Frequently Asked Questions:
- Diapers
- Delivery
- Leftover Clean Diapers
- Payments
- Gift Certificates and Gift Service
- Washing
- Miscellaneous
Diapers
Do I have to use pins?
No, just fold the diaper in thirds with the extra-absorbent panel in the center, lay it in the diaper cover, and then fasten the cover. So simple! Snug fitting covers work best for this fold, so users of wool soakers and looser pull on covers may choose to use pins or Snappi to secure the diaper and prevent shifting.
Do I need to soak or rinse the diapers before putting them in the pail?
No, not at all. All we ask is that you shake off any solids you can into your toilet, and then simply put the diaper in the pail with the rest of your soiled diapers. You will know when this applies to your diapers (for example, breastfed babies usually don't have formed stools until well after the introduction of solid foods).
Delivery
When will you come to pick up our used diapers and deliver fresh ones?
We currently deliver on Wednesday and Thursday. Your delivery date is the same each week. You tie the top of the bag and leave it out first thing in the morning on your day. Our routes start at 8 am. The routes vary slightly each week, but you can likely expect us around the same time each week. If there is a change in schedule due to a major holiday, we will let you know in advance when to leave out your diapers.
Do I need to be home for the deliveries?
No, you do not need to be home. You leave the bag of used diapers at the pre-designated location and we'll take care of the rest. However, we'll happily stop in for families who are new to cloth to show you how things work, show you different folding options and share some helpful hints.
Oh no, I forgot to leave my diapers out, what should we do?
Relax, it happens to everyone at least once. We will still leave clean diapers the first time it happens. However, we do need to get the soiled diapers as soon as possible because if they sit around, they stain and mold easily and are ruined forever. You contact us to make arrangements to get them to us as soon as possible. If you do not, and the diapers are ruined, there is a $1.50 charge for each diaper. If you do not get the diapers to us and both sets of soiled diapers are not out for pick-up the following week, we will not leave clean diapers and you will be charged for all of the diapers in your possession.
Leftover Clean Diapers
What do I do with the clean diapers I have left over at the end of the week?
Keep a few for the transition period, but please do not keep more than that as it greatly affects our inventory. It is very important that you leave the rest out in a clean plastic bag (grocery bags are perfect for this) with your bag of used diapers.
Can I get a refund for the diapers I didn't use this week?
Diaper service is essentially a rental situation. You rent a set amount of diapers each week. Like a movie rental, you pay for it even if you don't watch/use it. Therefore, we do not offer refunds for unused diapers. If you find that you are using fewer diapers on a regular basis, we can drop the number down and decrease your weekly fee for future weeks.
Payments
How do I pay for diaper service?
We accept checks or Paypal. Checks are our preferred method of accepting payment. Paypal is only accepted for those customers paying for 1, 2 or 3 months at a time due to the fees we incur by using that service.
How often should I pay you?
You can pay by individual weeks or for 1, 2 or 3 months at a time at a time. If you choose weekly payment, we ask that you leave a check out with your soiled diapers. This check applies to the clean diapers we are leaving you.
If you choose 1, 2 or 3 months at a time, payment is due the first week of that period. If your diaper use decreases or increases over that period, we will keep track and issue you a credit for decreases or bill you for the increases on the next billing cycle.
And when you choose to pay for 12 weeks (3 months) at a time, the 13th week is free!
Do you send invoices?
Sure, we give invoices to those customers that request them; otherwise, we assume you don't need/want one. Invoices are sent (or left with your clean diapers) on the last week of your billing period. We appreciate prompt payment, but if you get behind, we will issue an invoice as a gentle reminder.
I forgot to leave payment with my soiled diapers, what should I do?
If you pay weekly, just leave double the next week. If you pay by 1, 2 or 3 months, you can leave your check out the following week, or send it in the mail. After three weeks of non-payment, we will suspend diaper delivery until your account is paid up.
Gift Certificates and Gift Service
Can I purchase diaper service for a friend or relative?
Of course, diaper service is a great gift. You choose how many weeks of service or what amount you would like to gift them, send us payment and we'll send them (or you) a gift certificate. They can redeem the gift certificate at any time. Gift certificates are not refundable if the person chooses not to use the service, nor are they redeemable for cash. For this reason, it is always wise to check with them to be certain they want to use our service (it does happen that well meaning folks purchase diaper service for someone who would simply rather use disposables, it's okay, we don't understand that either).
Gift certificates can be purchased after the recipiant has registered for service.
I would like to purchase diaper service for someone for the whole time the child is in diapers, can you bill me?
Certainly, we can bill you every 1, 2 or 3 months and will send you an invoice within the last two weeks of the billing period you choose. If you choose to pay for 12 weeks (3 months) at a time, the 13th week is free! Payment is due the first week of the new billing period.
Washing
How do you wash the diapers?
The washing of our diapers is handled with a level of care and thoroughness that you can not come close to matching at home. A carefully developed process is used which was formulated by industry professionals and follows very strict standards for the proper treatment of soiled diapers. As many as ten changes of super-hot water are used and both the washing and drying temperatures are so high that bacteria have no chance to survive. Meticulous rinsing also makes sure that there is no soap or residue to irritate baby's skin.
Who washes the diaper covers?
Unfortunately we are unable to wash your covers due to the high temperatures employed to thoroughly sanitize the diapers. When the covers are washed and dried with the diapers, the rubbery surface of the cover sticks to itself. Though it is easily pulled apart and the cover is still functional, over time this would destroy the cover rapidly.
Therefore, you are responsible for washing your covers. The covers do not need to be cleaned at every changing unless the cover is soiled. Most of our customers have between 3 and 8 covers which they rotate though. During diaper changes, you will hang the recently used cover to dry/air out and put a fresh cover on the baby. When the covers get stinky or get poop on them, you can either hand wash them or toss them in with a regular load of laundry. We do not recommend soaking your covers when they are soiled, but you can pre-treat them with soap if necessary (Dr. Bronner's peppermint castile is great for this, and smells yummy too!)
Oops, I think I accidentally put one of my covers (a onesie, a pocket diaper, a liner, a wipe, etc) in the bag of dirty diapers, what do I do?
Have no fear, just give us a call or e-mail us and let us know what size and style cover (or item) you lost and we will do our best to locate it for you.
Miscellaneous
Which are the best diaper covers?
That depends on what you are looking for in diaper cover. If you are interested in natural fibers, wool is by far the best choice. It is completely breathable and offers amazing leak protection. It requires a tiny bit more care than standard covers made from poly-urethane laminate (PUL) fabrics, but not much. You only need to wash wool covers when they are soiled or begin to smell. Wool needs to be relanolized occasionally to maintain its water repellent benefits, but that process is no more complicated than hand washing. Can you tell we love our wool? If you knit or crochet, there are many patterns out there that allow you to make your own covers. You can find links to some on the links page.
Otherwise, most covers are constructed from a non-permeable layer of fabric (or a non-waterproof fabric laminated with polyurethane or PUL). The ProWraps we carry are white polyester fabric laminated with PUL. These covers are waterproof and generally do not leak, but they are also not breathable. Covers made with a cotton layer on the outside can wick moisture if the diaper inside is over-saturated.
Another semi-breathable option is polyester fleece. It does breath, but can wick if compressed (think baby sitting in a shopping cart or car seat for an extended period). There are different levels of fleece quality, Windpro fleece is most water repellant and great for night time, lighter fleeces are better suited for diaper linings or daytime covers.
I use your ProWraps and we're ready for the next size up, how do we get more?
Contact us prior to your next delivery and we can leave them with your fresh diapers. You leave a check out for payment or contact us for other arrangements.
What the best choice for night time diapering?
Again, it depends on your preferences. Wool is fabulous for night time. When it is properly lanolized, it offers unsurpassed leak protection, but is still breathable!
Some folks swear by pocket diapers for night time. Pocket diapers are constructed from two layers of material, a permeable fleece inner layer and impermeable outer layer (usually PUL). There is a hole in the back that allows you to stuff a diaper (or two) between the layers. The fleece layer allows moisture to wick through to the diaper and baby still feels dry. We have found they can leak over time and occasionally need to be stripped of oils that accumulate in the interior fleece layer and cause it to repel water rather than allow it to pass through to the absorbent diaper. A few vinegar washes usually remedy this and avoiding 'natural' detergents (Dr. Bronner's, Sun and Earth, Seventh Generation, etc) and fabric softeners helps to prevent the problem.
And other folks simply use their favorite cover with one or two diapers. Some use fleece liners to keep the moisture away from baby's skin, but many people do not. Newborns will need to be changed with every feeding anyway, so nighttime diapering is usually not an issue (unless you have one that sleeps through the night, in which case, lucky you!). And yet other folks use disposables at night (we did this with our son until we discovered wool!)
What should I use for wipes?
You can use cloth or disposable wipes, the choice is yours. At this point, we do not offer the rental and laundering of cloth wipes, but are considering it for the future. If you use cloth wipes, you will have to launder them yourself. If you use disposable wipes, please do not put them in the pail with your soiled diapers, please discard them in your trash.
What is a Snappi?
A Snappi is a T shaped piece of flexible rubber with hard plastic "teeth" at the ends. These teeth grip the diaper fabric and hold the diaper in place. Using a Snappi (or pins) is not necessary with the tri-fold method and a snug fitting cover, but some other folds and covers benefit from having a Snappi to hold the diaper in place. They are also great for holding the diaper on so baby can go 'coverless' in the warm weather if you choose.
My baby has a diaper rash, what diaper creams do you recommend?
There are many natural diaper salves on the market with gentle oils and soothing herbs. Never ever use Desitin or other mainstream diaper creams as the chemicals and oils they are made with leave permanent yellow stains. Consider letting baby go diaper-less, or at least cover-less, for a while to air out. Rinsing with water after a soiled diaper can be more soothing than wiping down with wipes and allowing baby's bum to air dry before putting on a fresh diaper can help too. If the rash is persistent, it can be revealing to look at what baby is eating, especially if there are any new foods in baby's diet (or mom's diet if mom is breastfeeding). Dairy, soy and wheat consumed by mom are common culprits when investigating diaper rash in breastfed baby. These and acidic foods eaten by baby are also notorious for causing rashes. If you are looking for a more breathable option in diaper covers, consider wool, it's warm in the winter, cool in the summer and breathable all the time!
My diaper pail stinks, what can I use to keep odors down?
Believe it or not, leaving the lid up or cracked open can help. If that doesn't work, you can purchase Deo-disks or Citrus Circles that fit in the built in slot in the lid. A more natural option is to put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a cotton ball or square of flannel and tape it to the inside of the lid. You can do the same and toss it in the bottom of the pail before you put in your new liner as well. Some to try are patchouli (works very well), lavender, tea tree, sweet orange, lemon or lemongrass. Giving the pail a good cleaning once in a while and allowing it to air dry can also help with odors.
I'm a customer and I have a few friends interested in diaper service, if they call to set up service, should they tell you I sent them?
Absolutely! If they sign up for the service, YOU get a free week!
I'm pregnant and want to use your service, when should I contact you?
You can contact us any time. We deliver a pre-birth set of clean diapers a week or two before your 'due' date. At that time, we also deliver covers and/or a pail if you choose to purchase those through us. When your baby is born, you call us and we'll plan to pick up dirty diapers on the next diaper delivery date.
What is the delivery area?
We currently deliver to the communities of Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Falmouth, Cumberland, Yarmouth, North Yarmouth, Freeport, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Westbrook and Gorham. We have recently expanded to parts of Saco and we have a special situation in Brunswick that allows us to deliver to that area. If you live in or around Saco or Brunswick, contact us for details. If you live outside our delivery area, contact us and we may be able to work something out by arranging delivery at friend or relative's home or your workplace.
What else can I use the diapers for?
Cloth diapers are so absorbent and soft, they are great for baby-wiping and bathing, substitute baby sheeting, bibbing, wiping up a baby's spills, protecting your shoulders from baby's burps, and many other uses that you would never dream of using a disposable diaper for.
I've heard cloth diapers are great for cleaning, is it okay for me to use your diapers for cleaning my home or car?
You are right, they are great for cleaning. Unfortunately, using our diapers for cleaning can stain them horribly. We have retired diapers available as rags for cleaning and sell them for $3 per pound. And to be honest, when they are at the point of rags, they are their softest and best for things like polishing or waxing your car. If you use of our regular service diapers for cleaning and the diaper is permanently stained, we will have to charge you $1.50 for each diaper ruined.