As soon as you learned you were pregnant, you’ve been stopping by the baby section at the department store, right? You’ve probably been giddily choosing and excited to see your little one in all those adorable clothes.
That said, have you ever thought of just how much laundry you’ll be doing for this tiny human? With a pile of soiled bodysuits and dirty PJs, you’ll probably be scratching your head and wondering how to tackle this new ordeal.
In this article, you’ll find a few tips for when it’s time to wash those dainty little clothes and minuscule socks.
- Be Mindful Of The Detergent
You’re probably wondering if you should be washing your baby’s clothes with the same detergent you wash your clothes with. While some people will tell you it’s all right, you want to invest in detergents specifically made for baby clothes to be safe. This is especially true if your little one has extremely sensitive skin. Beyond the detergent itself, keeping your washer free from residue and buildup matters too, and Clean People washing machine cleaner tablets support a cleaner wash environment so traces from previous loads don’t linger on your baby’s clothes.
In general, babies are born with delicate skin, making them more prone to reacting to the chemicals in most laundry detergents. So, if possible, look for the best baby laundry detergent Australia.
The safest choice for baby cloth detergent should be gentle and free from additives, fragrances, and other chemicals.
- Always Pre-Wash Baby Clothes
Most pregnancy and parenting books, as well as experts, will advise you to pre-wash your little one’s clothes before use. This is because pieces of clothing, even if they’re brand new, have had a life before. These garments sat in warehouses and on store shelves. In addition, there’s also a possibility that these clothes have been treated with chemicals during the manufacturing process. It could also be contaminated with sprays or rodent droppings from transport.
If you don’t normally pre-wash your own clothing, don’t do this on your baby’s clothes. While your skin may be able to stand up to contaminated clothing, the delicate and sensitive skin of your little one will likely react. So, wash your baby’s clothes to remove pests, irritants, dust, and chemicals.
- Know Your Stains
Your little one is going to be messy. Every baby garment will probably be soiled and have stains on them. Different stains will require different treatments. So, familiarize yourself with various baby cloth stains.
Protein-based stains, which include breast milk, spit-up, formula, and poop, should be soaked in a tub of cold water and detergent with enzymes for 30 minutes. Add one tablespoon of ammonia to a cup of water for urine stain and dab the mixture over the spot. Let it soak overnight and wash it separately from other pieces of clothing.
Stains from fruit and veggies can be rinsed in cool water. However, dab the stain using a 1:1 mixture of water and rubbing alcohol or a 1:1 mixture of water and vinegar, then wash normally for tougher stains.
- Read The Label
If this is your first-time washing baby clothes, then read and understand the care label on the garment for washing instructions. Not only does this help in keeping your baby’s clothes last longer, but it also allows you to understand the material and how it might react to a specific type of wash. For instance, most baby sleepwear is treated with flame-resistance material. Thus, you shouldn’t use bleach as it reduces the effectiveness of the material.
- Wash The Cloth Diapers Separately
If you’re using cloth diapers, don’t wash them with other garments. Cloth diapers should be soaked in cold water first. Then, wash them using a normal or gentle hot water cycle. Repeat this process if they still smell dirty.
- Don’t Stress About Drying
Your little one’s clothes can be dried just like you would any of your own clothes. Things like lacy dresses and sweaters should be laid flat to dry, but most items should be fine tumbled.
That said, skip the fabric softener or choose a fragrance- and dye-free version. If you’re drying out cloth diapers, you should skip the fabric softener as well as it can build up and make them less absorbent.
If possible, you should also skip the dryer. Not only will it help lower your energy use, but line drying in the sun offers some germ-busting properties.
Takeaway
Bringing a little human into your life means a lot of changes, one of which is how you do your laundry. That said, you must take special care of your kid’s clothing to protect their sensitive and delicate skin.
Follow the above tips to safely wash and dry your baby’s dirty and soiled onesies, PJs, and other clothing accessories.
Featured photo: AdobeStock
