No-poo journey

Early in the year 2014, I stopped using shampoo. I was fortunate in not having work at that moment, because I heard that your hair goes through some really oily phase as it adjusts to not being washed as much. I tried a variety of things at first, but thanks to this blog post (which shared actual scientific reasoning as to why baking soda is bad for your hair), I knew to steer clear of the most commonly discussed method of going “no-poo” which would be a baking soda and ACV wash/condition method.

I had done a lot of reading leading up to my decision, and got many ideas for things to try. First up was just water. Literally just water. I wasn’t sure how it would work, but I knew that around week 4 was supposed to be the greasiest your hair looks with any no-poo transition, so I decided at the start I wouldn’t judge until at least week 7.

Week 7 and my hair just wasn’t feelin’ it. My hair is very thick, and it is naturally a bit oily. It just looked bad with plain water. Thankfully, with no job at that point, I didn’t have to worry about professional appearances, and would just throw a bandana on over my hair when I had to step out, hoping it would pass the greasy phase.

June 2014 (nothing)

I decided to revisit the post linked above and tried out the rye flour method of shampoo. I just mixed in a bit of rye flour with water until it was a paste, used that to rub into my scalp, and rinsed. I used ACV/water for conditioner.

May 2015 (Rye flour)

The above worked really well, and I continued doing that for the last year and a half (if not a bit longer). It was especially nice when I would cut my hair short, but I recently started using shampoo again, for simplicity’s sake.

June 2016 (Rye flour)

I know it sounds like not much work to pour a bit of rye flour into a bowl and mix with a bit of shower water. It really wasn’t. I stirred it with my finger. It took basically no time. The hard part was rinsing it out of my hair. If I had thin hair, I think it would be a totally different ending to the story, honestly. Rye flour has little pieces of the shell (husk) in the flour. It is great as an exfoliator for the scalp, but isn’t a friend to thick hair. I found that if I didn’t take the time to use the highest pressure and carefully blast every part of my hair, the tiny little pieces of husk stuck to strands of hair. This looked bad. Not just like a weird piece of fuzzy in someone’s hair, weird… but it looked like a piece of dandruff, or worse, a louse egg.

If I switched to the tub faucet and rinsed under there, it was easier to get it all out, but it just was such a water waste. That, and it hurt my neck to do that. It was more of an inconvenience, and my hair was longer by this point. Thick, long, heavy hair… and having to do that.

I truly believe that if I had very fine, straight hair, this would be a non-issue. Sadly, my hair is not only very thick, but naturally wavy (not curly). I loved paying only a few dollars a year for rye flour and having it last so long, but now I’m back to shampoo. I’m actually really sad about it, as I really wanted to never go back. My hair already feels less healthy, but I’m trying out more natural shampoos and hoping to find the perfect one for me. It will probably be a lot of trial and error until I find one I like, and it isn’t going to be as cheap as the rye flour (nothing would!).

If you’re looking to go no-poo and have thin/straight hair (or just short hair), I highly recommend trying the rye flour option. Otherwise, I’m interested in hearing suggestions for other no-poo alternatives (or good, natural shampoos)!

Disclaimer: Thoughts of Fluff is responsible for the content of this post. All opinions are my own and may differ from your own.

Cleaning Trickery

I recently realized that Bobble could do a lot more than I was having him do around the house. I remember I used to let him just match socks for me with laundry, but the other day I saw him actually folding laundry and doing it well. If I asked him to do some laundry, however, he wasn't interested.

Same with anything else. I likes to help clean, but only when he wants to. If he's asked, no dice. Having "chores" or "clean up" on a schedule didn't change this, despite him always wanting to do what was on the schedule any other time.

This past weekend, however, I finally found a way that works (at least for him)!

He likes to watch the show "UmiZoomi", and they always have missions. He also likes to play video games where they have specific challenges or missions to complete for him to move on in the game. I put this knowledge to the best use I could, and hand wrote a note for him to find in the morning. (He cannot read 100% on his own, but he can pick out the majority of the words these days.)

It read something along the lines of:

Bobble, 

Here are your missions for Sunday morning:
1) Pick up living room
2) Vacuum living room
3) Put away YOUR laundry

Good luck!

Love, 
Mom

The list actually had 7 items on it, but all were tiny (the living room was mostly picked up already), easy to do (one was literally telling me a different room was ready for me to vacuum it), and worded simply so he felt he could read it himself and would actually try.

He took to the "missions" swimmingly, and took great delight in crossing the items off as he completed them. I'm going to start putting "missions" on the fridge on a dry erase board and see if I still have luck getting him to cooperate!

Disclaimer: Thoughts of Fluff is responsible for the content of this post. All opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own.

Crayola Explosion

** This is not a sponsored post **

I feel like kids watch too much television these days, and sometimes I feel like it's a necessary evil. I try not to use television to buy me time to do things all the time, and today I opted for painting time in the kids' toy room. Bobble and Squiggle had begged all morning, and they even cleaned up their room so they could paint in there. The floor is a hard floor, so it works fairly well. No carpet to worry about messing up.

I needed just a little bit of time. The tiniest bit of time. Two cartoons would have done it (about 30-40 minutes), or part of a movie, even. Still, they want to paint. I want to let them do stuff away from the television. I allow it. I grab the Crayola Washable Kids' Paint, the paintbrushes, and some paper. They sit down quietly and start to paint.

Now, I'd like to point out that in the recent past, painting has gone quite well with them.

They focus quite well on the task at hand, even when the wind is trying to blow away their pictures (which is why there are rocks on the corners). The paints above are Crayola Washable Kids' Paint (paint pots), and though they don't hold much paint (which was bad for Squiggle since she scoops globs of paint out versus dipping and painting like Bobble), they worked nicely while they lasted. This gave me hope that this painting time would go well.

Their play room is directly above my head as I am washing and chopping potatoes, carrots, and celery. (Well, I peeled the carrots, too.) I hear them chatting as they paint. I hear excited foot steps from time to time, and I imagine them running over for a new sheet of paper from the pile. I wonder how bad the mess will be when I go up there, but still. Creative time. Cooking time. It was working.

... until I realized it wasn't. Bobble comes down the stairs and says that they started painting with their feet. I look at him, pause for a second, and then tell him, "Okay... I want you to go back upstairs until you are done painting, then call for me." I cringed a bit as he ran back up the (carpeted) stairs.

They decide they are done and they come downstairs, bringing with them containers of empty paint. Containers that were full when they started. I guessed that Squiggle glopped paint onto her paper since she doesn't dip her brush so much as scoop with her brush. I directed them towards the bathroom and asked them to clean up.

Then I go upstairs.

I stare blankly at the disaster, come downstairs, grab my phone, and record the explosion of colour in video and colour.

It was at this moment that I noticed the slogan on the (now empty) box of paint: Washability You Can Trust!

I sure hope so, Crayola. I sure hope so.

I grab dirty towels, a garbage bag, and a bottle of vinegar, then head back upstairs. I noticed the cup of water they were cleaning their brushes off with, and decided to utilize that water. This is water-soluble paint, right? It worked well, and I started pouring the water all over the dried paint that decorated our floor.

Pushing the towels across the floor, you could see the paint that it loosened just pushing away with the excess water that wasn't getting absorbed.

It didn't really make me scrub hard or anything, just wiping enough to make my arms tired after the millionth minute. I didn't need to use the vinegar at all.

It washed off the floor easily. It washed off the walls easily. It washed off the kids easily.

...but what about the laundry!? Her cute dress, the towels used to clean the mess... they are really testing Crayola's claim!

The open(ish) towel is a light blue normally, the wadded towel on the bottom is a medium-light brown. I used more towels than this, but this was just a sampling.

I washed them with our regular laundry detergent (some random store brand of free & clear detergent), dried them, and here they are:

I didn't take a picture of any of these towels open because I can't tell which ones I used for cleanup! I know the brown on top was used and the bright blue below it was used because those are the only two that colour in the load. I don't know which of the lighter blue (on the right) were used. The wipes in the picture were not used in cleanup, but are now stained.

Much cleaner than it was, but visibly stained.

Bottom half of the dress

Bottom section of dress on the back/side of dress

As far as the claim on washability, I'm split. The floor (walls, desk, table...) were a surprisingly easy clean. It gave me faith that the laundry stood a fighting chance... and the towels came out great. I can't tell which ones I used. The wipes that happened to be in the load with them (that weren't used on any paint) are very stained (they were white), and the dress is much cleaner, but it's not clean. The dress is definitely a crafting dress now, sadly. The confusing part of that (to me) is that the dress and towels are both cotton, and the wipes were cotton, hemp, and bamboo. If it washed out of the cotton towels, why didn't it wash out of the cotton dress?

I do need to thank you, Crayola, for living up to your claim in ease of clean up. I just wish it washed out of the clothing, too!

Over all, I'd recommend the products. They washed off the surfaces and children very easily. I would just recommend using old clothing that you don't care about while they paint (unless your kids will actually keep a smock on... mine won't!), or buy plain white clothes for craft time so they slowly become "artistic" looking clothes. My kids love tie dye, so I'm sure they'd love "painted" clothing. I just wish it wasn't this cute little dress that had to be the casualty!

Disclaimer: Thoughts of Fluff is responsible for the content of this post. Crayola did not sponsor this post in any way. All products mentioned above were purchased by me, and all opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own.

Thursday Tips: Baking Sheets

I've always just cleaned my table really well (or counter top) when I needed to have space for baking, but when I saw this silicone baking sheet at Aldi one day, I knew I had to buy it. Not for cooking or baking, but for my kids.

My kids love to play with playdoh, but it can get into the cracks on my table where the leaves are inserted. This mat, however, stops that.

It's also good for painting, or even just using as a place mat. All the placemats I've looked at in the stores are slippery. That's easy to wipe off, but the whole thing will just slide off the table without much prompting. These mats aren't going anywhere. They are also easy to store. A big, thin piece of silicone that can be stored flat without taking up space, or rolled up. They are great for meal time, great for craft time, and who knows? Maybe, one day, I'll even try using one for baking.

Disclaimer: Thoughts of Fluff was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own an may differ from those of your own.

Thursday Tips: Vacuuming with Toddlers

It's not always easy to vacuum when you have toddlers around. They seem to fall into one of two categories: scared of the vacuum or wanting to play with the vacuum. Personally, though it's frustrating having a child in the way of the vacuum all the time, I'd rather have them want to play with it than be scared of it. Both of my children love vacuums, so I had to come up with a way to make it so I could vacuum without it taking an hour for one little room.

I did a bunch of shopping around and found that you can get a little stick vacuum at Walmart for about $15. It varies by store as to what brand and price you will find, but there seem to consistently be some under $25. I got a Eureka "The Boss" stick vacuum, and gave it to Bobble. He loved it. I would plug that in for him and he would vacuum while I did. It is a real vacuum, so it picks up. It doesn't have a roller/brush, so their fingers cannot get stuck in anything, nor can things they roll over. It's a bagless vacuum, too. Just eject the collection area, empty, snap it back in. (I recommend doing that when the child is not around, of course!)

Bobble at 28mo with his brand new vacuum (and his very own mess to pick up right behind him!)

Not only does this let the child help out and keep them away from the expensive vacuum, but it is the same price or less than the toy vacuums and it is real. My make/model has a detachable head so you can use it as a little hand-held vacuum if you need, and there is a button, much like on an umbrella, that allows you to extend the handle to a comfortable height.

So, there you have it! Inexpensive, works, and you can also really help your little one understand how to clean up a mess they make!

Disclaimer: Thoughts of Fluff was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own and may differ from your own. Post may contain affiliate links.

Thursday Tips: Boon Grass Drying Rack

Did you have a Boon Grass Drying Rack for baby items and accessories? We got one when we were expecting Bobble, and it was one of the most used items we were gifted. It was great for all sorts of baby stuff like bottles, nipples, teethers, baby silverware, etc.

...but what about when you don't use those things anymore? Then what?

Luckily, it's a drying rack. It's good for a lot of items that otherwise would clog up your strainer or dishwasher.

We frequently use ours for glass straws, measuring spoons, measuring cups, etc. Just because you don't have 'baby' things anymore doesn't mean you can't keep using this awesome strainer!

 

You can see we even have a spice jar in the back!

On the other hand, if you're looking for something to buy for a baby shower, this is the item to get! Like I said, it was one of our most heavily used items. We use it every day and have since Bobble was born over 3 1/2 years ago.

Disclaimer: Thoughts of Fluff was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Post contains affiliate links.

Spray Pal Review & Giveaway!

One of the best things about modern cloth diapering, to me, is the diaper sprayer. Those things are HANDY! There can be a big learning curve on those, however, and you likely will end up splattered (with at least water) at some point in your cloth diapering adventures.

Enter the Spray Pal.

Spray Pal was created for just that: keeping your bathroom (and you!) splatter-free.

I have to admit, I was very skeptical of the Spray Pal. All I could think of was it was another (dirty) item I would have to keep away from my toddler, and it wouldn't be worth the hassle of trying to store it. My husband, however, pretty much demanded one as soon as he heard of it. He was sick of the water spraying him a bit.

Spray Pal was generous enough to send us both a Spray Pal and a Jaq Jaq Bird wet bag for storage. STORAGE. Yes, I was excited. That was my area of concern!

My husband happily tried out the Spray Pal first, but ended up not using it because the poopy diaper was just "too massive" and he needed to get better angles or something like that. I have tried out the Spray Pal on a variety of diapers with different materials and features. I tried it on various pockets (some with inner gussets, some without), various covers, and various flats and prefolds. I also used it on wipes.

What I've found is that, while it does eliminate the splatter, I can't get certain pockets (ones with double gussets) clean enough to my liking. This isn't to say that they aren't good enough to go in the wash, but I've always been a little OCD with spraying out my diapers and like to get as much as possible off. Instead of a quick spray down and in the bag, I have been known to stand over a diaper for 5 minutes to get as much as possible off. Soooo, take that with a grain of salt.

Still, I like being able to put my hand behind the diaper itself, spread out my fingers (think of if you had a webbed hand how it would be spread out) and then spraying the gussets (which are now completely stretched thanks to my hand) to get all poo specks off. I just can't do that with a Spray Pal.

I ended up finding that I absolutely love it for the flats, prefolds, and wipes because those are flat anyway and I never have to "spread out material" to clean as I like. I don't like using it for pockets, covers, fitteds, or AIOs.

There is an exception, of course, as there are with many things. I still will sometimes USE the spray pal with the items I said I don't like using it on if it is a huge poop or a more stuck on poop. While I can't get the "clean" I want, I can spray and let the poo loosen up a bit without getting splattered.

THE SPRAY PAL TOTALLY DOES THE JOB WITH SPLATTER.

Seriously, the toilet doesn't have sprayage, nor do my legs or feet. That's awesome. Had I not been cloth diapering for 3 years prior to trying out the Spray Pal, this might be a different review. If I were a new mom, this thing would probably be my favourite accessory (aside from the sprayer itself). 3 years into this and I've already got my groove/routine with spraying diapers without anything more.

The Spraypal fits PERFECTLY in the Jaq Jaq Bird bag, too. It eliminates splatter and it really does store easier than I thought. I just put it in the bag and slipped it between the toilet and sink.

Overall, I think the Spray Pal is a great accessory, I just don't think it's for us. I definitely think it would be a great item for a family newer to cloth that isn't "set in their ways" like us!

If you're sick of getting misted, sprayed, or splattered, try out the Spray Pal! You can buy a Spray Pal and Jaq Jaq Bird bundle for $39.50 here, or enter to win one below!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Thoughts Of Fluff received these items in exchange for a review. This did not influence my opinion of the product in any way. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Thoughts Of Fluff is not responsible for prize fulfillment.  

6 Reasons You'll Love A Diaper Sprayer

Everyone that cloth diapers has probably heard of diaper sprayers. Some people swear they couldn't live without them for cleaning poop. Others think they are a waste of money and they'd rather just dunk and swish a diaper.

This post isn't about diapers. This post is about all the other reasons to love a diaper sprayer.

1.) Cleaning the toilet

What better way to clean under and in the toilet bowl than having a sprayer handy that you can adjust the pressure on?

2.) Cleaning the floor (if you have a tile or linoleum floor)

Sure is easy to mop when you can just spray the floor in targeted areas instead of trekking a bucket around!

3.) Cleaning the tub/shower 

Assuming you don't have a detachable shower head, diaper sprayers can come in handy here, too!

4.) Messy hands (children and significant others!)

There have been times that my hubby has been working in the garden and was so sweaty that I swear the dirt was absorbed into his skin. Instead of clogging up the sink and scrubbing for eons, he would just hold his arms over the toilet and I'd spray them while he scrubbed a bit... just enough to where the sink wasn't as bad of an option anymore.

I assume this will hold true for any crafting time, too... glitter, finger paint, glue...

5.) Cleaning after sick people

When you suddenly are faced with chunks all over sheets, a blanket, shirts, etc.... diaper sprayer to the rescue! I've definitely sprayed off clothing and bedding after my toddler brought his lunch/dinner back up a few times.

6.) Potty Training is a so much easier

Not only do you have an easy way to spray out the bowl of the little one's potty chair, but you have an easy way to spray out the mess from undies if the didn't quite succeed...

There you have it! 6 more reasons to love a diaper sprayer. If you were thinking about getting one and were having trouble justifying the cost for the "luxury", maybe this will help make up your mind! If you can think of any more, let me know! I'd love to add to the list!

If you're looking for a diaper sprayer for your house, check out the diaper sprayers at Kelly's Closet!  
Links straight to: BumGenius Diaper Sprayer, Blueberry FLO Diaper Sprayer, Aquas Diaper Sprayer, Knickernappies Sprayer, Spray Pal.
(aff. links)