Elastic Preservation Question

4legsRbest

I just got started overhauling all of the elastic in my stash and had a future handling question. My DS is only 16 months so I would estimate we have been using this stash (~25 mixed AIOs) for 13 months and the elastic is shot. We have a mix of Tots Bots, Fuzzibuns and BumGenius. My sister gave me 20 medium sized Fuzzibuns I haven't used yet because her elastic is shot too and want to update them all at once. I didn't realize how daunting this would be and I feel like I shouldn't be having to do this to mine after a year of use, but maybe my expectations were too high.

To get to my actual question: How should they be handled so that the elastic lasts as long as possible? Is it the hot water that hurts it, the heat in the dryer, the stretching to put them on, or the combo of all 3? I have twins on the way and just need to be prepared if I in fact have to perform this task every year or so on teh 50 I will have in rotation.

TIA for any advice, insights, or suggestions!

CLLDLL

I've been using most of my diapers for 18 months and the only ones with elastic that has been or needs to be replaced are my BG 4.0s. Luckily that is easy to replace.

I always wash on hot, never dry in the dryer, ever. So I would guess that since all of yours need replaced your issue is mostly the dryer. Although just putting them on/using them and age of the elastic also causes it to loosen over time. I don't think you can get around that.

4legsRbest

@CLLDLL how do your dry them, I assume on a line, but I can't have one outside per my HOA (no where to hide it either). Can you line dry in the house?

DH's guess was the dryer too.

ElleBeeDub

I hang dry in my house most of the time. I have a cheap drying rack set up. It's vertical, so the footprint isn't huge, and it folds up so I can hide it easily.

4legsRbest

Brilliant - thanks ladies! I will definitely give this a try!

Chichigo

I have a small pulls down drying rack on the wall in my laundry room. I use it if I'm drying a few items. I also have a large folding rack I use if hanging everything to dry. I hate hoa rules forbidding line drying.

unaveragejane

The other nice thing about a foldable drying rack is that you can set it outside or near a window on sunny days to help sun out stains.

SkyBee

What heat setting do you use on your dryer? I have always dried my pockets (RaR) in the dryer on low or medium and have never had elastics go bad. My diapers are 2.5 years old and have been used on 3 kids... I wash every day so every single diaper in my stash is getting dried every 2 days. I know they wear out faster if you use high heat settings.....

PipSqueak0313

I put an extra shower curtain rod in centered over my tub and above the shower head and then I attached a hanging clippy drying thingy (like the Ikea octopus but different). When I have stuff drying, it just gets pushed to the wall opposite the shower head and doesn't get in the way of showering. I also can hang clothes hangers from it if I have clothes that didn't get totally dry.

bumpuser5078523

I have the Ikea octopus. Does anyone know if they still sell these? Last time I visited my mom, they didn't have them.

Lild09

doeie04 said:

I have the Ikea octopus. Does anyone know if they still sell these? Last time I visited my mom, they didn't have them.

I was able to find one at my local dollar store for 1.25...I'm sure it's not as sturdy but I got 2 of them! Dollarama for any Canadian mamas reading this

karenhorning

doeie04 said:

I have the Ikea octopus. Does anyone know if they still sell these? Last time I visited my mom, they didn't have them.

I got mine off Amazon,  love it for hanging covers/diapers.  I also got these for hanging inserts & prefolds to dry.  I can fit 2 Octopus hangers and the set of 3 hangers all in my bathroom shower rod (so 16 diapers/covers using both clips on an octopus arm for each & 24 inserts/prefolds).  The Octopus also hangs nicely from a ceiling hook for hanging flower baskets by my windows inside to get some sun.

MamaPharmD

doeie04 said:

I have the Ikea octopus. Does anyone know if they still sell these? Last time I visited my mom, they didn't have them.

They still sell them! I just bought 2 from my local Ikea a few weeks ago. You can check store stock here: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80189663/

TugboatSheila

You could also clothespin the diapers to hangers and hang them all over the house if you don't want to commit to a clothesline or something.

I did that when I prepped but I don't have an outside baby yet so I'm not sure what I'm going to like in practice.

Claudia584

I am having an excellent drying rack in my laundry room and I am using it for drying different item and more specifically the woolen clothes. Not only this, but I also have a Clothes Drying Rack that I mainly use to dry almost everything. This drying is so compatible and I can fold it easily. I must recommend this drying rack to all women here to avoid hassle and to save money. Thanks 

Mandmeesh

Claudia584 said:

I
am having an excellent drying rack in my laundry room and I am using it for
drying different item and more specifically the woolen clothes. Not only this,
but I also have a Clothes Drying Rack that I mainly use to dry almost everything.
This drying is so compatible and I can fold it easily. I must recommend this
drying rack to all women here to avoid hassle and to save money. Thanks 

Ummmmmmm

countrycotton

Not sure if this has been said yet, but most dryers have an air dry cycle. They should dry faster than just hanging in the house unless you have amazing airflow thru your house. No heat should equal no damage.

bumpuser5078523

Ikea didn't have them.

My mom had a multi clip hanger thingy in her basement, and let me have it. Yay!