I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry. For 7 days I will be using only flat cloth diapers and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all. You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post. This year there are over 450 participants from all over the world!
I HATE laundry. Even when I'm just washing in a regular ol' machine, I hate it. 98% of laundry (both cloth diaper and other) is done by my darling husband Ganaa. Part of the reason I fell in love with Ganaa was because he would visit me in the countryside and do all of my laundry for me (I had the forsight to bring enough pairs of underware with me to Mongolia so I could almost go a month without doing laundry). So why in the world would I voluntarily sign up to not only do laundry for the week, but to handwash???!?!?!
1. It is for a good cause. Not only do I believe cloth diapering to be better for the enviornment and baby, I also believe it to be better on bank accounts. I think of how people in this country struggle to make ends meet (I know some months its like that for us), and I think of how much we have saved by using cloth diapers...and while it sounds intimidating it really isn't difficult at all. No baby should have to suffer form reusing disposable diapers when there are ways to diaper for less than $50! This event not only raises awareness of cheap cloth diapering, it also raises money for Giving Diapers, Giving Hope, a non-profit that supplies cloth diapers to families in need.
2. Because I miss the Peace Corps life. Sure things like indoor plumbing and fruit are awesome, but they are accompanied by things like commuting and car payments. As much as I hated having to handwash my clothes for 2+ years it was very much a part of the Peace Corps experience. This morning I did my first micro batch of flats laundry and once the pee smell was rinsed out after the first soak it was actually kinda nice. I got a good arm workout in (though nothing as strenuous as trying to wring out jeans!), and I felt accomplished...its almost like, if I can handwash diapers I can do anything! And I think that is what I miss most about Peace Corps, that feeling that I can do anything! So while I may not have an awesome tumpun ("bucket"), I will wash my flats like Mongolian's have washed their babies dirty diaps since the time of Ghengis...by hand :)
I HATE laundry. Even when I'm just washing in a regular ol' machine, I hate it. 98% of laundry (both cloth diaper and other) is done by my darling husband Ganaa. Part of the reason I fell in love with Ganaa was because he would visit me in the countryside and do all of my laundry for me (I had the forsight to bring enough pairs of underware with me to Mongolia so I could almost go a month without doing laundry). So why in the world would I voluntarily sign up to not only do laundry for the week, but to handwash???!?!?!
1. It is for a good cause. Not only do I believe cloth diapering to be better for the enviornment and baby, I also believe it to be better on bank accounts. I think of how people in this country struggle to make ends meet (I know some months its like that for us), and I think of how much we have saved by using cloth diapers...and while it sounds intimidating it really isn't difficult at all. No baby should have to suffer form reusing disposable diapers when there are ways to diaper for less than $50! This event not only raises awareness of cheap cloth diapering, it also raises money for Giving Diapers, Giving Hope, a non-profit that supplies cloth diapers to families in need.
2. Because I miss the Peace Corps life. Sure things like indoor plumbing and fruit are awesome, but they are accompanied by things like commuting and car payments. As much as I hated having to handwash my clothes for 2+ years it was very much a part of the Peace Corps experience. This morning I did my first micro batch of flats laundry and once the pee smell was rinsed out after the first soak it was actually kinda nice. I got a good arm workout in (though nothing as strenuous as trying to wring out jeans!), and I felt accomplished...its almost like, if I can handwash diapers I can do anything! And I think that is what I miss most about Peace Corps, that feeling that I can do anything! So while I may not have an awesome tumpun ("bucket"), I will wash my flats like Mongolian's have washed their babies dirty diaps since the time of Ghengis...by hand :)
That's one of my favorite shots from Babies. Love that movie!
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