frequently asked questions

why cloth?

why are we different?

do you serve my area?

how do I sign up for cloth diaper service?

do you service apartment buildings?

how far in advance do I need to sign up?

what kind of diapers are included with your service?

how many diapers will I receive?

how much does diaper service cost?

what is cloth wipe service?

what is diaper cover service?

what is cover rental?

when will I receive my first delivery?

how do I fold the diapers?

how does diaper service billing work?

what do I need to get started with cloth diapering?

do I need to rinse the diapers before I put them in the pail?

will the diaper pail be smelly?

what is your wash process?

what about diaper rash?

can our service be suspended while we are on vacation?

how does the gift registry work?

how about gift certificates?

what is your return policy for retail purchases?



why cloth?

If you've arrived at this page, you likely know by now how much conflicting information is out there about whether using disposables or cloth is best for your baby, best for your family, best for the planet. The decision only becomes more complicated by the fact that everyone you ask (or don't) seems to have their own opinion on the subject!

At Diaper Stork, we believe in cloth for three reasons: comfort, cost, and convenience. We also believe that only you know what is best for your family, so we are here to support (not pressure) you!

Read more about these considerations here.


back to top ^



why we are different?

We have a complete offering of sustainable diapering products for families who want the convenience of a service or the cost savings of washing at home.
What sets us apart:

  • Reusable bags: We aim to eliminate as much waste as possible by using washable diaper bags instead of plastic bags for your weekly delivery.

  • Wipe service: Cotton cloth wipes are a waste-free alternative to disposable wipes.

  • Cover service: We provide covers and wash those for you. With a newborn, you don’t need to stress over separating your covers from your dirty diapers or doing an extra laundry load just to make sure you have a clean cover.

  • Flexibility: We offer weekly suspensions if you are on vacation or can't use your diapers for any reason. Credit is applied towards our online shop.

  • Broader mission: We provide free classes for infant and toddler potty training to encourage using fewer diapers and support your child's transition out of diapers.

  • Convenient shopping: We offer a variety of products from our online shop that can be added to your weekly delivery for no additional shipping charge.

back to top ^



do you serve my area?

Diaper Stork currently serves customers in the Seattle metro area from Olympia to Everett and the East side. We love to provide families with an alternative to disposable diapers and will always be assessing cloth diaper service demand outside of these markets. If you live outside of this area, we offer our cloth diapering system for rent or purchase. If you live outside of this area but would like to use our diaper service, we would like to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].

Many of our customers live in apartment buildings, and we find that each situation is different. Ideally, we would have access to get inside the building (with a key or code) and swap the diapers out side your apartment main door. We can also leave diapers in the lobby or outside in a concealed spot. Please contact us to discuss the specifics of your building.

We service these locations: Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Everett, Fall City, Federal Way,Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Lakewood, Lake Tapps, Lynnwood, Mercer Island, Mill Creek, North Bend, Olympia, Redmond, Renton, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Tacoma, Woodinville.





back to top ^



how do I sign up for cloth diaper service?

We are so happy that you've chosen to cloth diaper your baby and use our diaper service!

Signing up for cloth diaper service with Diaper Stork is a very simple process:

Step 1: Select your service with optional starter bundle on our cloth diaper service page
Step 2: Add optional cloth diapering accessories and other treats from our shop page
Step 3: Sit back and enjoy more time with your growing family while we take care of the dirty work!

Head to our cloth diaper service page now to get the process started!


back to top ^


do you service apartment buildings?

Many of our customers live in apartment buildings and we find that each situation is different. Ideally, we would have access to get inside the building (with a key or code) and swap the diapers out side your apartment main door. We can also leave diapers in the lobby or outside in a concealed spot. Please contact us to discuss the specifics of your building.


back to top ^


how far in advance do I need to sign up?

Feel free to sign up as far in advance as you'd like, but we ask that you give us at least 2 weeks so that we have adequate time to prepare your order.


back to top ^


what kind of diapers are included with your service?

We are proud to use 100% unbleached Indian cotton twill prefolds in our standard diaper service. These diapers are luxuriously soft, thick, and very absorbent.

While prefolds may seem intimidating at first glance, they are very simple to use. Even with the many modern cloth diaper options out there, prefolds have withstood the test of time due to their incredible absorbency, all-natural fibers, and the ability to make a trim and leak-proof fit with a simple adjustment to the fold or tweak of the diaper fastener's tension.


back to top ^


how many diapers will I receive?

The number of diapers you receive will depend upon the age and size of your baby. The number provided with our standard service should give you as many as you'll need plus a few extra, but additional diapers can be added if needed.

Diapers are provided on a rotation system. You'll receive the number shown below for each of the first two weeks, and starting with the third week you'll receive the number we picked up from the week before. Easy!



back to top ^

how much does diaper service cost?

We offer four different pricing levels. For the standard price of $133 per month, you receive 90 newborn diapers per week. This is equivalent to 37 cents per diaper. Disposable diapers range from 25 cents to 49 cents per diaper depending on brand, size, sales discounts, and retailer. With disposable diapers, your weekly garbage will increase by approximately 13 gallons. Depending on your municipality this could increase your utility cost- for example in Seattle it would cost $8.95 per month (as of May 2019) for a household to switch from the 20 gallon garbage bin to the 32 gallon bin. Over the lifetime of the baby, disposable diapers are cheaper than a cloth diaper service unless you factor in the benefit of earlier potty training (6 to 12 months earlier). The most economical way to diaper your baby is to purchase your own cloth diapers or rent our DIY cloth diaper bundle and wash at home. See all price options here.

what is cloth wipe service?

Cloth wipe service is an optional add on service that is an alternative to purchasing disposable wipes. You'll receive 90 wipes for each of the first two weeks, and starting with the third week you'll receive the number we picked up from the week before. Throw used wipes in your Diaper Pail with your dirty diapers. We use
OsoCozy flannel wipes. We recommend using Baby Bits or other solution to wet the wipe prior to use. You may fill a diaper warmer with the baby bits solution and dip each wipe in the warm solution prior to use, or use a spray bottle.


back to top ^


what is diaper cover service?

Cover service is an alternative to purchasing and washing your own covers at home. We will supply 7 (half service ) or 15 (full service) covers in rotation each week. Starting on the third week, you'll receive the number of covers that we picked up from the week before. A diaper cover can be used through multiple changes until soiled. Throw soiled covers into your Diaper Pail. We use a mix of Thirsties Diaper Cover Newborn (0 to 8 lbs), Thirsties Duo Wrap adjustable small (6 to 18 lbs), Rumparooz adjustable newborn (4 to 15 lbs), Thirsties Duo Wrap adjustable large (18 to 35 lbs) covers. For adjustable covers, make sure you snap to the appropriate size prior to use.


back to top ^


what is cover rental?

With cover rental, we will provide you the right size cover and you will wash these at home. When you are ready to size up, you will fill out our service change form to get the next cover size. Once you are a customer, you can request these at My Account service change form. Cover rental is a great way to avoid the upfront costs for covers that you use for a shorter time. If using adjustable covers, the first size of covers fit between newborn and 18 lbs (or around 20 weeks), the second size of covers fit for the remaining diapering lifetime of your baby.

back to top ^


when will I receive my first delivery?

You will receive your first delivery 1-2 weeks before your due date, or about 2 weeks from your order date if your baby is already here.

Once your baby arrives, please fill out the Baby Announcement form in My Account and we will send you an email letting you know when to expect your first pickup.


back to top ^


how do I fold the diapers?

With the number of times you're going to be changing your baby's diaper each day, folding a cloth diaper will take no time at all to master.



Below are a couple of our favorite videos demonstrating the various folding techniques you can use with our diapers. Using one or more of these techniques will help you get the perfect fit and absorbency, no matter the size and shape of your baby.






back to top ^


how does diaper service billing work?

When you sign up for diaper service, a user account will be set up for you where you can maintain your billing information and service details.

On the day you sign up, you'll pay for the first 4 weeks of service and a one-time setup fee. The first 4 weeks of service won't start until the day we pick up the first batch of dirties, so feel free to sign up as far in advance as you would like (but please try to give us at least two weeks!).

On your first recurring invoice, you will receive an email with your itemized invoice asking you to set up a new payment method for your recurring charges. Depending on when you start service, your first payment maybe pro-rated due to the timing for the billing cycle. Going forward, your saved payment method will be charged.



back to top ^


what do I need to get started with cloth diapering?

The following items are included in our standard prefold service:
Cloth diapers
Flip-top diaper pail

Diaper pail liners


You'll need a few other accessories to get started, all of which can be found on our
shop page.

Must-haves:
4-6 PUL or wool diaper covers or cover service ( you will need atleast 2 different size sets of covers over the baby diapering lifetime)
Cloth wipe service or disposable wipes

Nice-to-haves:
2-4 diaper fasteners (such as Snappis)
Wet bags
for storing soiled diapers while you are on the go
Baby bits for cloth wipes




back to top ^


do I need to rinse the diapers before I put them in the pail?

No rinsing, scraping or dumping! We take care of the cleaning. Once, baby is eating solids, the diaper pail may have increased odor by the end of the week. One way to reduce unwanted odor, is dumping solid poop in the toilet. This is optional.


back to top ^


will the diaper pail be smelly?

Our diaper pails are specifically made for use with cloth diaper services and built to contain odors from a week's worth of cloth diapers. Plunking the solid poo into the toilet before you toss the diaper in will go a long way toward keeping diaper pail odors down. Additionally, you can purchase citrus-scented deodorizing discs that fit into a slot in the diaper pail's lid or sprinkle our lavender scented deodorizer into the diaper pail after changes.


back to top ^


what is your wash process?

Our wash process uses a combination of very hot water and a commercial detergent which has been scientifically proven to rinse away completely. A trace amount of chlorine in each wash ensures that our diapers are completely sanitized after each and every use and multiple rinse cycles ensure that absolutely no residue is left behind -- just clean, soft cotton. Our diapers are periodically PH tested to ensure the wash process is calibrated for baby's skin.

back to top ^


what about diaper rash?

The great news is that although many babies suffer from diaper rash from time to time, you will generally see fewer and less severe outbreaks when you cloth diaper your baby! Check out our blog on Diaper Rash.

Many babies suffer from diaper rash from time to time. We recommend as much diaper free/air time as possible and more frequent changes to keep baby dry. Using a baby balm or coconut oil after every change is a good preventative measure. In the event that your baby does have an outbreak, please do not use diaper rash creams that contain cod liver oil, petrolatum, or greater than 14% zinc oxide as these can cause residue buildup over time, staining the diapers and reducing their absorption. You can purchase a cloth safe balm or cream from our shop. If you need to use a cream that is not cloth safe, you can suspend your service until baby's skin heals.

Unsafe Creams/Ointments: BOUDREAUX Butt Paste, Desitin, Aquaphor, Burt's Bees Baby Bee 100% Natural Diaper Rash Ointment


Safe Creams/Ointments: Coconut Oil, Babyganics Non-Petroleum Soothing Protective Ointment, Bourdeaux’s All Natural Butt Paste, California Baby Diaper Rash Cream, Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm, Honest Company Rapid Relief Diaper Rash Cream, Thirsties Booty Love, Weleda Calendula Diaper Rash Cream, Burt's Bees Baby 100% Natural Multipurpose Ointment


back to top ^



can our service be suspended while we are on vacation?

We can very easily schedule a service hold for you. Head on over to My Account and fill out the Temporary Service Suspension form. We ask that you do not leave dirty diapers in your bin for longer than one week, please plan accordingly and contact us if you have a special circumstance. For holds longer than 4 weeks, we will pick up your bin and diapers and re-deliver when you return (this option does not incur a weekly fee).


how does the gift registry work?

Diaper Stork's products can easily be added to any universal baby registry, such as Amazon or Babyli.st. Try this link for Amazon's Assist "add to registry" button. Once you have the button, just navigate to the gift certificates page on our website and add the certificates to your registry. Here is a link to Amazon's registry FAQs for more info.

If you would like friends and family to gift you with cloth diaper service, it is best to add gift certificates to your registry instead of the diaper service itself, as we need important delivery information from you when you sign up.

When friends and loved ones are ready to purchase items from your registry, they will be directed back to Diaper Stork to complete the purchase.

Gift certificates can be purchased directly from our website and emailed or mailed to you. If you have received a gift certificate and would like to apply it to your account, redeem it here.


back to top ^



how about gift certificates?

Gift certificates can be purchased in any amount and may be applied toward any product we carry, including our diaper service. Certificates can be emailed or mailed to you or another recipient.

To redeem your gift certificates, go into My Account and redeem your certificate here.

Note: gift certificates cannot be redeemed for cash and expire one year from the purchase date


back to top ^




what is your return policy for retail purchases?

For most items, a 14-day return policy applies.

For apothecary products, we are unable to accept items that have been opened. If unopened, the same 14-day return policy applies.


back to top ^