We do the dry pailing and it works well (although the laundry is a bit smelly with this heat!). I rinse off any sticky pooy nappies but DD is at the stage where the majority of the poo's just fall off into the loo. Don't do anything special with the washing - prob one load every 2 days, about 1/8th the washing powder recommended and I think its a 60 degree cycle (its just the towel setting). I just use run of the mill washing powder, but I know some people use special types.

Winter is a pain for drying, which is why the bumg's work well, otherwise I just have the house looking like a laundromat with airers full of cloth nappies everywhere!

In terms of building up our stash, we started with DD in terry flats as a nb, and then when she was around 9mths, got a great deal on the bumg's at the preg expo (and it was just after one of the stimulus packages - thanks Mr Rudd!!). ANd don't forget that it might seem like a major purchase now, but I got DH to think of it as an investment (esp going for the bumg's) as #2 (and a poss #3) will go through them too!