Jofrog is Knitfrog!
December 14 2007
Every time I post about knitting soakers for Kaya I get a few cloth diapering questions. Usually I get back to people individually, but sometimes it just doesn't happen! Here's the quick and dirty of soakers and their care:
We use "prefold diapers" with wool soakers. The prefolds are like the diapers that were used on us as kids, or the ones that they sell as burp cloths now, (although the burp cloth ones are half as thick as the diapering ones). The diaper itself soaks up whatever the baby puts out, but has no waterproof barrier to keep the baby's clothes, or the caretaker's clothes, dry. They need some sort of cover. There are many covers on the market from plastic pants, to polyurethane laminate (PUL), to fleece, to wool. The wool breathes much better than the other varieties (it's cooler in the summer and warm in the winter) and is naturally extra absorbent (without feeling wet) and antibacterial.
The thing that keeps the wool waterproof and antibacterial is the natural lanolin in it. (Why don't sheep shrink in the rain? Because of their lanolin!) As the wool cover (soaker) is worn, the lanolin is used up so every month or so they need a wash and a re-lanolizing. I rotate between soakers for every diaper change so when one is being worn, the one that was just taken off is airing out and drying. We have about 6 in rotation.
I've sent my lanolizing procedure to a few people via email, but I figured I'd post it here for reference to all. Here it is:
Wash the dinner dishes! (I was the covers in our kitchen sink and
there are always dishes in there!)
I put the covers in and fill the sink with enough cool water that it is about an inch over the covers. I dunk them gently to get them soaked
through and get the air bubbles out of the wool. (Wool wants to repel
the water, which is what makes it such a good cover.)
I then put a glass jar in the m icrowave with water until it's really
hot ~2 mins. When that comes out of the microwave I put in a dollop of
lanolin. Most people say a pea sized portion, but I usually am washing
5-6 covers so I put in about twice that. I use Lanisoh nipple cream.
It's a bit expensive, but I had some from the first weeks of breast
feeding and I bought a huge tube on Diaperswappers for only $5! I've
been using it for over six months and I've barely made a dent in it.
Okay, so I put the lanolin in the hot water and let it melt a bit.
Then I squirt in liquid baby soap. (I don't use this soap on my baby,
just for washing the dog, but any soap will work.) This disperses the
lanolin and emulsifies the whole solution. I mix it a little and then
slowly pour it over the soakers in my sink.
I let them sit there for 20 mins or so. Sometimes I flip them over
once or twice.
After at least 20 mins I drain the sink and squeeze out as much water
as I can. I put the soakers on a drying rack in the sun (if there is
sun) and they dry in a few hours to one day.
That seems like a long process, but really it's just because I put every little detail in there for you. It's super easy and no big deal if you are washing one or washing ten.
Any other questions? Let me know!Diaper Talk
