10 Easy Ways to Go Green

In the past few years I've made an effort to reduce my carbon footprint, but not because I'm a tree-hugging, Birkinstock-wearing, granola-eating hippie. (I'm not even a democrat, y'all.) I do it simply because I think it's the right thing to do. If I can help ensure that future generations live a better life without drastically changing mine, why wouldn't I? Having a baby forces you to think about the future and what kind of life you want for your children. I want Rory to realize that everything she does has an impact and that it is up to her generation to reduce this impact on our Earth. Here are ten of the greenest, hippiest things I do in an effort to piss off my conservative mother and also save the planet. 

1. Cloth Diaper

I never thought I would cloth diaper, but after talking to several cloth-diapering moms, taking a cloth diaper class, and doing the math, I realized that it's a great way to save some money and decrease our carbon footprint at the same time. That being said, I have a confession to make: I don't cloth diaper all the time. If I know we're going to be out of the house for several hours, I put Rory in a disposable, and she still sleeps in one at night, too. But it still takes us several months to go through a package of disposable diapers. So, even if you work and your child's daycare doesn't do cloth diapers and you can only cloth diaper when you're at home, don't dismiss the idea completely. It's not all or nothing. Also, I quickly discovered that I prefer reusable swim diapers to the disposables. They are more form-fitting (which is a good thing, because you don't want to be the reason the community pool had to shut down for the afternoon) and are much less conspicuous under Rory's bathing suit bottoms. Charlie Banana and iplay make affordable, good quality swim diapers. 

2. Home-Made Cleaning Supplies

Looking back, I was probably the most annoying pregnant person ever. I obsessed over things like food dyes and high fructose corn syrup, and I asked my midwife at least 5 times if I should worry about the five three drinks I consumed before I even knew I was pregnant. I also did everything in my power to reduce my exposure to chemicals, and this included cleaning supplies. (Please don't ask me about my failed attempt to make my own shampoo.) I did some research and quickly discovered that most homemade cleaning supplies are vinegar based, so I did some experimenting and found that the following recipe worked best: 

1 cup white vinegar (Heinz makes a "cleaning strength" version for this purpose)

2 cups water

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol

I promise that the vinegar smell quickly evaporates, and you can add lemon essential oil to mask the odor. We use this cleaner for everything: countertops, tile, sinks, mirrors...

When it's time to scrub the bathtub, I sprinkle some baking soda in the tub, spray this solution on top, and then scrub away. 

3. Meatless Meals

I was a vegetarian for about 4 years before I became pregnant with Rory. It was too difficult to get the recommended amount of protein without eating meat, and I was getting so tired of beans, lentils, and peanut butter. I am still eating meat a few times a week, but I am very selective about the quality, and only buy organic, grass-fed chicken and beef. (Except for Chick-fil-a Fridays. But everyone has their vices.) It's been proven that reducing your meat intake is not only better for your health, but for the environment as well. It takes a lot of water, energy, and grain to feed the cattle and other animals that humans consume. By eating mostly fruits, vegetables, and grains, you're essentially cutting out the middle man and reducing your environmental impact. If you're a meat-lover and can't fathom eating vegetarian meals several times a week, simply cut the amount of meat a recipe calls for in half. I've done this several times, and I promise you won't even notice. 

4. Buy Used Toys and Clothes

I often brag about discuss my garage sale/Craigslist finds on this blog, and I would say about 75% of Rory's toys and clothes are pre-loved. It just makes sense. Babies grow fast. In fact, many of the items I've purchased from consignment sales are brand new with tags. In my opinion, there's no point in purchasing brand new toys that will ultimately end up in a landfill when you can buy a perfectly good used version for a fraction of the cost. There are two consignment sales that I attend twice a year: Just Between Friends (JBF) and the MOMS sale (moms of multiples). I usually spend about $100-$150 and come home with several bags of clothes and toys. They have high-quality clothes and toys for great prices (I got a pair of Janie and Jack shorts for $2!), and on the last day of the sale, everything left is an extra 50% off. If I feel that Rory really needs something in between sales, I always check Craigslist or our local virtual garagesale facebook page to see if I can find it used first. 

5. Visit the Library

By now you already know I'm an avid reader and visit the library several times a week for storytime hour with Rory. This is a difficult one for me because I'm all about supporting authors, but at the same time, I can't bring myself to buy new books when I can check it out from the library and read it for free. If you want to support your favorite author but still be "green", you can buy the ebook version. 

6. Just Say No! To Anything Disposable. (And Drugs, Obviously.) 

Did you know they sell disposable bibs now? I'm sorry, but how hard is it to throw a cloth bib in your diaper bag and wash it? I realize that I'm from a convenience-based generation with the mindset that "everything is disposable", but our actions have severe consequences. Admittedly, this is something I still struggle with. I always forget our reusable grocery bags in the car and I use wet wipes like they're going out of style, but I do make a conscious effort to avoid all things disposable when possible. For example, I have several wetbags that I carry around with me to hold things like wet bathing suits and dirty cloth diapers. We have reusable snack bags to reduce our usage of plastic Ziplock bags, and I clean with reusable rags to avoid using paper towels. 

I saw these on Shark Tank (love that show!), and I'm thinking about buying a roll. 

7. Reuse/ Recycle (Duh!)

You would think this goes without saying, but I know several people who for whatever reason don't recycle. When we lived in New Hampshire, we had to actually take our recycables* to the local recycling plant, which was slightly inconvenient and meant that the empty beer cans and glass jars had to be pretty much overflowing before we actually made the 2 mile journey. But in Colorado, we put our recycables out on the curb with the trash every other week, which means no excuses. When you have a baby, you tend to do a lot of online shopping, which results in plethora of cardboard boxes. And if you buy jarred baby food, either reuse the little jars (I put paint in them to use for wall touch ups.), or recycle them. It's also helpful (to your wallet and the environment) to reuse what you already have. We probably spent a total of $200 on Rory's entire nursery because we used furniture we already had. I ordered new knobs for an old white dresser that doubles as her changing table, and we made a tulle "tutu" skirt for a round table that was damaged in our move. (The skirt hides the scratches.)  My friend, Shannon, refinished her old crib and painted it a beautiful coral color for her daughter, Olivia. She basically has a brand new crib for the cost of a can of paint. Lets be honest, babies don't know Pottery Barn from second-hand IKEA. Take advantage of this....they'll be begging you for designer jeans before you know it. 

Rory's nursery table. This picture was taken a few weeks before Rory was born....before we understood the importance of blackout curtains. 

8. Make Your Own Babyfood

I buy a few jars or pouches of baby food every week, but for the most part, Rory eats whole foods. Now that she is getting older and we are slowly introducing dairy, wheat, and meat, she is able to eat more of what we eat. One of the many reasons I love the baby-led weaning philosophy is that it reduces the need for pre-packaged baby food and unnecessary waste. If your baby is still in the mushy/puree phase, spend one day a month making and freezing your own baby food in ice cube trays. It's cheaper and more eco-friendly. 

9. Quick Wash/Cold Wash

One of the downsides to using reusable diapers, bibs, wipes, etc. is the extra laundry it creates. And extra laundry means extra water and extra electricity. I recently discovered BioKleen all temperature laundry detergent, which cleans just as well with cold water. (Obviously for diapers and other materials that need to be sanitized, I do a warm wash.) I also use the quick wash option on our washer whenever possible. For example, if I'm just washing a load of Rory's clothes that aren't particularly dirty, they don't need to be spinning in the washer for 45 minutes. The 25 minute "quick wash" is more than enough to get them clean. 

10. Remember: Less is More 

 I've realized that the old adage is true: kids really do prefer boxes to toys. Kids don't need much. They much prefer your time and attention to the latest gadget, and they get much more out of a visit to the park or the zoo than a basket full of toys.Talk to your kids. Read to them. Take them on a walk. Experience trumps things any day. Not only does this philosophy reduce waste, it save you money and also promotes creative play and imagination. I know it's not always easy to say no, so to help me remember this one, I've come up with a saying of my own: When in doubt, do without. (And if this doesn't work, Marcos is right there as my backup reminder. For example, he may or may not have told me that in no way does Rory need a stuffed rocking horse. In my defense, however, it was used!) 

The ultimate toy with endless possibilities.

*Is this even a word? The red squiggly line tells me probably not. 

Cloth Diaper Update: New Wash Routine

A few months ago, I wrote a post about my CD wash routine, and I mentioned that I didn't have any issues with stink or ammonia yet. Well readers, that all changed last week when I opened the lid to the washer after my normal wash routine and the strong stench of ammonia hit me like a ton of bricks. Okay, it wasn't that bad, but I knew I should do something about it before it got worse. So, I did a lot of research, and came to the conclusion that my diapers had detergent build up, which is apparently pretty common in top-load HE washers.

So, once again, I had to rework my wash routine. I realized that I was using quite a bit of products on my dipes: detergent, oxiclean, stainstick, Bacout...It's no wonder there was build up. I decided that instead of putting oxiclean on all of my diapers, I would soak the dirty diapers separately. I bought a small white trashcan and filled it with an oxiclean/water mixture. Now, whenever Rory has a dirty diaper, I place it in the small bin to soak. By the time it's time to wash the diapers, the stains have usually completely disappeared, which also eliminates the need for the stainstick, except for very stubborn stains. When it's time to wash, I simply dump the whole bucket in the washer.

I spoke to a few other CD moms and several of them recommended that I try a powder detergent instead of the liquid one I was using. I was resistant to this at first because the CD-friendly powder detergents aren't available at the local grocery store, and I didn't want to be caught detergent-less on a wash day. But, Marcos and I recently signed up for Amazon prime, which means we have free 2-day shipping on most products. Problem solved. I went with Country Save because it's cheap and had great reviews.

Most of the posts I read about ammonia caused by detergent build-up emphasized the importance of rinsing in order to ensure that all residue is removed from the diapers. So, my new wash routine is as follows:

1. Hot wash set on bulky with an extra rinse, using 1/4 C Country Save detergent. 

2. Hot wash set on bulky with an extra rinse, no detergent.

Obviously this could change in the upcoming weeks/months, but so far, so good!

My Obligatory Cloth Diaper Post: Part 3

Organization 

Being organized is the most important part of cloth diapering, in my opinion. If I weren't organized and didn't have an effective wash routine, it would be a lot more difficult, and I would be much more likely to reach for the disposables.

I bought a white bookcase from IKEA for $25 that I use to organize Rory's cloth diapers. It sits right next to her changing table, which makes it very easy to access her diapers and anything else that I may need when changing her.

There are 3 shelves. On the top shelf, I keep her diaper covers and all-in-ones. The second shelf houses the inserts, and I keep her liners and wipes on the bottom shelf. Since I usually change her on the floor, this set-up works best for me at the moment.

I keep her diaper cream, lotion, and grooming kit on top of the bookcase, since I often reach for these things during changing times. Her diaper pail and a bottle of Bacout are easily accessible on the other side of her changing table, and the smaller wetbag that I use to dispose of her wipes/liners hangs on the inside doorknob. Her room is quite small, so everything is relatively close and easy to reach. Her bedroom is right next to the bathroom, which is convenient for those times when I need to use the diaper sprayer.

My Wash Routine

I must have read at least 30 blogs and message boards before deciding on a wash routine, and my first time washing CD was still a disaster. (I ended up with diapers that still had poop on them!)

After doing some more reading, I figured out that my top-loader high efficiency washer wasn't using enough water to clean the CD, so I reworked my wash routine and I haven't had a problem since.

If you're still trying to figure out the best wash routine, don't give up. It's a frustrating process because there are so many factors to consider. It's all about trial and error and making adjustments until you get it right.

Many of the wash routines I read about online included up to 5 rinses per wash! I don't know about you, but one of the big reasons I am cloth diapering is to save money and to lessen my environmental impact. If I'm rinsing my diapers seven times per wash, I'm doing neither. Fortunately, I've discovered an effective wash routine that involves only two rinses.

My wash routine is as follows:

1 soak cycle with warm water
(No detergent, one scoop of Oxiclean Baby)

This helps remove any of the excess solids and the soak feature allows the Oxiclean Baby to work its magic. Also, the diapers become heavier after absorbing water from the soak cycle, which tricks my HE washer into using more water during the actual wash cycle. After this cycle is finished, I quickly look at each diaper, and if there are any stubborn stains, I rub my Buncha Farmers stain stick on the spots before beginning the wash cycle.

1 wash cycle set on "bulky" using hot water and 1 extra rinse
(With  Ecos Free and Clear detergent)

I  think it's important to use the hottest water possible at this point to kill any germs and remove as much ammonia as possible. I use the bulky setting because it uses more water and I turn the extra rinse on to make sure all of the detergent is removed.

So far, I haven't had any problems with staining or stink. I've been cloth diapering for almost two months now, and haven't felt the need to strip my diapers, but I do plan on ordering Rockin Green Funk Rock just in case I run into any ammonia problems.

I put all of my inserts in the dryer and hang dry anything with PUL. I wash my CD twice a week, but I don't have set wash days. I wash the diapers when there are about five clean diapers left. This ensures that there will be enough diapers for Rory to use while the others are washing/drying.

My Obligatory Cloth Diaper Post: Part 2

I mentioned in my last cloth diapering post that making the decision to cloth diaper hasn't been nearly as painful or messy as I thought it would be. But, it does require a certain amount of organization and planning, as well as a variety of cloth diapering accessories. Everyone has their own wash routine, method of organization, and list of essentials that they can't live without. Here's mine:

The Stash 


My cloth diaper stash consists of the following:

3  Thirsties covers (size small)

12 Bummis prefolds (size medium)

2 Flip covers (one size)

12 Flip inserts (one size)

3 Little Monsters pocket diapers with microfiber inserts (one size)

6 BumGenius all in one organic diapers (one size)

After taking a cloth diapering class, I quickly realized that there are pluses and minuses to every type of cloth diaper, so I decided to get a few of each and decide which I like best. 

The prefolds with covers are definitely the least expensive, but also the most difficult to use. They have to be folded and pinned, which takes some getting used to, and can be quite challenging on a wiggly baby. 

The Flip covers and inserts are probably my favorite. These inserts require no folding or pinning, but the cover can be reused several times, which makes them very cost effective. The inserts are labeled with small, medium, and large to show where to fold according to the size of your baby. This reduces leakage and means the same liner can be used as your baby grows. Another thing I like about the Flip diapers is the variety of inserts available. Besides the regular stay-dry inserts, they also offer disposable inserts, which are great for traveling or when you're out and about, as well as extra absorbent night-time inserts. 

I haven't had any problems with my pocket diapers, but honestly I don't really see the point. They have to be stuffed before use and the insert must be removed before washing. (Removing the insert after a poop explosion without actually touching any of the poop should be made into a Minute to Win it game.) So, just like the Flips and the prefolds, there are two parts, but the shell isn't reusable. The good think about pocket diapers is that you can increase their absorbency by adding additional inserts. This is especially useful if you use cloth diapers at night. I also love the embroidered detail on the butt of these diapers. 

The Bumgenius all in one diapers are my go-to diapers. They are the closest to disposables, so if you are still on the fence about cloth diapering, I recommend stocking up on these. They are very easy to use and there are no inserts involved. However, these are also the bulkiest and the most expensive.

The Essentials

BumGenius Diaper Sprayer



This thing has been a life saver. It's easy to install and does the job. It makes washing CD that much easier. (Warning: There is a learning curve. Make sure you practice using it, or you could end up spraying yourself with poop. Or so I've been told.)


Snappis



These are used to "pin" prefolds together without having to use actual pins. They are made of super stretchy rubber and are easy to use. No sharp pins means no blood, which is good because I'm not sure I could deal with poop and blood.


Diaper Pail


This is a fancy term for plastic trashcan. Our is a simple white one from Target, but I've heard good things about the Diaper Dekor pail, which comes in several fun colors.


Pail Liner



This is essentially a huge wet bag that goes into your diaper pail and makes it easy to transfer diapers from pail to washer. These do a great job blocking out the smell and can be thrown right into the washer with the cloth diapers. Mine is the Kanga Care brand, and it has a small tab on the inside that you can use to put a drop of essential oil. I haven't tried this yet because I haven't had any problems with smell, but it was definitely a selling factor for me. I'm such a sucker.


Travel Wet Bags




I freakin' love these things. I have several different sizes and use them for all sorts of things. I keep one in my diaper bag to hold wet/soiled clothes and diapers, and there is also one hanging on the door in Rory's nursery. I throw disposable diapers, diaper liners, and dirty wipes in there and empty it every few days. Bummis and Planet Wise make great wetbags, but try Alva for a cheaper option. Rory hasn't been to our local pool yet, but these will be great for holding wet swimsuits this summer.


Diaper Liners



These aren't a necessity, but they sure do make cloth diapering a little easier (and less messy). Mine come in a roll and look a lot like dryer sheets. I just stick one in her diaper before putting it on and it does a great job catching the solids. These can the flushed or tossed in the trashcan. I usually just toss them because I get nervous about backing up the septic system. I'm sure these will be even more useful once she starts solids.


Ecos Free and Clear Laundry Detergent



This was one of my hardest CD decisions. I read blogs, message boards, and interrogated spoke to fellow CD moms before finally deciding on Ecos detergent. There are several detergents made especially for cloth diapers, but they are expensive and must be ordered online. I also wanted a detergent I could use for both regular laundry and CD, rather than having to switch back and forth. Ecos Free and Clear is free and clear of dyes, scents, and chemicals that could harm your cloth diapers or irritate baby's skin. So far, I haven't had any issues with ammonia or stink, but we're still early in the game.


BioKleen Bacout 



I love this stuff! It's made of natural enzymes and lime and does a great job eliminating stains and smells. I use it for everything. (I'm like the dad on My Big Fat Greek Wedding who was obsessed with Windex.) We literally have four bottles around the house right now. I keep one right next to the diaper pail, and before I toss a dirty diaper in the pail, I give it a quick spray to help prevent staining and ammonia buildup. I also use it on our clothing, carpet, and furniture. I'm telling you, I would bathe in it if it were socially acceptable.


Buncha Farmers Stain Stick


Just when I thought I couldn't love anything more than Bacout, a friend told me about Buncha Farmers all natural stain stick. This thing is magic. I rub a little on any left over stains, and they literally disappear. I read somewhere that you can cut off a small chunk and throw it in the wash with your CD, but I haven't tried that yet. I just placed this on automatic order on my Amazon prime account. So yeah, I guess you could say I'm slightly obsessed.


Oxiclean Baby



I was skeptical of this at first because I was worried that the chemicals would ruin the diapers or irritate Rory's skin, but Oxiclean Baby is free of harmful dyes and fragrances, and I haven't had any problems so far. I put a small scoop in with the detergent, and I think the "grit-factor" (Yes, I do believe I just made that phrase up.) helps clean the diapers and keep them nice and white.

Drying Rack 

I bought this drying contraption at Ikea for super cheap. It's perfect for drying cloth diaper clovers that can't go in the dryer, and it doesn't take up a lot of space.

My Obligatory Cloth Diaper Post: Part 1

Okay, so I know what you're thinking: You're crazy. And maybe I am. But if saving hundreds of dollars on diapers every year makes me crazy, then I don't want to be sane. I did a lot of research before making the decision to cloth diaper. Marcos and I even took a cloth diapering class, which answered a lot of our questions. I highly recommend checking to see if there's one in your area if you're considering cloth diapering. There are lots of benefits to going cloth, including cost, environmental impact, all-natural fibers, and most importantly, cuteness. Despite these benefits, I still had some major concerns before fully committing to cloth diapering.

My biggest concerns were:
1. The high upfront cost
2. The yuck factor
3. The time factor

Turns out, if you do it right, none of these issues are a real concern. Well, not enough of a concern to deter me from joining the cloth diapering cult, anyway.


The Cost
It's true that cloth diapering saves you money in the long run, but it can also be quite costly upfront. Plus, there are several different types of cloth diapers, and you never know which kind you'll prefer. I didn't want to waste money on diapers that I wouldn't use. The thought of buying used diapers was a little unsettling to me, but I scoured Craigslist for deals on cloth diapers, and saw several postings from people selling unused cloth diapers for much cheaper than retail. (I skipped right over ads with the words "light staining".) I also used gift cards that I received from my shower and bought a few on sale from Zulilly and Cottonbabies.com. I probably spent $150 of my own money for our entire diaper stash. I quickly discovered that using prefolds and covers is the cheapest option, so these make-up the majority of our collection.

The Yuck

Honestly, the yuck factor doesn't bother me too much. Whether or not I use disposables or cloth, I'm still going to have to deal with poop. I may as well save some money in the process. Each time I change Rory's diaper I put a biodegradable liner in the diaper. This catches the solids and can be easily flushed down the toilet or thrown in the trashcan. These cost about $7 for 200, and now that Rory's bowels are on more of a schedule, I can predict when I'll need them and when I can skip them all together. I also used one of my gift cards to buy a BumGenius diaper sprayer. So any solids that happen to escape the liner can be easily sprayed off the diaper and into the toilet. This means that I never have to actually touch any poop. Hooray!


The Time
I'm fortunate enough to stay at home, but even if I was working, cloth diapering doesn't require much more time than using disposables, especially if you're OCD organized. Actually changing a cloth diaper is easy and fast. Even if I'm using a prefold, it only takes a few minutes to put on a new diaper. If it's just a wet diaper, I throw it into the diaper pail and we're on our way. If it's dirty, I simply flush the liner and quickly spray any poop remnants into the toilet using the diaper sprayer. This takes a max of three minutes. The wash routine takes the most time, but it's just like doing any other load of laundry. Every three days I simply dump the soiled diapers from the wetbag into the washer. I press a few buttons, and voila! Clean diapers!



I decided to use a disposable at nights and if I know we'll be out of the house for awhile. (Which doesn't happen too often these days.) Nighttime disposables are just easier for us at this point since Rory still sleeps in our room and the cloth diapering supplies are kept in her nursery alllllll the way down the hall. (What? I like my sleep.) This just seemed to work best for us, but I know lots of people who use cloth all day everyday with no problems. Now that we've been cloth diapering for the past month or so, I'm so glad we decided to do it. Even my husband has come around and admitted that it's not nearly as gross or time-consuming as he originally thought.