the routine

it's been two days now, and I'm still perfecting my routine. we'll see how things evolve as the week goes by. this is the general routine, though, all done during nap time.

I've been using one of my five gallon buckets as my diaper pail because it just seems easier that way. I normally use a large hanging wet bag to store the dirties, but I didn't feel like adding an extra thing to wash. so once pj is napping, I take the bucket full of dirty diapers down stairs and I fill it with some water. today I let them soak with oxi-clean for about 45 minutes while I ate lunch.

I don't think my next step is necessary, but it makes me feel better about things. I boil two stock pots full of water and then dump them in the other five gallon bucket. I just do this while my diapers are soaking. this is my wash water. I add my detergent and start plunging away at my diapers, two at a time, for about a minute. (sixty plunges, to be exact.) since the water is literally boiling hot, I use a long wooden spoon to fish them out and put them in a large plastic bowl to await the rinse cycle.

once everything is washed, I fill up both buckets with more water. this time I plunge the diapers for thirty seconds in one bucket, then thirty seconds in another. if I feel like there is still detergent in the diapers, I do it again in more fresh water.

once fully rinsed, I wring the heck out of those things. I definitely learned my lesson. I twist those suckers dry and then twist 'em again!

then they go on the drying rack.

I had to put monday's not-quite-dry diapers out on the line so I would have room for yesterday's diapers. as I was hanging them up it started raining just a little bit. at least the clothesline is covered by the party patio.

luckily the sun came out.

so they were able to get some sunshine + fresh air. just what every diaper needs in life.