Cloth Diapers ARE An Option To Combat Poverty

I was brushing my teeth this morning, going over my to-do list for the day, which coincidentally included washing a load of diapers, before coming downstairs and checking F.acebook.  And there was this article.  I'm a big girl, I know what's going to get me all riled up, and I knew I could just not read it, you know?  But I did anyway.

I'm so frustrated with the endless commentary  on diaper shortages by whomever is talking about poverty marginalization.  Because this is a very real problem for a lot of people, and the solution is so simple, so painless, and no one considers it.  The answer is cloth diapers.

And yet we get quotes like:

"Cloth diapers aren’t an option for many poor women, who don’t have easy access to washers and dryers. Many laundromats don’t allow diapers to be washed in their machines and, even when they do, the cost of frequent washes can be more than the mother can afford." (link).

And while it may very well be true that low-income families cannot afford frequent laundromat trips, it simply isn't true that you need to consider cloth diapering in such a confined way.  Here's another article that implies cloth diapers are impractical because of no washer access.

I feel as though an equivalent problem would be to say 'I need to send my child to school.  But there are no buses and it's too far to walk.'  So, do you not send your child to school?  Of course not, you problem solve.  Can you get a second hand bike?  Is there a carpool?  Etc.  Saying 'I'm too poor to buy diapers and I can't access a laundromat' is exactly the same kind of problem.  I'm just going to very quickly dispel a few diaper myths right now.

1) Cloth diapers are too expensive.

They are many things, but they are certainly not this.  I absolutely 100% assure you that you can cloth diaper very very inexpensively, possibly even for free.  Because cloth diapers are fabric.  And you know what else is fabric?  PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING.  Which means that that flannel crib sheet?  That's diapers.  Those receiving blankets?  Diapers.  The pack of dish towels in the kitchen?  Those are so diapers.  90% of my flat diapers are what the delicate among us would term as 'repurposed'.  They're dish towels, receiving blankets, whatever.  You can buy them at the thrift store, for heaven sakes.  My thrift store has a $10 bag sale where you can fill a garbage bag for $10.  Do you know how many 'repurposed' diapers you can shove in a garbage bag?

2)  Cloth diapers require a washing machine to wash.

Wrong.  Oh so wrong.  I've hand-washed my diapers several times, including a period of time when we didn't own a washing machine or a dryer and lived in a second floor apartment.  I did it in the bathtub.  It took maybe 15 minutes a day.  15 MINUTES.  Think I'm weird and no one else would do it?  Check out this.  It's the challenge issued annually by Kim at Dirty Diaper Laundry, a challenge to wash your diapers by hand for one week.  And she's got more info on how to do it on there then you'd ever need.

3)  Cloth diapers require special stuff, like expensive detergents.

Oh my gosh this annoys me so much.  By all means, if you have the funds to buy organic, scent-free, whatever soap and lovingly swish your diapers on delicate and then rinse them 9 times then you go right ahead.  I think you need a hobby, but you go right ahead.  But it isn't necessary.  I've written before on this:

What Makes A Detergent 'Cloth Diaper Safe'

What Does It Mean To 'Sun' A Diaper

What Does It Mean To 'Strip' A Diaper

I have a bottle of 50% off S.unlight detergent on the go right now.  I've used P.urex, T.ide, whatever - and my diapers are fine.  I mean, they've been used on heavy rotation for over three years, so they don't look brand new, but they work great, they aren't all stained and gross, and my babies are clean and dry.

Here are a few other topics I've touched on in the past:

How To Buy Cloth Diapers When Your Budget Is Tight

Here's a look at how my diaper washing routine went over two years ago, when I didn't have a proper clothesline or a dryer.

Here's a post I wrote about sending a toddler who pees a lot to bed in cloth diapers, and also a look at my first real attempt at handwashing.

My point is, there may be factors that prevent you from imagining life with cloth diapers, but the reality is that they fit seamlessly into your day.  They have a comfort and learning curve similar to how long it takes to figure out your kettle.  They don't cost very much at all, or anything, if that's your style.  They are easy to wash and while they certainly dry faster in a dryer, they can be dried almost anywhere.  

Now I'm going to go wash mine.