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I may leave the diapers themselves the way they are, but I really want to dye several of our Mother-ease covers. Has anyone tried this and had good results? If so what did you use?
I want to dye some of them solid colors, but I think it would be really fun to tie-dye a couple too.
Monica
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Hello there Monica 
I don't think you will have any luck dyeing Airflows. When I dye shirts, etc. with the fiber reactive dyes we were mentioning on diaperpin, the parts of the shirt which are all polyester (tags, lace, edge trim) stay completely white and the dye does not adhere at all. I think this is what you would experience with ME covers. You'll need natural covers (wool or cotton-covered pul) if you want to dye them. Hope this helps-
Jennifer
Proud Mom to Daisy, Hazel, & Stella
http://img2.photobucket.com/albums/v11/daizelsmom/Kids/3girlsbanner.jpg |
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Where does one buy these fiber reactive dyes? I've never heard of them. Can they be purchased in walmart? Or do they have to be bought over the internet? If you dye diapers, will they run or fade? Thanks!
Lisa in Vermont  |
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Lisa- you can get Rainbow Rock dye kits at Walmart in the craft section- by the t-shirt paints, etc. Although they are clearancing it out at my Walmart. There are other places that carry it too. Anyway, they are super color fast, cold water dyes and they work pretty much on any cotton or mostly cotton fabric. Here is a link about the dyes: http://www.duncancrafts.com/products/product.asp?ID=16&SID=1
And here is an example: http://img2.photobucket.com/albums/v11/daizelsmom/stuff/DSCN0630.jpg
I haven't done any ME dipes myself yet, but I have seen some and they look really great. Of course tie-dying them won't work as well, because the fabric is so thick, but you can do solid colors. There was a tie-dyed OS for sale on the sale board recently, with a photo. Good luck if you decide to dye some diapers!
Jennifer
Proud Mom to Daisy, Hazel, & Stella
http://img2.photobucket.com/albums/v11/daizelsmom/Kids/newbanner.jpg |
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| Ok, let me get this straight, you want to take an economical correct, safe diaper and feel it with toxic chemicals just for looks? Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of it being free of chemicals in the first thing? I apologize, if you have found organic dye or something, but otherwise it doesn't make good sense. |
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I think this is just something people have to decide for themselves. Many people feel that dyed diapers are more fun to use, and it's not really much different from wearing dyed clothes, except that one does it oneself. Kind of like having fun underwear, right? Not everyone who uses cloth diapers does so because of concerns about chemicals. That's not even something I was really thinking about when I jumped on the wagon.
Personally, I don't feel it's worth the economic or environmental costs (esp. of the dyes going into wastewater) to dye my diapers or covers, in large part because I never see them once they are under my boy's clothes.
I'm not qualified to assess the environmental (or health) impact of using disposables versus dying one's diapers. Obviously that's not either/or, but perhaps more enjoyable diapers keep someone happily using cloth. We don't all like the same looks (I'm fine with boring underwear!) or have quite the same priorities. One of the really great things about this board is that it is a respectful and supportive forum for a wide variety of people, using different kinds of cloth diapers, for different reasons.
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| I had been given a small, white air flow cover which I used with my first daughter. I never tried to dye it, but I did have a bad experience when I bought some bright yellow, cheap microfiber towels at Costco to use as inexpensive pocket diaper inserts. When I washed them with my diapers they dyed everything pale, day-glow yellow - kind of like the color of glow-in-the-dark plastic. The airflow covers didn't dye like the natural fibers, but the edging and *inside* of the airflow took on the neon yellow hue. The outside didn't seem to take to the dye very well. |
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Monica,
I have dyed my Airflows with limited success. The previous poster that mentions that non-natural fibers like the polyester in the covers does not dye well is correct. Now, that doesn't mean that it doesn't work *at all*, but they don't dye well and don't dye consistantly. I've found that at most you'll get a light pastel color and sometimes nothing at all. I've used the Dharma procion fiber reactive dyes (pretty much the best you can get) and had some success with the fuschia red (pink), jade (bluish green) and orchid (purple) colors. I tried Chinese red to no avail at all. I never bothered with yellow or blue because ME already has those colors available so I figured it was pointless.
To be honest I'm not sure it would be worth the expense and trouble if you're only doing the covers. I dyed mine while dying my diapers (just threw them in the same dye bath) so it was no extra trouble or expense.
If you're looking for bold and fun colors you might have more luck looking at other brands of covers. Fleece covers (by work-at-home moms especially) often have tons of wonderful colors and prints. I've also enjoyed using my Luke's Drawers AIOs as covers (they have a snap-in soaker that you'd normally use but I just didn't use that part and used the rest as a cover). Other brands such as Bummis and Thirsties also have a wider range of colors and prints.
HTH,
Karen.
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brookandjason,
You're of course entitled to your opinion but you might find you're more likely to win people over by being a little more polite and diplomatic. If you're serious about informing people you might try not insulting them in your first sentence!
It's very debateable as to wether dyes constitutes a "toxic" chemical for starters. Do you and your children wear nothing but organically grown, unbleached and undyed cotton clothing? Unless that's the case then you have no business passing judgement and insulting those of us who like fun colors on our diapers!
Is it possible that the dyes used to dye my clothing or my diapers is harmful to the environment? Yes, I'm sure it is. I have, however, examined the safety instructions as well as the MSDS (material safety data sheet) for the dyes I've used and they're all listed as not containing carcinogens and not having any chronic health effects. Ands that's for direct exposure, not for inactive residues that get flushed into our water treatment plants (which would surely be even less risky). The dye powders can cause skin and lung irritations if direct contact is allowed or if the powder is inhaled, but then you can probably say the same thing for tons of perfectly safe minerals. And the 'chemicals' you use in addition to the dyes are also just as safe, really the only things you use are salt and soda ash (sodium carbonate, a perfectly safe mineral that's found in the vast majority of laundry detergents, including the natural, eco-friendly ones).
And for your information, there are even safer dyes that DO exist for those that are still concerned. They're usually plant or insect based.
And whatever your opinion on dying is, not everyone uses cloth diapers to avoid any and all 'chemicals' (which btw, even organic cotton is a 'chemical'!!). Many of us use them because they're a better ecological choice (yes, even if they're dyed, after all, disposables contain dyes as well so at the very worst they're 'equal' on that level), because they're more economical, because they work better and because they're cuter!! And if you truly want to avoid all synthetic chemicals, you wouldn't even use Airflow covers in the first place because they're made from polyester and bonded polyurethane!!!
Karen.
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Oh, and one work-at-home-mom to consider if you're looking for fun covers is this one:
<A href="http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=485070">http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=485070</A>
She's a good 'internet' friend of mine and her stuff is just gorgeous!! I can't say I've had the pleasure of using them but from what I can see they're very well made! And the fun part is that since they're all skirts, shorties and longies (shorts and pants basically), then you don't even need to put anything over top, they're good to go as is! I only wish I was just starting my family so I could buy a bunch (but after 4 kids we're pretty much done and my youngest are now daytime potty trained). Might still get some for nighttime, we'll see...
Karen. |
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WHOA, ladies! Hey, lets just be nice. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, actually this whole forum is based on opinions. Just because you agree/disagree with someone is NOT a reason to call someone out personally and be unkind.
I think we need to take a step back and count to 10..... |
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Not sure if you're referring to me (I'm the only one who addressed anyone personally, that's why I'm thinking it is) but I don't feel I was unkind in the least. The other poster is the one that was very insulting and I simply replied that it was uncalled for and gave them a few facts to balance out their opinion.
Everyone is indeed totally entitled to their opinion (as I said first thing in my post). I have no issue with anyone thinking and expressing that dying is dangerous, unhealthy or not eco-friendly. I disagree but such statements have been made before and I have no problem with that. Even aavt stated that she also had doubts about the safety of dying and said that was one of the reasons she didn't do it. BUT she said it in a respectful way, without insulting anyone and without jumping down anyone's throat. Can't say the same for brookandjason.
I think only one person here needs to take a step back and count to 10...
Karen. |
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I didn't find brookeandjason's comments offensive in the least. I believe they were just making a point. To me, it seems as if you found them offensive(as you even stated yourself), probably because you've chosen to dye yours in the past. Like it's a personal attack or something. So you don't agree, big deal. Don't make it one.
Look, when someone disagrees with your stance on something, it's not right to chastise them for a differing opinion.
Sometimes I think we forget that this whole forum is based on opinions, and we should all be free to voice them. How is it helpful to anybody when we use hurtful language? We're all just in it for the kids anyway, right? |
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Well, I most certainly did find their comments to be very rude indeed. I never said offensive although I suppose that's just symantics...
Making a point? Why did they have to be nasty while making that point? And starting a post with "Let me get this straight..." is most definetly nasty. Saying that we're filling our kids diapers with toxins 'just for looks' is also rather insulting don't you think?
I NEVER chastised anyone for a differing opinion, not once! This has nothing at all to do with their opinion in the least. Another poster started an entire thread about the questionable safety of dying diapers (this was months ago). I disagreed with her stand but she was very polite and it was a perfectly pleasant thread. Aavt has also just stated that she questions the safety of dying and I didn't have a problem with her post now did I?
Her post was indeed a personal attack. It was a direct attack against Monica and it was an indirect attack against those of us who chose to "fill" our diapers with "toxins just for looks".
Once again, this has nothing at all to do with anyone freedom to voice their opinions, regardless of wether I share them or not. I will fully support and pleasantly participate in any debate that anyone wants to have about dying diapers or any other potentially controversial subject. I find it pretty insulting that you're insinuating that I'm trying to silence this woman simply because I disagree with her. When you disagreed with my recomendation of Simple Green, did I try to silence you? NO, I did the exact opposite and urged you to share your information with all of us. The difference is that you weren't rude or nasty when you stated your disagreement.
And by the way, what hurtful language did I use exactly? I see plenty of hurtful language in brookandjason's post, that you're defending, but none in mine that you're condeming.
Karen. |
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| Ready, count with me.....10....9.....8.......7...........6...........5.... |
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Hi Ladies,
Just for your information Mother-ease has a beautiful line of colourful diapers. We use reactive dyes which are low impact synthetic dyes. Low impact dyes have been classified by the Oeko Tex 100 standard as eco-friendly. Low impact dyes do not contain toxic chemicals, require less rinsing and have a high absorption rate in the fabric (less waste in the dyeing process).
As usual we are slow in updating our web site!!
We also have wonderful biodegradable paper liners, soft and sized to fit our diapers 9"x 14.5".
A beautiful pink is being added to our cover line and will be available ~ October.
Got to run. We are on our way to a trade show in Germany.
Erika |
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You know, I think you're having trouble seeing how rude the post was because you agree with it. Try putting yourself in Monica's place for a minute. She posts asking for advice and gets a response telling her that what she's doing is "filling her baby's diaper with toxins just for looks". How would you feel getting that type of response? You talk about my post being hurtful, what about that? It's not hurtful to tell someone they're poisoning their baby for superficial reasons?
If she truly wanted to help Monica or others and inform them about the potential hazards of dying she could have done so in a myriad of polite and helpful ways. Stating facts, concerns or even theories about dyes or related synthetic chemicals would have been helpful. Throwing insults around is hardly helpful.
And for the record, as much as I support and promote cloth diapering, if I ever saw anyone tell a disposable diaper user that they were putting toxin filled diapers on their baby just to avoid a few loads of laundry, I'd make a fuss about that too. I essentially agree that disposables aren't healthy options, but I would easily condemn someone who shared that same opinion if they did so in a insulting or rude manner.
Karen. |
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| Ok, well I'm hoping that little 'counting' post was just a joke to lighten the mood. Cause if it's not, well..... I'm just going to assume it is. |
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And a HUGE congrats to ME on the colored diapers!! That's fantastic news and I'm thrilled!! Now if only we could retroactivate them to when I was still having babies! LOL!
Karen.
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| I don't agree with brookeandjason's post. But I don't like how you jumped on them. I think AAVT said it very tactfully about disagreeing and personal choices. I just thought we all needed to take a step back, that's all. |
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