prepping for the challenge

(This is part 2 of a 3 part series on how I am preparing for the Flats and Handwashing Challenge. You can find part 1 here. You can find part 3 here. Read why I am participating in the Flats and Handwashing Challenge here. Read about our trial run washing the diapers here.)

I’m getting more excited for the Flats and Handwashing Challenge now that I’ve got my flats and it’s getting closer. I decided to start prepping my diapers last night since I figured (correctly) that it would take awhile. I watched this video from Kim Rosas over at Dirty Diaper Laundry on how to boil your diapers to prep them. I decided that since it is a hand washing challenge, it would be wrong to prep the flats in my washing machine.

Mmm… What’s For Dinner???

Oh… Diapers!

I wish I wasn’t such a purist. I really wish I could bring myself to cheat (well, it’s not specified but I would feel like I was cheating). I can not believe I only have one pot big enough to boil flats in. It took me about an hour and 20 minutes to do 8 diapers. I still have 16 to go! I know what I’m doing tonight. It really wasn’t hard though, and seeing as how you only have to do it once… I could definitely bring myself to do this if I didn’t have a washer and dryer. In fact, I may do it for my natural fiber diapers in the future because it uses way less water than even my HE washing machine does.

Here are the diapers after I prepped them:

I have a feeling that my mini clothesline hanging over the washing machine isn’t going to cut it for this challenge. I’m going to pick up a new clothesline for the backyard today when I get my supplies to make a camp style washer.

While I was waiting for the water to boil last night, I tried out a couple different folds and tested them out on The Gnome.

My first ever flat application :)

Helping me unwrap his new diapers while wearing a flat!

So far, prepping hasn’t been too bad. I can handle doing the other 2/3 of the 24 diapers. I’m getting excited about making the camp style washer and hanging a new clothesline. I have been so hesitant about the hand washing part of this challenge but as it gets closer I’m getting more confident. Hubby has been really supportive too (probably because he doesn’t have to wash them – ha)!

Are you participating in the Flats an Handwashing Challenge? Do you use flats? How do you prep your diapers? Share in the comments! Don’t forget to like us on facebook and follow us on twitter (where you can find us tweeting about the #flatschallenge)!