Cloth vs. Disposable

teresamartini11

I am pregnant and due in November. I really would like to do cloth diapers, but I live in an apartment without a washer and dryer. Has anyone else done cloth diapering and used a laundry mat? Diaper services in the area are really expensive (more then twice the price of disposables), so if I do cloth diapers I would wash myself, but I am wondering if it is to difficult to try to do that at a laundry mat.

punkrockabye

We have access to pay laundry but we're going to use a portable washer and a drying rack. It's not ideal but it should work just fine, since we're okay with a little added effort if it means we don't have to use disposables. I suppose we could use the facilities here and I'd just have to have DH do it (he does our laundry now) since it's 4 flights of stairs down and my knees just wouldn't let me. But since you can't really do a simple wash and dry cycle with dipes, it would cost a lot more than a $2.75 wash and dry. Anything is possible of you're willing to do it though. 

prasad007

About 7 years ago I lived in a really crappy apartment building with my sister and my nephew (1 at the time). There were two washing machines (old top-loaders) and dryers in the basement that we used on my nephew's diapers and it worked fine. I think because the top-loaders use more water than front-loaders. We just washed them on hot, and usually brought them back upstairs to dry on a rack. I think it would be do-able if you used mainly prefolds and covers as they are easier to get clean than pockets or AIOs.

How far away is the laundromat? Would you be able to drive there or would you have to take public transit? Do you plan on living there until you baby is out of diapers, or do you think you'll be moving somewhere where there is a washer and dryer? How badly do you want to use cloth?

laurynfaerie

I'd say no. I was considering cloth while pregnant, but decided against it, since we were doing our laundry at my mom's house across town. We've since moved and now have access to a washer and dryer (that doesn't cost $4 a load) and are switching to cloth.

 

Moozilla11

I hand wash and air dry all of our cloth. Its beyond easy to do.

BrendaLou1969

I've read an article from someone (I cannot for the life of me remember where) but they used prefolds and went to a laundrymat outside of their complex.  They bought enough prefolds to last a week, did laundry once a week (I do believe they dunked their diapers however - and they had an older infant who used less diapers per day) and they swore they saved money over disposables.  I think it will be more work, but it is definately do-able.  It just comes down to how important cloth diapering is to you.   If you used flats or prefolds, you could easily wash the diapers in your bathtub.