in, is that we are learning to live more simply. From growing a vegetable garden to making home cooked meals (instead of eating out) we are spending less time shopping and consuming. As we enter this holiday season I hope that you can continue to consume less without feeling guilty.

You might even discover that Simple is even better than you could have imagined.

This song Tis A Gift To Be Simple was originally written by Joseph Bracket a Shaker in 1848.  I really like the newer verses that go with this melody.  You’ll find the original verse with the sheet music

Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
‘Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we’ll all live together and we’ll all learn to say,
‘Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
‘Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of “me”,
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we’ll all live together with a love that is real.

simple-gifts-lead-sheet

By Rachael Flug | Posted in General, Just for Fun, Rachael's Musings | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Halloween Can Be a Time to Turn Fears into Fun

10/30/2009

Another Halloween is upon us. Whether it is cold and windy where you live, or a perfect starry night , for one day and night we embrace our fears.

own-halloween-props-200X200

And for those with young children it can be a time to turn fears into fun. For the first few years (before they associate Halloween with getting tons of candy) you can really shape this day. You may want to consider holding off on the elaborate baby & toddler costumes, since you will have many years to come when you will be up into the wee hours of the night finishing off that costume. (As the Mother of Three, I can tell you that no holiday required as much work as Halloween).

But as the sun sets and its glow fades, giving way to the night, what a wonderful time to close the lights and have only a few candles shining. You can sing a song, tell a simple story, or just cuddle. Anything that will make your little one (and bigger ones) feel safe in the darkness. Of course there will be interruptions as you answer the door to hand out candy to the trick or treaters. But the footsteps running up to the door and the loud knocking can be part of the fun too.

It all sounds so much scarier in the dark but if we can help our children enjoy it instead of being afraid , what a great Halloween treat that would be.

By Rachael Flug | Posted in Rachael's Musings | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Teaching Your Baby The Value of Patience in An Inpatient World

10/29/2009

baby's organic nurseryI recently came across a post: The Long Term Rewards of UnderIndulgence on Green Baby Guide that addresses how new parents tend to over indulge and over stimulate their babies.  So many new Moms worry if they do not run out and buy the newest toy or participate in the latest trend- they would be depriving their baby- or even worse he or she may fall behind the other babies and be scarred for life!

Imagine a scene now of your child 40 years from now sitting with a therapist: “I could have done better for myself Doc, but my parents did not get me the newest version of the electronic counting games when I was 6 months old….it ruined me!”   I think not! Of course we all mean well- but need to ask ourselves if babies really need so much “stuff” and would it be wiser to save the money we want to spend on the newest and fanciest and smartest new toys so we can teach them to value the more precious things in life.

Is under indulgence the same thing as deprivation?  We think not!  Buying fewer, thoughtful gifts and treats for your child will allow him or her to have an enhanced sense of appreciation, plus you’ll be helping lighten the load on our planet and your pocketbook.

I have commented on this line of thinking before.  Over the past years it has often been considered a keystone of good parenting to “push” your baby to walk, talk and read as early as possible. Surrounding them with learning toys to teach the alphabet or putting them in front of educational T.V at two months old forces our little ones to grow up at an alarming rate. I could quote lots of research but I prefer to speak Mother to Mother and ask you to allow your natural instincts, your intuition, to be your guide regarding whether what I am saying rings true for you.

Our precious babies are born with senses that have not been tainted or tarnished by the world. They are a spiritual treasure and it is no wonder that everyone loves a new baby. So why can’t we allow a baby to be a baby?  What’s the hurry? We live in a hurried world and our babies often grow up to be hurried children. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Having a new baby gives us an opportunity to see the world through our babies’ eyes. We can take the time to quietly rock them to sleep, singing a lullaby, and surrounding them with peacefulness and calmness. You don’t need any money to do this or even a good voice.

We can sit patiently and wait as they slowly open their eyes and begin to take in the world around them. We don’t need to surround them with expensive mobiles or clutter their cribs with all the latest stuffed animals. And most of all we can just enjoy our time with them and allow them to awaken to the world around at their own speed. Each baby is unique, each baby will learn to speak and walk in their own time. We can honor this time by being patient and protecting them from the inpatient world around us.

By Rachael Flug | Posted in Rachael's Musings | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Labor Day, Mom and Apple Pie

09/07/2009

gathering-grain-2x3-web

The hands that raised this food,
The hands that harvested this food,
and the hands that served this food.
May it nourish our bodies to grow just and merciful hearts,
And strong minds that will serve others.
- Author Unknown

Giving Thanks. Labor Day was made a national holiday in 1874. It was a day to celebrate “the strength and esprit de corps of the labor movement”. As the website of the United States Dept of Labor states ” Labor Day constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” And we should give gratitude to all whose labor have given us the clothes we wear, the food we eat and most everything else we use in our daily lives.

But how about including those who labored to give us birth?
Why not pick up the phone and call your Mom and say, Wow I really appreciate all those hours you spent in labor for me. So how was that ? I bet you that no matter how many years ago it was, your Mom will remember every minute of it AND how long it lasted !

As it is all too easy for Labor Day to become just another shopping holiday or day to go to the movies, I thought you might like this beautiful little grace to share over your family meal. It helps to remind us that food doesn’t just appear but that many hands are joined together to bring us our meal.



By Rachael Flug | Posted in Rachael's Musings | Tagged , | Comments (0)

The Most Important Organic Item for Your Baby's Nursery

06/30/2009

imagesA baby’s nursery is a place of promise, the home for the hopes and dreams we hold for our child even before they are born. Whether for a first child or a fourth, the nursery is the place where the journey of discovery begins.

A baby arrives with a tender immune system. During your child’s first year you’ll want to be especially careful about the materials in her world. This is why I have gone to such extraordinary lengths to test, examine, research and analyze all the choices so that you and your family can best prioritize what you need to spend your money on.

You simply would not believe how many chemicals are contained in mattresses, which means that a baby is constantly breathing and touching harmful chemicals. Mattresses never stop off gassing. I believe that this is the single most important purchase you can make for your baby’s well being and long term health. Putting a cover ( even if it is organic ) on top of a conventional mattress isn’t enough. When parents ask me what can I do if I can’t afford an organic crib mattress ? I tell them to buy everything else used and save your money for this. And don’t forget to put this on the top of the list for the grandparents.

To learn more see our info on Organic Baby Crib Mattress


By Rachael Flug | Posted in All Things Organic, Baby Care, Rachael's Musings | Tagged , | Comments (4)

"Mommy School"- How I was Inspired to Begin the Baby's Organic Nursery Blog

03/27/2009

n1736968176_5673Recently, I was involved in some non-profit work and a young mom came up to speak with me. She had just had a new baby and had that amazing new mama glow. She was highly educated (with a MBA from a prestigious University) was extremely well read and up til the time of the birth was working in a very high level position. So I felt honored when she sought me out for some “mommy advice”. She was breast feeding and knew about eating really healthy and was trying to buy organic clothing for her baby. But she didn’t know much about actual baby raising. Was it a good thing to put the baby in front of the T.V. if it seemed to quiet her down? What toys should I buy? When is a good time to start weaning? How can I get my baby to sleep better?

So I realized , wow this is the most important job we will ever have and how do we learn? Well if you have three kids you can always practice on the first ( only kidding my dear first born ! ).

So this was one of my inspirations for starting this blog. To help share with other new parents the fruits of my experience and even more important, how to get in touch with your inner wisdom so that you can feel what is right for your baby.

When my children were young and I would tell them the way something should be, they would ask, how do you know that mommy? And I told them the story of how when I go to sleep, I go to Mommy School, and that is where all the mommy’s go to learn what is best for their children. And they were very happy with that explanation, and so was I.

By Rachael Flug | Posted in General, Rachael's Musings | Comments (2)