When I first told my mom that I was considering cloth diapers, she was shocked. Not because she thought cloth diapers were weird or that poop was gross, but because she knows me- and she knows that I’m kind of a domestic failure. I hate laundry with a passion, so in her mind me using cloth diapers was kind of ridiculous. If you’re thinking the same thing, that cloth diapers couldn’t possibly work for you because you aren’t Mary Poppins, then this post is for you.

Not all cloth diapering moms are June Cleaver

My house is rarely clean. I mean, sure it gets tidied daily and I do dishes, sweep floors and wipe up messes; but really deep cleaning eludes me. I am chronically ill and physically disabled and there just aren’t enough spoons in my day to keep my house sparkling and clutter-free. I’m not going to make excuses, I’m just too damn tired to run a home the way my mother did. Her home was never out of place and she was always cleaning something. I’m a terrible cook, my vacuum cleaner has sat broken for far too long, and a house full of 5 boys means that my bathroom sinks are perpetually full of dirt. I’m more of a domestic failure than a domestic goddess like my Mama. I love the memories I have of growing up in a clean house, and I do long for that sometimes, but I’ve resigned myself to living in an okay-ish house.

I’m a terrible cook, my vacuum cleaner has sat broken for far too long, and a house full of 5 boys means that my bathroom sinks are perpetually full of dirt.

Even if you aren’t a Domestic Goddess, you can cloth diaper

I do household laundry maybe 3 times a month- when the drawers are empty. I’m fairly certain that my mom imagined piles of dirty diapers and a crying wet baby when she thought of me using cloth diapers. But here’s the thing- I actually LIKE washing my diapers! Every Wednesday and Saturday I haul myself down to my basement (no small feat when you are a wheelchair user) and wash my diapers with my epic wash routine. I even participated in a handwashing challenge this year- that’s how much I love my diapers.

My change table is one of the few areas of my house that’s organized. I totally shocked myself with that! Who knew I had it in me?

Sadly, my household laundry still takes the back burner, as always, but I find myself keeping up just fine with the diapers as well as my mama cloth and my kitchen laundry. I’m trying to green my everyday life with reusable products and that means more laundry. Wetbags full of towels, wipes and cloths actually get me excited now! I feel like I’m actually accomplishing something greater than just housework. My reusable items are reducing my waste and keeping me eco-conscious!

Tips for Success

1. Buy enough wetbags!
You’ll need one large one for the nursery, one for the bathroom (where poop flushing happens) and at least 3 more for the diaper bag, the living room and kitchen. You don’t ever want to leave a dirty diaper lying around and the wetbags completely contain the smell!

2. Set a schedule
I wash on Wednesdays and Saturdays, no matter what. I have a massive stash but I force myself to stick to a twice weekly wash schedule so that I am never overwhelmed.

3. Ignore naysayers
I’m so glad I didn’t let my moms reaction deter me from trying cloth diapers. I never would have know what I was capable of.

4. Start Small
I started with a small purchase of about 5 cloth diapers. This helped me to see if cloth was for me. Needless to say, it was: I never looked back. But if it wasn’t, I could have sold my diapers (SIDE TIP: choose good quality, popular brands- or they won’t sell)

Diaper Day is fun for the kids. I fold and organize my diapers when they are out of the dryer to avoid headaches later.

What about you?

Are you a domestic failure like me? Is the idea of cloth diapering daunting because of that? Or maybe your household duties are a walk in the park. When I say that not all cloth diapering moms are June Cleaver, I don’t mean to alienate the super-moms who totally nail a clean house (like my mom). You ladies are amazing!

Whichever side of the clean fence you sit on, what tips do you have for other moms reading- share them below in the comments!