Flats Handwashing Challenge: Day 6
Today is Day 6 of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge, hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry. This year, there are over 450 participants from around the world. Tomorrow is the last day of the challenge -- two more loads of diapers to wash by hand. I have to be honest: so far this challenge hasn't felt terribly challenging. I don't find the handwashing that difficult, I always line-dry my diapers so there's no difficulty there, and I've used flats as inserts for my pockets diapers for a long time. Switching to using them in a wrap instead was no real hardship.
Even not being allowed to use flushable liners wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
I feel like I'm expected to have had some sort of "Eureka!" moment by now, but all that has happened is a re-ignition of my love for simplicity in diapering. When I started diapering my oldest 10 years ago, we primarily used prefolds in Bummis wraps. Prefolds have always had a special place in my stash -- now they've moved over so that the flats can sit next to them.
Flats are no harder to use, extremely good absorbancy value for the cost, and wash and dry like a dream. I'd suggest that people using pocket diapers should ditch their microfiber inserts and replace them with cotton flats. They won't be any bulkier and they absorb more than a standard rectangular microfiber insert. You'll be doing your stash a favour, as flats are far less prone to the dreaded Diaper Stink than the synthetic microfiber inserts!
So, no, I didn't have a "Eureka!" moment. This challenge has just reconfirmed what I already knew. Flats are versatile, inexpensive, diapering workhorses. They're a fantastic option for people looking for a budget one-size diapering system for their child -- just double them up for the toddler-size or for overnights to increase the absorbancy. There really isn't a single bad thing I can say about flats.
I look forward to the camping season this year without apprehension, to handwashing my flats in my hillbilly washer, hanging them to dry on strings between tree branches, and rest easy that it's not going to be the onerous task I'd anticipated.
If anything, this has just strengthened my intent to sell a bunch of my pocket diapers. Fitteds, prefolds and flats (with the odd awesome AIO) is where it's at! ;)