Eliminating Yeast the Natural Way: Grapefruit Seed Extract

The next natural method that I used to strip yeast out of my cloth diapers was grapefruit seed extract {GSE}.  I ordered a small bottle of it on Amazon for around $8.  I did the tea tree oil strip while I waited for the GSE to arrive.

On another post at All About Cloth Diapers, I found information originally posted at Eco Nuts {which I carried in the Doable Diapers store} recommended GSE as the only method to get rid of yeast. Eco Nuts claims that bleach kills yeast, but not yeast spores.

“Grapefruit Seed Extract: synthesized from the seeds and pulp of the grapefruit, it’s a very broad spectrum microbicide, bactericide, fungicide, antiparasitic, and anti-viral.  Grapefruit Seed Extract is the only natural way to kill yeast spores. It also kills staph, strep, salmonella, and e.coli.  It also kills herpes and influenza!

“GSE has been tested and found to be anywhere from 10 to 100 times more effective against these offending microorganisms than chlorine bleach, tea tree oil, colloidal silver, and iodine.

“For light laundry disinfecting: use 10-15 drops per load.

For heavy disinfecting (when dealing with something nasty or resistant): ½ to 1 teaspoon of GSE to each load of laundry. Wash and dry normally.”

I used the recommended 1/2 tsp. for “something nasty or resistant”.  With the GSE, I added it along with my detergent to a hot wash.  I also did an extra rinse cycle at the end, and then line dried my diapers in the sun.

I am hoping that one of these methods has eliminated the yeast from my diapers.  I will only be able to tell by whether or not the yeast rash returns.  I will update this post in a couple of weeks to let you know how we fared! 

When I had originally contacted Kanga Care regarding the yeast rash, I also wanted to know about disinfecting my Eco Posh trainers which Elaine wears to bed.  They go into the same diaper pail, so I was concerned about cross-contamination.  I found it interesting that for these recycled, and non-color fast cloth items, Kanga Care recommended GSE!  So there must be something to it, if it is recommended for items that cannot be bleached!  Here is what Rose from Kanga Care said:

• We recommend regular chlorine bleach for both your pockets and inserts.  For your Eco Posh, regular chlorine bleach will discolor the fabric, so you can follow this method:
• Run a medium water level load on warm water/warm rinse.  No detergent.  Add 1 teaspoon of Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) at beginning of wash. After washer has filled and begins to agitate, stop the washer for 10 minutes and allow shells to soak in GSE water.  After 10 minutes start wash again and continue cycle as usual. 
• After wash, lay in the sun to dry.
• ***Please note, this routine is not recommended for frequent use on shells as excessive soaking and baking in the hot sun can damage elastics and other materials.
• NEXT FEW WASHES…
• ½ to 1 teaspoon of GSE to each load of laundry (with your regular, recommended, detergent.) Wash and dry (in dryer on low) normally.

Kanga Care 15% Off Sale

Save 15% off All Rumparooz, Kanga Care,
and Eco-Posh Items
December 17 through December 22
Use Code SLEIGHBELLS at checkout

*In-Stock items.  Packages excluded.  Orders received will ship via USPS First Class Mail, Parcel Post, and Priority Mail.  Delivery by Christmas cannot be guaranteed.  Kanga Care items may not be shipped outside of the USA.  Non-Kanga Care items should be purchased in a separate transaction, or your order may be cancelled or refunded.

Mailbox Mondays: Wet Bags and Pail Liners

Today’s question comes from Tosha:

“We are still trying for a bun, but I have been stockpiling.  My question is one average how many wet bags and pail liners does it take to cloth diaper??”

The number of wet bags and pail liners you need will vary based on your wash routine, but I would definitely suggest two of each size that you use.  This will allow you to have one set in the wash, and one set in use at all times.  I tried to do it with one pail liner for a while, but I would always get the really poopy diaper when my liner was in the wash.  Then I had no place to put it!

I use a small wet bag for wipes in my diaper bag, a medium bag for dirty diapers on-the-go, and a hanging wet bag in the bathroom for poopy diapers that have been sprayed out with the diaper sprayer.  Then I have a pail next to my changing table.  I would suggest a Planet Wise pail liner for smaller pails, and a Kanga Care pail liner for larger pails, or those who have to transport dirty diapers to the laundry facility.  The Kanga Care liner has a draw string, while the Planet Wise bag does not.

In my stash I have two of the wet bags for my wipes, three medium bags for the diaper bag, and two each of the hanging wet bags and pail liners.  I wash every 2-3 days, and this has been sufficient to meet our needs.

Good luck Tosha – I hope that God adds a little one to your family soon!

Wool: An Overnight Solution

Confession: I am very new to wool when it comes to cloth diapering.  I didn’t have that many overnight problems with Elaine, and wool diaper covers always seemed so…bulky.  Not wanting to be a chicken anymore, I delved into the world of wool during the Surprise Delivery event last summer.  Then Rumparooz (Kanga Care) released their new organic Eco-Posh line of diaper products.  I purchased an Organic Fitted Diaper and a Wool Diaper Cover.

Many moms turn to wool, especially as an overnight diaper, because it is super-absorbent, as well as it’s natural antibacterial properties.  Wool is also breathable, making it great for sensitive skin. Coupled with an absorbent fitted diaper, wool can usually contain even the heavy wetter for long periods of time.

I have lanolized my diapers, and found it to be an easy process.  I used Eucalan wool wash first to clean my covers.  I then dissolved a little bit of Lansinoh lanolin (like you use for sore nipples when breastfeeding) in very hot water.  I poured this in the sink and worked it into my covers.

I am overall impressed with the performance of the Eco-Posh products.  My biggest complaint with wool has already been stated…it is very bulky.  Fitted diapers are bulky in themselves, so adding a thick wool cover seemed over the top.  I suppose it seems extra bulky on a little guy like Nolan.

I still prefer my PUL pocket diapers (Rumparooz is my first choice) for overnights – both for Elaine and Nolan.  But I use my fitted and wool diapers about once a week or so, and I will definitely turn to them if Nolan becomes more of a heavy wetter.

Check out our expertly written Wool Primer from Marah at Diary of a Devil Dog Wife!

The Power of Tide

I have been using a mixture of Rockin’ Green and bumGenius detergent for many months now.  I haven’t had any stinkies or repelling or issues of any sort.  They are good detergents.  They are made for cloth diapers.  They work.  I had no reason to switch detergent.

However, with the release of the new Eco Posh products, there were very specific detergent instructions, including the fact that the detergent needed to have enzymes.

I have read the detergent “debate” on Kanga Care’s website before.  It made sense to me that a detergent should have enzymes in order to get the diapers clean.  No bleach, no softener, no additives.  But enzymes, yes.

The top recommended detergents from Kanga Care are Tide Original, Gain, and Ecover.  I have never paid the price for Tide detergent, but this time I was curious.  Could it really work?  Is a regular detergent acceptable? 

I couldn’t fend off my curiosity this time – I had to know from personal experience.  So I bought a box of Tide at Costco during my last shopping trip.

I cannot believe the difference in my diapers from just one wash in Tide!  I never thought my diapers had a problem, but they were very grey and dingy compared to their appearance now!  The linings of diapers that are nearly two years old look brand new.  Even some long time stains are barely visible!

Kanga Care has done extensive testing on various detergents.  They are also a leading manufacturer of cloth diapers, and cloth diapering parents with much experience.  They recommend Tide.

I plan to continue using Tide on my diapers and see what the results are.  If you want to give your dingy diapers a facelift, or if you are having detergent battles, I suggest you try Tide!

Wet Bag or Diaper Pail?

Some of you may be wondering about the best method for dirty diaper storage.  Some of you may have a definite opinion about which method is the best, and others may be like me…you use both methods!

There are two primary storage options for your dirty diapers.  Thankfully, wet pails are a thing of the past!  The modern cloth diaper utilizes hanging wet bags, or a dry diaper pail until wash day.  Both options are beautifully designed to just go into the wash machine with your dirty diapers on wash day, so there is nothing extra to clean or wash.

I started out using a hanging Planet Wise wet bag.  I used the wet/dry bag because it holds more diapers.  This option worked great for us…in our last house.  There we had a doorknob right next to the changing table.  If the diaper needed to be sprayed, the bathroom was right across the hall.  I would take the bag and hang it on the bathroom doorknob, spray my diaper, and then place it in the wet bag.  Many times I didn’t even find it necessary to zip my wet be after each use.

When we moved to NYC, the nursery shared a space with the living room, and there were no doorknobs in sight.  I had no place to hang my wet bag.  I tried attaching a hook to the changing table, but it didn’t work for us.  So I switched to a trash can with a lid, and a Planet Wise Pail Liner.  This worked well for us…until we rearranged!

Now the nursery has its own room, but the doorknob is still not a good place to hang the wet bag.  We still use the pail in the nursery, and we have a smaller hanging wet bag in the bathroom for diapers that have to be sprayed.

So…which method is best?  I see pros and cons for each, which is why I use a “hybrid” method and have both a wet bag and pail liner.

Wet Bag
I love that the wet bag doesn’t take up floor space.  In a small apartment/house, that becomes a huge consideration.  The wet bag contains odors, is waterproof, and has designer fabric on the outside to match your style.  This makes it look less like a dirty diaper pail! 

Wet bags are easy to care for because they just go into the washer with your dirty diapers.  I would recommend one for the nursery and one for the bathroom if your bathroom is not close by the nursery.  You may also want to have two so that you can change them out on wash day.

Pail Liner
The dry diaper pail with a waterproof liner holds a lot more diapers than the wet bag.  If you have more than one child in diapers, or you go more than 2-3 days between washings, this will be of benefit to you.  You can get a trash can with a foot pedal so that opening and closing the pail is easy, even with a dirty diaper in your hands.

The diaper pail does take up more space, and it looks…well…like a diaper pail.    The liner is designed to contain odors and hold liquid, so the inside of your pail should not get dirty (I just use Lysol to deodorize the pail on wash day).  Pail liners are just as easy to clean as wet bags – just dump them in the washer with the dirty diapers.  I have found that the pail liners collect water in the wash cycle. I have to be careful when removing them from the washing machine or I will spill water all over the diaper which have just been spun.

My Top Picks
I started out with Planet Wise wet bags and pail liners.  I love the options in fabric design and color.  I also have a set of Kanga Care wet bag and pail liner.  The Kanga Care pail liner is larger and has a drawstring.  This will be a big plus when I get a bigger pail.  The wet bag is round, which makes it more compact for hanging in a small space.  I use Planet Wise wet bags when I’m on-the-go.

 

I hope this has been helpful to you.  What is your favorite method of diaper storage?  What brand of wet bag or liner do you prefer?  Leave us a comment and share your advice with others!

SALE on Rumparooz Products!

 

In celebration of Earth Day, all Rumparooz/Kanga Care products are 15% off!  This sale will run through
April 30.

No coupon code is needed, so just head over to the website and start shopping!  Rumparooz sales don’t come around very often, so be sure to snatch this up while you can!

If we are sold out of an item that you want, we would be happy to order it for you.  Please contact us prior to placing your order to ensure that we can obtain the item.  Email info@doablediapers.com with any questions!

Here is a list of items included in this sale:

• Rumparooz G2 diapers (snap or aplix closure)
• Lil Joey Newborn diapers
• Rumparooz Diaper Covers
• Rumparooz Newborn Diaper Covers
• Rumparooz Doll Diapers
• Kanga Care Pail Liners
• Kanga Care Wet Bags
• Kanga Care Reusable Liners
• Rumparooz 6R Microfiber Inserts

Fine Print:  Not valid on previous or pending orders.  Gumball print is not available in G2 diapers.  Hemp inserts are sold out until further notice.  Sale on diaper covers applies to in-stock items only (we cannot order any more until the end of May). 

And don’t forget that the bumGenius 4.0 diapers are still on sale, Buy 5 Get 1 Free.  See more details on the sale HERE.

The Rumparooz Warehouse

I was finally able to visit the Rumparooz warehouse and showroom!  Today my mom, Elaine, and I drove out to Golden to take a tour. I met some of the staff members that I have worked with via phone and email.  I also learned a little bit more about the production of Rumparooz, the growth of the company, and some new products that are in the works.  I had hoped to meet Julie Ekstrom, the creator of Rumparooz, but she was in a meeting when I arrived.

The Kanga Care offices and warehouse are located in Golden, Colorado.  They are in the process of expanding into even more space where they will be able to “house” more diapers to ship to their growing list of retailers around the world.

The Rumparooz diaper covers have been completely successful, and they are sold out of all the prints and nearly all the colors.  These bins are where the covers were stored while waiting to be shipped to retailers like Doable Diapers.  As you can see, many of them are empty!  The covers with snaps were the most popular, so there are still some available in aplix closures.

The boxes in the back are all One Size diapers in various colors and prints.

I learned that last year Rumparooz (under the parent company, Kanga Care) doubled in size, and they are anticipating doing the same again this year.  They really do have an amazing product that is in great demand among cloth diapering parents.

Mike, the wholesale manager, gave us a tour and explained the production process a little bit.

Me and Elaine with Mike

Here are the Rumparooz Doll Diapers.  These came about after Julie visited the manufacturing factory in China and discovered that the scraps were just the right size to create doll diapers.  Elaine likes her baby doll diapers, so I’m glad that Julie is so creative!

I was also able to see (yes – touch and feel) the prototypes for several new products that are in the lineup for this year.  Among them are a bamboo 6R soaker/insert, a bamboo fitted diaper in newborn and one size, and a wool diaper cover.  These products are still in the testing stages, but I am very excited for them to be produced!  The bamboo and wool products will be organic, and they will comprise a new line called “Eco-Posh”. 

It was so much fun to look around and be surrounded by diapers in fun colors and prints.  Maybe one day Doable Diapers will have a store/showroom also where our products can be displayed like this!

Elaine and me in the showroom at Kanga Care

If you haven’t ever used a Rumparooz product, you really must give them a try.  There are so many features that I love, and the Rumparooz is definitely one of my favorite cloth diapers!

Rumparooz Doll Diapers

My daughter received her first baby doll for Christmas from Grandma & Grandpa.  She was very excited at first, but then the newness wore off and she returned to her best friend, “Bunny.” 

Then a few weeks later, Elaine insisted on taking “Besty” (her baby doll) with her to naptime.  Elaine usually plays in her crib for a few minutes before I come to get her after naptime.  On this particular day I heard the sound of velcro as I approached the bedroom.  I was a little baffled as we don’t use hook and loop diaper closures.  Then I realized the source of the sound…Elaine had discovered Betsy’s diaper. 

That same week, Kanga Care released their Doll Diapers, made from the scraps during the manufacturing of Rumparooz one size diapers.  I was so excited and thought they were adorable…I couldn’t wait for the package to arrive.  I picked out Gumball and Lux for the baby doll, to match Elaine’s diapers.  We played with them a little bit and changed Betsy’s diaper.  But alas, again the newness wore off.

One day recently during playtime, Elaine wanted to change Betsy’s diaper.  She can fasten the velcro tabs if I hold the diaper in place.  After we finished, she went and found another dolly and wanted a diaper on it.  We had great fun diapering her dolls.  But then Elaine wanted one on her Bear. 

I should mention that this Bear was around when my husband was a child, and it was given to Elaine by my mother-in-law.  Elaine absolutely loves him! 

We did encounter a problem.  You see, Bear has big hips.  The dolly diaper was just not going to fit!  Elaine insisted, and so I improvised.  We are now one diaper cover short in our stash…Bear is wearing Elaine’s Butternut Flip!  Elaine seemed happy with this arrangement, and she still does not want the diapers to come off!  (One of her three words is “no” and she uses it quite loudly if you try to mess with her Bear and Betsy).

Baby (wearing a Gumball Rumparooz), Bear (wearing a Butternut Flip), and Betsy (wearing a Lux Rumparooz).

New Rumparooz Diaper Covers

The highly sought after prints and colors exclusive to the Rump•a•rooz One Size Diapers can now be found on the new Rump•a•rooz Diaper Covers and loved by families who cloth diaper using the more traditional style prefold system.

February 28, 2011 – Kanga Care takes on another huge division of the cloth diaper market with the launch of their new Rump•a•rooz Diaper Covers.  Kanga Care is famous for the unbeatable quality and function of their pocket-style One Size Cloth Diaper, the Rump•a•rooz.  The Rump•a•rooz is one of the top brands in the market for a pocket style diaper system.  With the launch of the Rump•a•rooz Diaper Covers Kanga Care will now be reaching out to customers who opt for the more traditional, or "old school", style of cloth diapers known as prefolds and flats.

Rump•a•rooz Diaper Covers work as a means to waterproof an absorbent diaper that does not have a built in way to contain the moisture (prefolds, flats and fitted style cloth diapers.)  The Rump•a•rooz Diaper Covers are available in 2 sizes.  

The first is a Preemie/Newborn size cover which has 3 adjustable rise settings and will grow with a tiny baby fitting them from 4 - 12 lbs.  The second is a One Size Cover.  The One Size Cover has 4 adjustable rise settings and will fit a baby from birth, at 6 lbs, up through potty training with a maximum weight of 35 lbs or more.  

Both size covers are available in a snap or a hook and loop closure.  Both size covers are also available in the 12 famous Rump•a•rooz Colors and the 7 highly sought after and exclusive prints.  There are a total of 84 choices of covers for parents to chose from.

Kanga Care's Rump•a•rooz Covers are on sale now.  They can be purchased at Doable Diapers!

Kanga Care Pail Liner Winner

The winner of the Kanga Care Wet Bag/Pail Liner is comment #174:

 Teacher Joy

(gtlarryjoy@…)

Joy wins a Whale Tale Pail Liner! Please email iwon@doablediapers.com or respond to my email within 48 hours to claim your prize, or another winner will be chosen!