The initial investment in cloth diapers was daunting, but thanks to the help of several family members it was manageable. And I took comfort knowing that over time, it would be cheaper than disposable diapers.
And then the dryer broke, a year after toiling to dry cloth diapers on a mostly daily basis. It was 14 years old, though, purchased shortly after Paul and I married. So we purchased a new dryer. A month or so after that, the sump pump broke, and the basement flooded. The sump pump was only 5 years old. A shady plumber was hired who double billed us, and resulted in a complaint being filed with the Better Business Bureau and a lot of stress on my part. Finally, that was resolved. And Paul purchased a new sump pump and installed it. And I was back in business with my cloth diapers. And then. Last week? The washer stopped spinning. The motor made a noise. You know the type. A noise indicating life was expiring. And so, we purchased the washer to match our fairly new dryer. Now we have a complete set again. And now I know that cloth diapers? Well, not so cost-effective after all.
On a brighter note, I now have an energy efficient washer. And I suspect potty training is in the very, very near future.
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27 comments:
Bless your heart! May your new goods have very LONG lives.
Well yahoo for a new laundry station;) but I hear you on the cloth diaper thing. I used them for a total of 2.5 years with my 4 kiddos. The laundry soap company loved me:D Good for you for doing the cloth version. But yep, trained is best:)
Lisa, I bet if you added up how much you would have spent on disposables over the same time period, the cloth diapers would still be a better value and nothing ended up in the landfill. I applaud you for this effort -- more people should go this route. :)
The new ones are so pretty! I really hope they last for a long time!
In my grateful journal today - I am so far away from having to think about diapers! lol
Sandie - Merry Christmas
I agree with Nancy what you saved in $$ and the fact that all those didn't go into the land fill and they are better for your kiddos :O). I also agree with her I applaud and appreciate your green efforts!
I remember cloth diapers from a time when there was no alternative. They were for my brother. I thought it was really, really gross. I was 8 :)
A little tip for a front-loader washer: Many people complain about an odor that front-loaders develop - to the extent that you can now buy 'front loader cleaner'! My front-loader is several years old and I have never had that problem. How did I avoid it? When the washer is not in use, do not fully close the door. I shut it but not so that it is sealed. If it is sealed, no air can get in and it can never dry completely!
I tried the cloth ones and after changing the blankets, clothes and all I gave in to disposable.You are helping reduce waste that may greatly affect your children in the future.
I'm impressed at your commitment. Diapers are just a horrible choice to decide from cost to labor to impact.
I have always hated spending money on appliances. At least you should be good for a while.
I used cloth diapers with one child (because she was allergic to every diaper on the market) and disposable with the other. I always felt that with all the water, soap, bleach and energy used (both mine and the energy the machines used) it would be just as cheap and green to use disposable diapers. If I had a baby right now...I would be buying a box of Huggies. :)
With that being said, I know how hard it is with cloth diapers - I definitely applaud anyone who uses them.
Why is it when one thing goes wrong... several things go wrong?
Our sump pump broke a couple of years ago and we had to buy a new one. We also now have a backup that uses water to force the water out of the sump pump. So far it has worked great when we lose electric.
Pool those are nice! I have been going back and forth on if we will do cloth diapers with our next little one. I have a lot to learn about them and it's a little overwhelming. But I also have plety of time to research, ha since I'm not even pregnant. :)
I hope your new washer and dryer treat you well!
I never tried cloth diapering, mostly because I remember my mom's terrible old cloth diapers, but I love the cloth diapers I've seen since I started blogging. Though after reading this, I think I'm OK with my decision. :)
Oh my goodness, girl. Well, you know back in the day when my daughter was born I don't think they even had disposables. But, also I didn't have a dryer. I'd put them on the line (she was a Winter baby) and they'd freeze solid. And, we live in FL. LOL
Oh My Goodness.....I used cloth diapers with my first son ---and non-cloth with the other two... Think I'd chose the non-cloth IF I had to do it all again.. Sorry you have had trouble--but the new washer/dryer is fabulous!!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
When child number four was born I seriously considered using cloth diapers. But the initial investment was enough to make me decide to stick with disposables. I am glad that I did too! Enjoy your washer and dryer they look awesome! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
How frustrating - you try to do the right (the green) thing, and have one thing on top of another go wrong!
Wow you are one hard working lady! I always wonder how people used to live with cloth diapers...Kudos to you!
I hope you like your front loader better than I like mine, Baby Girl! It is water efficient but has it's drawbacks...:)JP
Funny, but not.
I thought about cloth, but went with disposables.
They say stuff happens in 3s, hopefully you are done for a long time now!
I like the new ones- so pretty! I really wished we cloth diapered. I think I am going to put it on my new years resolutions.
Now I wonder how you'll like the front load, or did you have that before too?
Lisa
Well they say when it rains, it pours. You've sure had your share of troubles-Wow!
I know what you mean. It's very hard to weigh out a proper balance.
I love to hang out my clothes, but then if I have to iron most of them, I wonder if I've really saved any energy or not. When I dry them they don't require ironing.
Oh, we just have to do the best we can.
Good luck with that potty training!
I always dreaded it!
Those are so hidden costs for sure. My mom used cloth diapers on me but today with the disposables available I could never do cloth until I was forced too. However my philosophy on reducing carbon foot print is we all have to do what we can in areas we care about most. Good for you!
lol.
I am so sorry to hear all that.
My hubby is a plumber and I am so Blessed that he is. He is not shady though. ha ha ha ha
We have had some issues in our rental and luckily John will just fix it himself. So that I don't have to deal with the shady (other) plumber that I don't know.
My hubby also was the one that kept telling me not to go for cloth diapers. Who could remember as from being a kid helping his mom with the washing of them. She had 8 kids!
He actually told me... You really don't want cloth. The wear on the machines and the time it takes to wash 'm. And what when you are gone for the day?
Or when they are sick. The bleaching etc. He named it all.
The rubbing scrubbing when your machine does not work.
Do I need to continue?
Several of my friends had cloth. And tried to rub it of on me.
I admit I declined. I have caused hundreds of diapers on the landfill. With my six kids in diapers throughout the years. I do not feel to guilty though now that I read your story.
Thank you for sharing Lisa!
Hugs to you and your cubs.
Sandy
I feel a tat bit bad... So I wanted to add... I agree with Cascia!
It was such an expense to get started.
Also I forgot I did try them for a couple of weeeks. A friend had me borrow some.
It was so much work. And then the little one got sick. So I gave up.
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