Franklin Goose

Cloth Diapers: What To Do With Mildew?

Earlier this week we had a customer asking about resolving issues like mildew in cloth diapers. Thirsties brilliantly addressed the mildew issue, and we made a handout from their information that we give our customers on just such occasions.

So how do you get mildew on your cloth diapers? When your diapers are left to sit to long before you wash them, they can mildew. Mildew can also occur if you store your diapers in an airtight container or while they’re still wet. If you live in a humid climate, you might have to battle some mildew, too. Mildew on cloth diapers will look like black spots these can be large or small in size.

Here’s what Thirsties suggests:

Mixture of 2 tsp. salt, 2 tsp. lemon juice, and 2 1/2 Tblsps. warm water - Mix the ingredients into a paste and rub onto the mildew spots. Let sit for a half hour. Wash with the next cloth diaper load, and dry in the sun or put in the dryer for 15 minutes on high.

-This should kill the mildew and get rid of the stain.

Vinegar - Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold. Pour 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle, spray on the area with mildew, and let set for a few hours.  Wash with the next cloth diaper load and dry in the sun.

You can also add ¼ cup baking soda and ½ cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle if they have odor.

-This should kill the mildew, but the stain will still be visible.

- This is for natural fiber diapers only. Not for laminates, microfiber, or households with hard water.

image from the hair care pro.

Tea Tree Oil – Add 1 teaspoon tea tree oil to 1 cup water in a clean spray bottle. Shake to blend, and spray on mildew spots. Let sit overnight, and add to your next cloth diaper load. Dry in the sun.

-This will disinfect, but the stain will still be visible.

Grapefruit Seed Extract – Add 10 drops grapefruit seed extract to 1 cup water in a clean spray bottle. Shake to blend, and spray on mildew. Let sit overnight, and add item/s to next cloth diaper load. This will disinfect, but not get rid of the stain.

-This will disinfect, but the stain will still be visible.

Honest Oxy Boost is sold in our store or our website. It is fantastic!

Oxyclean Baby – Follow directions on package.

-This should disinfect and remove the stain.

 

After any kind of treatment, please wash your diapering products and rinse thoroughly. Drying in the sun will aid in disinfection and stain removal.

Please keep in mind that drying in the dryer will set any stains.

To remove stains naturally, you can use a 50/50 solution of lemon juice and water sprayed on the stain. Put in the sun for a couple of hours. If stain is still visible, wash and repeat.”

 

So how do you prevent mildew from growing on your diapers? Thirsties has tips for that, too:

Mildew grows in warm temperatures and humidity. There also seems to be a link to sugar in the growth of mildew.

-[Thirsties recommends] using a dry pail to store your diapers for washing – no soaking.

-Please do not keep any soiled or wet items in an airtight container for longer than a few hours.

-Humid climates have more trouble with mildew, and might need more frequent washings. You might also need to use the dryer to keep mildew from forming.

-Make sure that your diapering products are dry after laundering. Take them out of the washer and dryer as soon as the cycle is done. Check to see that they are totally dry before storing.

- A half cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle will help to clean and disinfect your diapers. This is for natural fiber diapers only. Not for laminates, microfiber, or households with hard water.

 

-A few drops of Tea Tree Oil mixed with ¼ cup of baking soda in the prewash cycle will aid in stain removal, disinfection, softening water, and cleaning of your diaper laundry.”

 

Have you had a mildew issue before? Which of these techniques worked for you? Tell us in the comments!

 

Sonya Choron. (2011, Sept. 14). How To Remove Mildew From Cloth Diapers. Retrieved from   http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/blog/how-to-remove-mildew-from-cloth-diapers/. 

Charcoal Bamboo Coth Diapers

(sheri)

About a month ago one of our staff members came to me and told me she had tried a new diaper we HAD to carry. I was overwhelmed, because it was the Christmas season so I told her we would someday and thanks so much for the recommendation. So, she told me again, then she sent me pictures, then she talked to me about it at work, then she talked to Stefanie (our cloth diaper guru), then she came back to me about it again. So, I figured I had better listen because this girl, loves her cloth diapers, and really, really knows what works. The company is Lil Helper, they are Canadian and amazing! They make an incredible diaper and we are so excited to be carrying them!

I thought I should share our love for them so here are some of the reasons we just can't get enough of Lil Helper charcoal bamboo diapers:

1. Charcoal bamboo has amazing absorbency! I mean seriously amazing, like after a 3 hour nap an almost 1 year old wakes up dry, amazing.

2. The overnight inserts last about 12 hours.

3. They don't show stains (the liners and the lining are a pretty grey color)

4. They are incredibly soft (even after washing)

5. They are one size, 7-35 lbs & with the 2 included inserts you should have great absorbency the     whole time as well

6.  Lil Helpers Charcoal bamboo is 100% organic

7. Charcoal bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic, deoderizing & anti-bacterial!

8.  For every 3 diapers sold Lil Helpers donates 1 cloth diaper to a needy Canadian family

9.  As long as the covers don't get soiled you can continue to reuse them by simply changing out the     insert. Yep, that means a very affordable diapering option for you!

10. They have really cool prints and colors (I know it seems shallow but I can't help myself I love the     cute cloth diaper prints.)

I hope you give these diapers a try, or at least use the inserts in the diapers you already have (they snap into a best bottom cover perfectly). I think you will love them and the extra sleep you get at night.

 

 

The New GroVia Prints Are Available At Franklin Goose!

Hey everyone!

GroVia's 4 new prints - Drift, Poppy, Sweet Grass, and Pudge - are now available at Franklin Goose, both in store and online. 

All 4 prints are available in GroVia's Snap Hybrid diaper and in the Hook & Loop Hybrid diaper. 

The Honest Co & GroVia Diaper Giveaway!

Our 3^rd birthday is tomorrow! We can barely contain our excitement! We will be having various giveaways tomorrow, which you can enter in either online or in our Richmond, VA, store.

Tomorrow you will have the chance to win an Honest Company Diaper cake!

We took 24 disposable Honest Diapers in Skulls and 38 Anchors & Stripes disposable Honest Diapers to create our 4-tiered cake.

The Honest Company makes their diapers hypoallergenic, free of chlorine processing and any risky additives like fragrances, lotions, or latex. They’re made with plant-based (PLA) outer and inner layers, and are filled with sustainably harvested pulp with a bio-based wheat/corn blend in a super-absorbent core.

The Honest Co Diaper Cake giveaway is only available in store.

 

Our GroVia giveaway is awesome!

Tomorrow you will have the chance to win a Persimmon GroVia Diaper Hook & Loop Shell & a 2-pack set of Organic Soakers. Plus, a GroVia Magic Stick and Bioliners!

GroVia Diaper Shells are one-size and provide a trim cover and are closed with Velcro. You can snap an Organic Soaker inside, and when it’s wet, unsnap it and replace with a fresh Soaker. The inside of the diaper shell is lined with a soft netting material. Lay in a GroVia BioLiner to help with easy clean up of solid waste. The BioLiner will allow moisture to pass through to the diaper and keep your baby’s skin dry but will contain solid waste.

The GroVia Magic Stick is an all-natural diaper ointment that is easy to use, goes on smoothly, and keeps your baby protected and comfortable without damaging your cloth diapers. 

The GroVia Diaper Set Giveaway will be available only to entrants online. 

Franklin Goose Cloth Diaper Trial

Hey everyone! You know how we love our cloth diapers, right? Well, we’ve noticed a growing interest in our cloth diaper trial, so we thought we’d give a little shout out here on our blog about it.

Our diaper trial is designed to give parents interested in cloth diapering their child a chance to experiment and try out various types of cloth diapers. For 30 days and a low fee of $10, you can try out

• 1 pocket diaper with an insert
• 1 all-in-one diaper
• 1 prefold
• 1 fitted diaper
• 1 cover
• 1 diaper shell with 1 snap-in insert
• 1 snappi

We also include a cloth wipe (which you get to keep) and a sample of cloth diaper-safe laundry detergent.

After 30 days, you can return the diaper trial or you can purchase some or all of the diapers you used. In addition, you will be given a one-time discount of 5% off new diapers.

We will provide additional information  about the care of the diapers and answer any questions you might have.

A diaper trial starts when you get the diapers, so if you’re ordering the trial through our webstore, your 30 days begin when your diapers arrive. 

If you're interested, check out our website for more information. You can also email us at [email protected] or call us at (804) 355-0595.

What's Inside Of A Disposable Diaper?

Curious as to what makes up  a disposable diaper? It's a little scary.

Let's break it down a little further, shall we?

On The Outside

What is polyethylene film? Well, polyethylene is your basic plastic, so the outer layer of most disposable diapers is made with either a plastic film or a composite of plastic and nonwoven material. ("Nonwoven" means that the fabric was made by bonding fibers with a chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent solution.) 

Chlorine is used in diapers to bleach them white. The result is a byproduct known as dioxins, one of the most toxic chemicals. Highly carcinagenic, dioxins have been linked to skin reactions as well as altered liver function and  impairments to the immune, nervous, endocrine, and reproductive systems. Dioxins are also a dangerous pollutant harming our planet. 

Dyes can be used, too, on diapers with prints, and the adhesive closures on diapers can also cause irritation. 

On The Inside

Against your baby's bottom the inner liner of most disposable diapers is made with nonwoven material bleached white with chlorine. Inside the diaper is a core made with nonwoven material, wood pulp, and a variety of chemicals. Chemicals such as:

• Sodium Polyacrylate - Also known as Super Absorbent Polymers or SAP gel, sodium polyacrylate's purpose is to absorb fluids. It used to be in women's tampons but was removed over toxic shock syndrome concerns. It has been used in disposable diapers for the last 20 years, yet there has not been enough research done on the long-term health effects. It should be noted that some diaper companies give their own name to sodium polyacrylate, so check those diapers closely. Pampers refers to it as absorbent gelling material (AGM). 
• Tributyl-Tin (TBT) - A toxic pollutant that is used in preventing and killing bacteria. Because TBT is not biodegradable, it remains in the environment after the diaper is tossed out and starts to break down. TBT has been especially harmful to aquatic life, disrupting endocrine systems and working it's way into our food chain. In humans, TBT can trigger genes that promote fat cells, causing obesity. 
• There is also this strange chemical cocktail of ingredients known as  Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs. Diaper companies don't really explain why these chemicals are needed in the diapers. They can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, and damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. They are also linked to cancers. 

At Franklin Goose we have The Honest Company disposable diapers and Broody Chick  disposable diapers available for purchase. We have chosen these two companies because we believe that they offer parents a disposable diaper that is much safer and more eco-friendly than other companies. And of course if you would like a different option we have all of our wonderful organic and reusable cloth diapers. 

We will be looking at The Honest Company and Broody Chick disposable diapers in depth, so stay tuned! (FG)

Seventh Generation Disposable Diapers

(sheri)

Recently I was tweeting about Seventh Generation dying their diapers and using SLS (sodium Lauryl Sulfate) in their dishwashing liquid. Seventh Generation saw the tweets and contacted us via Twitter and offered to talk offline. I accepted.

A few days later someone from Seventh Generation contacted me via phone.

The first thing we discussed was the misinformation being spread online that Seventh Generation dyes their diapers. This is in fact not the correct information. Seventh Generation uses a pigment on their diapers as the diaper is being manufactured. The pigment is a zinc based product, the safest option Seventh Generation could find. Seventh Generation told me the reason that they do anything to color the diapers is because otherwise the diapers would be translucent, similar to a milk jug. Seventh Generation contends that other diaper companies use dye on their diapers to keep them from being translucent. They say that this dye is applied later in the processing and can come off onto a babys skin. The pigmenting process is used during the processing therefore there is no risk that it can come off on a babys skin.

I checked with the manufacturer of Broody Chick diapers ( a chemical free disposable diaper option we carry) to see if they use dyes in their diapers to keep them from being translucent. The response from Broody Chick diapers is that they in fact do not dye or use pigment on their diapers. They use PLA, a corn biopolymer which is naturally white in color. They do not use any dyes in any of their products.

My curiosity has always been peaked by Seventh Generations decision to make their diapers brown, like recycled paper. When I asked about this the explanation was that they do not use brown to be deceptive but only to set their diapers apart from the other diapers on the market. They feel the brown conveys the message that the diapers are not bleached white. 

Seventh Generation does use SAP gel in their diapers, as much as mainstream diapers. The core base of the diapers is made from wood fibers.

In the interest of transparency no one in my family uses Seventh Generation diapers. They have used Earths Best then switched to Broody Chick and Honest Co. diapers.

I do however use their dishwashing liquid and dishwasher detergent. While the tweeting was going on I took a minute to look at the label on the dishwashing liquid and was shocked to find that the second ingredient on the list was SLS. I go out of my way to avoid SLS in all products I use. It is controversial, with either side of the arguement maintainging there is not enough proof to support the other sides claims. I avoid it because it is not necessary so I don't want to take the risk. I was shocked that a company who markets themselves as being eco-friendly and humanly focused would use SLS in their products.

Seventh Generation informed me that they use SLS because it is the most effective natural ingredient available, in their opinion. They maintain that the controversy surrounding SLS has no basis. The gentleman I spoke with stated that SLS comes from plant based sources. He said that it is important to look at all of the ingredients in the soap, not just the SLS. The preservative used in the dishwashing liquid is the only petroleum based ingredient.

Since the phone conversation with Seventh Generation we have started to carry The Honest Co. products. One of the products of theirs that we carry is their dish soap. They do not use any controversial ingredients or petroleum based products so next time I buy dish soap I will be bringing home a cute bottle of Honest Co. I will no longer be buying Seventh Generation. Whether the concerns with SLS have any basis or not, I am not taking a chance. 

I hope this has helped answer some of your questions about Seventh Generation. What do you think of their explanation?

 

Personalized GroVia Kiwi Pie Covers

(emily)

Our GroVia Kiwi Pie dyed orange.

One of the cool things about cloth diapering is that cloth diapers come in so many colors and patterns. Cloth diapers can add a little extra style and flair to your baby’s wardrobe, and recently we found a cool way to personalize your cloth diapers even more.

A few months ago GroVia shared how to dye their Kiwi Pie wool diaper covers, and we thought that sounded like so much fun, we decided to do our own! It was really easy (not to mention inexpensive), and gave us a beautiful and bright wool diaper cover!

We love orange, and so does Franklin, so we headed to the grocery store to pick up 4 packets of orange Kool Aid and a few other items. Using 4 Kool Aid packets help bring out that vibrant orange. 

What You’ll Need:

• Dawn dish soap
• Kosher salt
• White vinegar
• 4 Kool Aid packets of whichever color you’d like (Tip: Double-check the flavor of the Kool Aid packet to ensure you got the right color instead of going by the color of the packet.)
• Rubber gloves
• Metal pot, large

 

To Prepare Your Kiwi Pie:

1)   In your sink or a large bowl, immerse  the wool Kiwi Pie cover in water with a drop of Dawn dish soap. In order for the dye to take, the Kiwi Pie must be stripped of its lanolin.

2)   Rinse well. Roll in a towel to help remove the excess water, but leave damp.

 

To Dye Your Kiwi Pie:

1)   Fill a large metal pot 2/3 with tepid water. Add 2 tsp of kosher salt. The salt will soften the water and allow the dye to disperse.

2)   Add 1 cup white vinegar, and your 4 packets of Kool Aid. Stir with a metal spoon until all of the mixture has dissolved.

3)   Take your damp, lanolin-free Kiwi Pie wool cover and immerse it completely in the dye mixture.  While wearing your gloves, work the dye into the seams of the Kiwi Pie.

4)   Place your pot on the stove and turn the burner to medium heat. Slowly turn it up to high to achieve a light boil. Stir the cover every 5-10 minutes. Once your dye mixture begins to boil, turn off the burner. 

Note: The Grovia Kiwi Pie wool diaper cover includes Spandex. The Spandex keeps the wool from felting and shrinking, but an item made of 100% wool could experience felting and shrinking if the heat is raised too quickly.

 

5)   Continue to stir every 5-10 minutes until the mixture has cooled. The water will begin to look lighter and the wool darker.

6)   Once the water has cooled and you can touch it without risking a burn, remove the pot from the stove and pour off the residual dye liquid into your sink. Run cool water over the diaper cover to thoroughly rinse it. Keep doing this until the water running off the diaper cover no longer retains color. Squeezing the diaper cover gently is fine, but don’t ring it out.

7)   Finally, give your wool diaper cover a vinegar bath. Fill your sink or a large bowl with a few inches of water. Add 2 cups of white vinegar and let your freshly rinsed wool cover to soak for 15 minutes.  Rinse it well once more, and roll it into a towel to remove any excess water.

Note: Having removed the lanolin, you will need to lanolize your wool cover once more after the dyeing process is complete. Otherwise your wool cover will leak.

I rolled the diaper in a towel to dry it, and as you can see the dye didn't rub off.

Once your diaper cover has been lanolized and is dry, it can be put to use! 

 

Our GroVia Kiwi Pie wool diaper cover is available to buy at our Richmond, VA store and online. 

BabeeGreens Wool Diaper Covers Are At Franklin Goose!

(emily)

 

We just got these wool diaper covers in from BabeeGreens, and they’re so fun! Each one is unique because BabeeGreens makes them with recycled wool sweaters. And they’re made in the USA. Aren’t they adorable?

Supplies are limited, so if you're interested, come on over and check them out. They are also available online.

Speaking of wool covers, are any of you interested in learning more about cloth diapering with wool? We’re thinking of offering a class next month, so let us know in the comments below if you’re interested!

The Cost of Cloth Diapering

(emily)

We are big fans of cloth diapering here at Franklin Goose. We love helping people choose the right diaper system for their children. Sometimes cloth diapering can be overwhelming for parents and families, especially at the beginning.

There are a lot of reasons why parents choose to cloth diaper their children, but perhaps one of the most common is that it is an economical choice. Disposable diapers might seem cheaper, but are you really saving money?

 

The Numbers

Let’s say your baby will be in diapers for his first 3 years.

On average, a baby will need 12 diaper changes a day during the first 3 months, which means your child could have 1,092 diaper changes.

After about 3 months, the diaper changes significantly lessen to about 8 changes per day. For the next 2 years and 9 months, your child could have about 8,032 diaper changes.

Thus the total of 9,124 diaper changes for 3 years.

 

That’s a lot of diapers.

 

Disposables

If your baby is 8 lbs. his first month, you could buy a Super Pack of Pampers Baby Dry Diapers in Size 1 for about $24.99 and get 128 diapers at $0.19 each. For 12 changes a day that first month (a total of 360 diapers), you will need to buy at least 3 boxes, totaling to $74.97.

Let’s say your baby fits a size one until halfway through his third month (75 days). For 2.5 months, your average of diaper changes would be 900. You would need to buy at least 7 Super Packs of Pampers Baby Dry Diapers at a total of $174.93. However, your baby isn’t going to make it easy for you to plan. You might buy an eighth box before realizing your child needs a bigger size, leaving you with unused diapers.

Because disposables come in packs and multiple sizes and can only be used once, you run the risk of over purchasing.

 

Cloth Diapers

Cloth diapers look expensive up front. Depending on the diaper system you choose to use depends on the cost and amount of items you need, and this can turn people off cloth diapering. They might wonder how economical it actually can be.

Cloth diapering is economical because you are reusing your diapers. Because a disposable is disposable, you’re going to have to purchase more. A cloth diaper can be washed and reused.

So let’s look at an average cloth diaper stash. Let’s say you want to use a few different systems for one child, so you purchase

18 prefolds at $2.80 each ($50.40),

8 covers at $12.73 each ($101.84),

4 fitted diapers $15.72 each ($62.88),

4 all-in-one diapers (AIO) at $19.72 each ($78.88),

4 pocket diapers at $19.70 each ($78.80), and

5 inserts and doublers at $3.30 each ($16.50).

(Note that costs are averaged. For example, some fitted diapers run as low as $7.50 and as high as $29 depending on the brand and the materials used, i.e. organic cotton.)

 

This diaper stash would give you about 20 diapers, which is great if you want to wash every other day. So that’s 20 diapers at a total of $389.30 per child. 

$389.30 for 20 diapers that you can use again and again and again and again.

 

Of course, with cloth diapers there are accessories available to purchase like Snappis to hold the prefolds closed, a wet bag to hold your soiled diapers until you can wash them, a diaper sprayer to help clean off waste before you dump them into the washing machine, and detergent. However, even with all of that, by the time your child is potty-trained you will spend $950 to $1,500 on cloth diapers, as opposed to an average of $2,500 on disposable diapers. 

 Plus, another great factor about cloth diapers is that they can be reused again for other children. If you choose to have more children and you’ve kept your cloth diapers in good condition, you will not need to spend as much on your second, third, fourth, etc., child’s diaper needs.

 

Think of it in terms of other ways you budget your life: you might spend a large sum of money once a week at the grocery store, plus time in the kitchen everyday preparing your meals, but would it be economical to take your family out to eat for every meal just because it’s less fuss for you? Probably not.

There are a lot of great reasons to choose cloth diapers over disposables – healthier choice, an environmentally friendly choice, a convenient choice, a fashionable choice, a traditional choice – but the numbers don’t lie. If you choose to cloth diaper your child, rest assure that it will be a great economical benefit for you and your family.  

 

If you have any questions about cloth diapering, please feel free to contact us or stop by our store in Richmond, VA. All of our staff are educated on cloth diaper systems are able to help you. We also offer a Cloth Diapering 101 class once a month. (FG)