FAQs
A) WASH AND CARE
How many diapers should I buy?
How many diapers you purchase depends on a few factors including how old your baby is, their habits and comfort, how often it’s convenient to change, how often you intend to wash, and what system you decide to use. The general guideline is:
i) Newborns and infants use 10 to 12 diapers daily, so 24 – 30 diapers in total should do it.
ii) Toddlers use 6 to 8 diapers daily, so 18 to 24 diapers should be sufficient for them.
Which diaper should I get?
This is up to your and your baby’s needs. Some parents find that using only one diapering system throughout and adjusting the diapers according to their needs is more cost-efficient or convenient. Others prefer to mix and match depending on the situation, e.g. if you can have them in a fitted diaper with an extra wool cover to tide them through the night. For more questions, feel free to contact us.
What do I do with the dirty diapers?
• Once those diapers are dirty, you need somewhere to put them! Luckily, there are many great options! Diaper pails with a variety of colorful designs to match the baby’s room are a popular option. You can also try a hanging pail which can be placed in the bathroom or on the nursery door. Have two bags or liners on hand so one is always available. Both options are stylish, functional, and eco-friendly.
• Cloth diapers are easy to use outside of the house as well. Just take a stylish and functional wet bag to store the dirty diapers in until you get home and can add them to the rest of your dirty diapers.
• If your baby breastfeeds exclusively, their solid waste actually doesn’t need to be removed or even rinsed. You just need to shake as much of it into the toilet as possible, then store the diaper for laundry day. Use a biodegradable diaper liner for extra protection, if necessary. Another popular investment to deal with solid waste clearing is a diaper sprayer which you can screw onto your water supply. Diapers with liquid waste can be put straight into the pail.
• If you are using a cover, you can just remove the soiled inners and reuse the unsoiled cover. If you are using an all-in-one or pocket system, take out the inserts before placing them into the pail.
What should I do with the poop?
If the baby eats formula milk or has started eating solids, the poop should be removed before washing to avoid stains or buildup. You can also use biodegradable liners to catch the solid waste, or simply shake it off into the toilet before washing. For fitted diapers or prefold with covers, you can just remove the soiled inners and reuse the unsoiled cover. If you are using an all-in-two or pocket system, separate the inserts before placing inserts only into the pail.
How do I wash my cloth diapers?
Step 1: Perform prewash with a cold water rinse/wash with no detergent to rinse out any urine and solid residue.
Step 2: Perform a regular wash cycle with detergent with 30-40ºC water temperature.
Step 3: Extra rinse, optionally you can add 3-4 drops of Lavender Essential Oil a natural antiseptic.
Step 4: Toss in the dryer on tumble/low - Tip: adding a dry towel or wool dryer balls can lessen the dry time. Cover and pocket diaper outers should be hung dry.
We DO NOT recommend using bleach, stain removers, borax, Odor Remover, or Oxy-Clean as they may damage your diapers.
Cloth diapers washing tips
• Dump any solids (use flushable liners to make it even easier) or spray with a diaper sprayer before putting in a dry pail, wet bag, or hanging wet bag. Breastfed newborn poop is water-soluble and can be put directly into the washer.
• Attach hook & loop closures to laundry tabs before washing to prevent snagging.
• Line/air drying diaper covers and pocket shells can help extend the life of the hook & loop closures as well as the elastic (bonus - saves energy).
How many times should I wash before use?
Diapers containing synthetic fabrics only need to be washed once before using them on your baby! Any diapers with natural fibers such as hemp, bamboo, or cotton will need to be washed and dried 4-5 times before use to strip the natural oils and reach full absorbency. Organic fibers such as organic cotton will need to be washed and dried upwards of 6 times.
How often I should wash the diapers?
We recommend washing your diapers every 1-3 days to help prevent any smell issues or staining. We also suggest storing your soiled cloth diapers in an open pail or wet bag slightly open, with adequate airflow.
What type of detergent should I use?
The general rule of thumb is to use a detergent that is free of any bleach or fabric softener. “Free and Clear” detergents are generally not recommended, as they often have additional cleaning agents in them that can cause buildup. Make sure detergent has no artificial fragrances or harsh detergent, phosphate-free and dye-free.
My cloth diapers smell, what do I do?
You may not be using enough detergent and you have urine buildup because your diapers are not getting clean. Add more detergent and make sure your washer's water level is set to the highest setting. You may also find it helpful to start your wash routine with a quick cold wash to ensure all urine and solid matter is flushed out prior to your full wash with detergent.
Please note: The same can also be true when using too much detergent! Our wonderful customer service team is more than happy to help you troubleshoot.
My cloth diapers smell and they are leaking, what do I do?
You may have some buildup from minerals, creams, or laundry additives. First, do a deep cleaning or stripping of your diapers. Start with clean diapers with hot water ( about 60ºC), bring in 1.5 TBS of baking soda, 1TBS of chlorox, 1TBS of dishwasher gel. Soak the diapers for 1-2 hours or until the water becomes colder. Drain the water and put it into the washing machine, perform rinse, and prewash. Then continue with normal cycle washing with an extra rinse. We also do not suggest using any additives like fabric softeners, OxyClean, vinegar, or dryer sheets.
Someone uses diaper cream on my cloth diapers! What should I do?
The best way to remove diaper cream mishaps is to use a soft toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of dish soap to gently scrub it out with warm water. This will remove the majority of the cream, although some staining may occur depending on how much got on the diaper.
What if I have yeast?
All inserts need to be sanitized. Entirely PUL diaper covers do not need to be sanitized. Run a warm wash cycle with the full suggested amount of detergent for clothing. Add 1/4 cup of regular disinfecting bleach to your bleach dispenser. Color-safe bleach is recommended for colors. Following this wash cycle, run a hot wash with the full amount of detergent for clothing to ensure all bleach is washed out completely. Dry in the sun. Please note that bleaching cotton prints and colored bamboo may lead to some fading. You only need to treat absorbent materials.
Ammonia burn/ urine build-up
Perform stripping, like what we explain on answering for when your cloth diapers smell and leak. This should return your diapers to "square-one"
Didn't answer your question?
Our friendly customer service team is happy to help! Send an email to [email protected] for safe and reliable wash and care help!
B) REFUND TERMS
How long do I have to return the products?
If you have purchased a product from our website and are not satisfied, you may return the unwashed, unused product in the original condition and packaging for a full refund (less shipping) within 15 days of delivery.
What are my refund options?
We can refund the original payment method, issue store credit, or offer an exchange for your products.
Do I have to pay return shipping?
If you are returning for a refund to your original payment or store credit, requesting an exchange then yes you will be responsible for return shipping costs. Or you can return to our consignment stores
What is considered a manufacturer defect?
A manufacturer defect is any error in the creation of the product that leads to an issue with: stitching, closures, elastics, holes in the fabric, irregular shrinkage, delamination, and cracks in the PUL. Only Heiko Cloth Diapers& Service products! are eligible for our 45 Day Limited Warranty--all other brands must go through that manufacturer.
What does the 45 days limited warranty NOT cover?
Our limited warranty does not cover: general wear and tear, staining, fading, leaking/repelling, pilling, issues that develop due to improper wash--per our washing instructions, 3rd party manufacturer products (please contact the manufacturer), products altered in any way after purchase, and previously loved items.
Do I pay shipping costs for a Warranty Claim?
No, for warranty claims we cover shipping costs! The only reason you would be charged shipping for a warranty claim is if the claim is denied. In this rare case, you would be responsible for return postage to get your items back to you.