Perfecting your washing from Kim at Rockin Green

Below is an article I wrote about a year ago discussing the 5 different variables of washing diapers. Hopefully this will help some of you troubleshoot your wash routines, to find just the right routine for your situation. There are so many advantages to using cloth diapers, and once you find what works for you- it's all smooth sailing from there!

How to Wash Cloth Diapers

Over the past year, I have answered several thousand questions about washing cloth diapers. The funny thing is a portion of those emails aren’t even about our cloth diaper detergent. Many moms come to us asking for help with the detergent that they have on hand, and we are more than happy to help whenever possible. More babies in cloth is good for everyone! The most common question I get asked is about the “perfect” cloth diaper wash routine.

It seems like everyone has a “perfect” routine. They have a “tried and true” method on what works for them, and they are eager to share it with others. Unfortunately, as many of you have found out, what works for one person won’t work for another. This can make a seemingly simple process very complicated!

But here at Rockin’ Green, we think of washing diapers as a math problem: 1 + 1 + 1+ 1+ 1 =5.
There are 5 variables that come into play in the wash cycle, and once you understand these variables, you can adjust accordingly to get the best results possible. Sometimes there are things that you just can’t change, so you have to work around them.

Variable #1: Your water.
This is something that we talk about A LOT at Rockin’ Green, and for good reason. Water is the first and the most important thing that goes into your washing machine. It dilutes and carries away soils, and allows the detergent to do its job. But tap water is never pure. It contains impurities like minerals that can bind with detergent, and actually make it more difficult to get a good clean. This is one of those variables that you don’t have much control over (unless you invest money in a water softener), so your best plan of attack is to know what you are working with and compensate for it with the other variables like detergent.

Variable # 2 The Swish.
I recently had a customer who was battling the dreaded stink, and couldn’t for the life of her figure out why she had such trouble getting her diapers clean. Her wash routine sounded fine, she washed a small load every night, but still the stink endured. Then one day she got backed up on laundry and ended up doing 2 days worth of diapers instead of her usual one. And the diapers came out much better. She learned an important lesson about the power of the “swish”. Swish or agitation is a very important component of any good wash routine. The diapers need to not only move around in the wash tub, but they also need to rub up against one another. Think of how you wash your hands- do you run them under water to get lather, or do you rub your hands together?

With too many diapers in a load, they just rotate around the tub in a bunch. Not enough diapers and they swim around the wash basin blissfully (and dirtily) unaware of their neighbors. So if you have a top loader, load the machine to about the halfway point. For a front loader, you want to have enough items in the drum to where you can put a hands width between the top of the drum and the clothing.

Variable # 3 Temperature
Most machines have 3 settings. Cold, warm or hot….and as cloth diapering guru’s you should be pretty familiar with the basic cloth diaper wash routine. Do a rinse on cold, a wash on hot, and then another rinse on cold, but there are some variables even in that. First off, what is your water heater set at? This can have a direct effect on how clean your diapers are. Most bacteria die when the water reaches a temp of 130-140 degrees (and many detergent ingredients react faster in this temp range), so an adjustment in your water heater can make a big difference. Most diaper manufacturers warn against temps of 150 and over when PUL is involved, so keep your water heater set at around 130 for day to day washings. Note: It will usually come out of the tap about 10 degrees cooler

Disclaimer: Always check with your diaper manufacturer regarding recommended wash procedure and temperature thresholds, especially when PUL is involved.

Temperature can also play a part when it comes to stains. Did you know that the best way to treat a stain is by rinsing it out at the same temperature that the stain was created? So leave the cold rinsing for ice cream stains, and move the dial to warm for poop stains. They were created at 98.6 after all!

Variable #4 Time fixes all
“Rock a Soak” has become a common cloth diapering term, and there is some science behind it. The amount of time that your diapers are in the wash will also help determine your outcome. The chemicals in your detergent have different reaction times that can be affected by things like temperature and water quality, so you may find that a longer wash cycle in some cases gets you better results, because it allows the detergent to actually do its job as opposed to being flushed down the drain. If you have really hard water, or a water heater that isn’t up to par….you can lengthen your wash cycle to compensate. Note: this is why front loader cycles take FOREVE) because they have to make up for the lack of swish.

Variable #5 Detergent (You didn’t think we would forget that did you?)
As a detergent manufacturer you would think that we would place this at the top of the list, but that just isn’t the case. Don’t get me wrong, I think that Rockin’ Green cloth diaper detergent rocks – but it's one piece of the puzzle. Within that black and green bag, you have the tools to overcome things like poor water quality and hardness (which is why we have 3 different formulas based on your water type), but you have to find the sweet spot there too. Generally speaking you want to start off with 1-3 tbs, but you may adjust up or down depending on the other 4 variables.

Another tip: when it comes time to add the soap, try dropping down the water level in your machine. This will increase the concentration of soap and the swish! So in your initial and post rinses, you want to keep the water level high but in your hot wash with the soap try dropping it down to a medium water level. This should give you a better clean!

Ok….so seriously, just tell me what a “perfect” routine is already Kim!
By now, you probably know that there is no perfect routine. The key to finding the sweet spot is to look at every piece of the puzzle, and then adjust as needed. You may need to add a little more soap to make up for an overstuffed washer, crank up your water heater to make up for a lack of swish in your front loader, or lengthen the time your diapers spend in the washer to make up for hard water. And the list goes on and on….

I hope this helps some of you struggling with finding the “perfect” wash routine! Check us out at www.RockinGreenSoap.com for more wash tips and tools.

Guest post is from Kim Webb, the Owner of Rockin' Green Detergent.

Public Service Announcement

So much for a fun post! Actually, I am having a lot of fun with it, so I can't complain too much.

We wanted to let everyone know that in the next 1-2 weeks you may see changes in the website and we may experience unexpected down times. We are currently in the process of upgrading the site to a new cart, but we hope to make the transition as smooth as possible. Unfortunately, we will not be adding any new products to the old cart so if you aren't seeing a product you know we carry feel free to email Justin at info@toptobottombaby.com. He will be able to make place orders via email.

Also, if you aren't a fan, we recommend you head over and "like" FLUFF AGAIN on Facebook. Fluff Again has become Omaha's Largest Diaper Consignment Sale. We are frantically working to finish the final details and will be announcing everything hopefully in the next couple of days. We look forward to another wonderful sale!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love and Fluff~Jess and Robyn

Getting Started With Homemade Baby Food - Supplies

Before I became a mom, homemade baby food seemed like a crazy idea. Who has time for that? What’s easier than popping open a jar?

Turns out, thawing an ice cube of homemade baby food is just as easy as opening a jar, with an added benefit of being cheaper and made to the consistency that your baby prefers.

To get started, you’ll need some supplies. Nothing crazy, so don’t worry. You don’t need to buy a special baby food maker. The market is full of baby food makers that go for more than $100. Save your money.

The food processor or blender you already have will suffice. Your house is already overrun with baby stuff – do you really want the baby stuff to take over your kitchen, too?

If you’re planning on making food on-the-go (say, while on vacation), you may want to get a stick mixer, as well. I never used one, but you might.

The second thing you’ll need is a pot or to cook your vegetables and fruit. I’ll just assume you already have one.

Here are some other cheap cooking supplies you may want: A strainer or colander to hold the cooked food and drain it; a mesh strainer (used to separating green bean or pea skins); a steam basket; and a potato masher. And, you already have a fork, which you’ll use to mash small things like a banana or avocado.

If you’re planning on storing food you’ll also need plastic ice cube trays (And no, you don’t need those cute heart-shaped ice cube trays); large freezer bags and a sharpie to date and label the bags. I found that most recipes I made filled nearly two ice cube trays – that’s about 24 servings/meals. So, you’ll want at least two ice cube trays, but probably more if the cooking bug gets you.

Kim Reiner from www.bodymindstomach.wordpress.com will be joining us in the weeks to come with a series on Baby Food Making! Stay tuned for more!

Vendor Spotlight: Sparkles and Fluff

As you all know, we loooooove our local creative and crafty mamas Incorporating locally made products into the store inventory has been a central focus since early on in the store's formation and the fabulous experience we have had with our vendors has only solidified that this is a cause we want to stick with. Since opening the store in its new location at the end of April, we have added several vendors to our awesome lineup of local products and we now carry local products from babywearing wraps to spy bags, wool, baby blankets and hair bows. The last of these products, hair bows, is one of our newest additions. With the opening of the store, Sparkles and Fluff came on board. This week, Sparkles and Fluff is our vendor spotlight, our attempt to share with you who our vendors are and how fabulous their products are.

Sparkles and Fluff is a WAHM business owned by Amy Pugh. Amy started Sparkles and Fluff while pregnant with her {newly two year old} daughter Audrey. For anyone who knows Amy, she is quite a girly girl and wanted nothing less for Audrey. As a result, Amy experimented with making tutus for her soon to be born daughter and had soon perfected her skills. After Audrey's birth, Amy began making them for other little girls (mine included...Peyton has gone to many a dance class in her Sparkles and Fluff tutu and Mara has had S&F tutus as part of her 1^st and 2^nd birthday outfits) and she soon expanded into making other products for little girls.

Amy now makes everything and anything from tutus, hair bows, necklaces, pins, earrings, rings, wreaths---you name it. They are all wonderful. I must admit, we have quite the collection between the three girls with her zebra print themed bows as our favorite!! Top to Bottom Baby carries her hair bows, headbands, and tutus in store. You can also find them at the online store. Be sure to stop in and check them out and while you are at it, go like her on Facebook and tell her where you heard about her fabulous products!

Foibles in Choosing A Carrier: One Mom’s Suggestions

Before our first little one arrives, we excitedly register for (or order) what we think our bouncing baby will need. Many parents, looking toward natural parenting and bonding with their infant, consider different types of baby wearing options such as slings, wrap carriers, and soft carriers. They may choose one and register for it (because that’s part of the fun of “about to be a new parent”) or they order it for themselves. They wash it and prepare it and get excited to use it. Then someone disagrees; that someone’s opinion is way more important than your thoughts that the carrier is cute or looks easy to use.
When we registered, I didn’t know much of anything about baby wearing, so I registered for a sling carrier that they sold in Target. I washed it, and it shrank. I was forlorn. My sister bought me another one. When my son arrived I had a cute (line-dried) sling waiting for him. My husband and I struggled to put him into it, and he fell asleep after some crying. I figured he would get used to it and it would all work out. Sadly, newborns just do that – they sleep anywhere. But when he got bigger, the sling was just not for him. He flat out refused to hang out in it. Plus it wasn’t padded, and it cut into my shoulders. So I sold it on eBay and went on a hunt.
I found a mei tai type wrap at a used baby store, and wrestled my son into it. He was ok with it for a few days, but it seemed to cut into his chunky monkey legs. I didn’t like that it left red marks on his thighs, so I sold it to fund my next purchase.
Next up, the Moby wrap. The yards of fabric looked daunting, but it was pretty easy to figure out. My husband watched me put it on in wonder (“How will THAT hold him?”), but for a while it worked for us. He preferred sitting facing forward in the “lotus” position, but eventually he didn’t like having his feet and legs all scrunched up. And he wanted to be on my hip rather than facing forward.
We went to a friend’s house and my son was cranky, so she pulled out a larger (and padded!) ring sing carrier and put him in it. He calmed quickly. I wanted it. I borrowed her sling until I found one used on eBay (for $9.99). He enjoyed that one until he could crawl – then any sort of carrier was not his friend because he just wanted to move. I let a friend borrow it and told her it didn’t need to come back. By this point I almost gave up. Heck, he didn’t take a pacifier so maybe he didn’t like carriers either.
Finally I tried the carrier I wanted to try originally (but balked at the price) – an Ergo Baby Carrier. He enjoyed chewing on the straps (made me wish I had bought the sucking pads which I had thought were a silly idea), seemed comfortable, and it didn’t leave marks on his legs. When he got a little bigger he enjoyed the hip and back carrys, both of which the Ergo can do. Now that he’s walking, he prefers to be on his own, but the Ergo is still what I use if I want him to be able to check out what I’m doing but can’t hold him and he can’t walk it.
There are multiple lessons learned here. First, while your comfort (and fashion) are factors in choosing a carrier, your little one’s preference is what’s going to keep them in it (or let them allow you to keep putting them in it). My advice – don’t pre-buy. I know it’s hard. I know. I’ve been there. But the best advice I can give anyone when choosing a carrier is to try it out with your little one before you buy. Go to a store that sells multiple types (if you can) and let your little one’s comfort be the deciding factor. Second lesson learned – your kiddo’s preference for carriers may change based on their age and abilities. Once they start moving on their own, it’s a completely different world and they may not be into a carrier even. It may be a good idea to go in with some friends and rotate around the carriers that are working for your different age groups. Third – some kiddos really just don’t want the carrier. Just as some don’t like to be swaddled, some want to sleep on their bellies from day 1, and some don’t take a pacifier, some simply want the freedom to move and thus don’t want to be confined to your carrier. Don’t feel badly; it’s nothing that you did! And don’t let other “natural mommas” make you feel badly. Fourth – padding is your friend. The more padding something has around the points that it touches your skin, the more comfortable it will be for you.
Each kid’s an individual. They have their own preferences for comfort. That is the main lesson I learned. The choice is their choice, not your choice. Let them show you what works for them.

Liz Wright is a Momma to Silas (14 months), wife to Mike, psychology professor, and doctoral candidate. She lives in San Antonio with her family and their two dogs. She writes about parenting and household issues in her blog Mama Around The House (http://mamaaroundthehouse.blogspot.com/)

Upcoming attractions!

I am hoping to interrupt the program for a brief update!

We realized with our post last week that we didn't tell you about our plans for the upcoming months. We have decided that we will be hosting a guest blogger every Monday on a Natural Parenting Topic. We have had some great submissions already and hope you enjoy them. If you are interested in Guest Blogging, please don't hesitate to email Jess (jess@toptobottombaby.com) with your ideas.

Also, on Wednesdays we will be discussing products. We are hoping this will be a great way to learn about new products that are available and there may even be some giveaways.

We are super excited to share our newest addition, the Affiliate Program, with you. We hope that you have loved our services and share us with friends and family, so we decided that we would love to give back to you when you do. If you visit Top to Bottom Baby, you will see a "Become an Affiliate" link at the bottom of the page (or click HERE). When you sign up, you will receive an Affiliate Program link in your My Account area at the bottom of the page. This will link you to the stats for who has clicked on your link. Additionally, you will receive 5% of all sales that were generated by your link in store credit. The "Helpful Link" is your affiliate link. You are welcome to use this banner to link to your blog or other pages. We've found it works best to embed your specific link into the icon.

Finally, the winner of our $20 Gift Card to T2B is #43: My Life with Boys! Thanks to everyone for such great ideas!

With Love and Fluff~Jess and Robyn

All new T2B Baby

Wow, there have been a lot of changes around Top to Bottom in the last couple of months. Unfortunately, our blog has been a little neglected during the transition, and for that, we are truly sorry.

Change is never easy, but it can be great in the end. In February, we were lucky enough to have Robyn join us as a co-owner of Top to Bottom Baby. We also began working on the pieces to open the new bricks and mortar store. With the new store, came a little bit easier of a name: T2B Baby. Don't worry, we are still Top to Bottom at heart! And finally, Justin took over as the Store Manager on a permanent basis! Don't worry ladies, he has lots of good answers for the really juicy mom questions. Several of our friends love to stop in just to see what questions they can stump him with!

April 30th we were lucky enough to celebrate our grand opening at the New Omaha Location (2928 S 132nd St, Omaha). As you can see, it was quite a success. In addition to the new store, we have added tons of new products and had a lot of fun meeting our customers. If you are in Omaha, don't hesitate to stop by and say hi. And feel free to bring the kids, because there are tons of toys to play with!

Over the next couple of months we hope to get the blog running in full swing with some great product giveaways, guest bloggers, and all around fun! So, stay tuned and feel free to share us with your friends.

And, just because you stayed (and actually kept reading) I would love to share some of the T2B love! We are going to giveaway a $20 gift card to Top to Bottom, good online or in store. All you have to do to enter is post below. We'd love to hear ideas for blog posts you would like to see, products we should carry (please check to make sure we don't already carry it), or random fun you think we should have! Only one entry please! Ends June 25th at midnight cst.

Finally, we'd love to hear from you. If you have an idea for a blog, would like to guest blog, or just have a diaper question feel free to email Jess@toptobottombaby.com or Robyn@toptobottombaby.com! We absolutely can't wait to spend the next months working on making natural parenting a little more fun!

With Love and Fluff~Jess and Robyn