New parents are concerned about the time and effort required to washing baby clothes. However, contrary to popular belief, baby laundry is a breeze, especially if you have already invested in a mesh laundry bag.
What follows is a detailed description of how you wash your baby’s clothes, the best ways to pre-washing baby clothes, and figure out the best baby laundry detergent you can use for sensitive skin.
How to wash baby clothes?
Washing newborn clothes can be a challenge, especially for a first-time parent. It is from figuring out the best detergent for your baby’s skin, the laundry detergent to use, and trying to figure out how you can wash baby clothes separately. But the good thing is that all this is doable, and when you start washing baby clothes, it shouldn’t be such a scary chore.
Treat stains before they even happen
Remove soiled clothing from your child and wash it as quickly as possible after an accident like pooping. Apply some Laundry Stain Remover to the affected area and discard the stained item in the hamper with the next load.
Sort and organize laundry
The same method you use to organize your adult wardrobe should be applied to infant items. Cloth diapers, if used, need to be washed separately from the rest of the laundry.
Rinse and dry baby clothing
This is the most straightforward stage of washing baby clothes for the first time. Wash in cold water on a delicate cycle and tumble dry in a baby clothes dryer on low heat.
Best laundry detergents for baby clothes
Pediatricians most often recommend Dreft infant detergent due to its gentle nature. Mothers have trusted Dreft’s hypoallergenic formula for over 80 years because it removes difficult stains without irritating delicate baby skin.
Combined vs. Baby-only loads
Some parents wash their infant’s garments in a different load than the rest of the family. Baby clothes isolation can be done for several reasons.
Reasons to opt for baby-only loads
It could be prohibitively expensive to wash the family’s clothes together if your child requires specific detergents in addition to the usual cost of baby detergent.
Your family has a worker that handles potentially harmful substances. Instead of risking exposing your kid to an irritant by accident, you might want to err on the side of caution.
In the laundry room, you opt for a highly-scented detergent—some people like it when their garments have a definite aroma. You should probably wash baby clothing in a different load because these are probably too harsh.
When should I wash my baby’s clothes?
Parents face several challenges in determining the optimal frequency of washing baby clothes. Babies have susceptible skin. Therefore, washing baby clothes before use is essential. Consequently, washing the baby’s clothes in the last few weeks of pregnancy is best.
How to wash baby clothes for the first time?
Washing baby clothes before use is mandatory. This is because, even though new baby garments may appear spotless, you cannot be sure they are safe to use unless you wash them in your washer with your brand of Detergent.
7 tips to keep in mind when washing baby clothes
If you are a new parent, you might be surprised to learn that you will have a mountain of dirty baby clothes virtually every day. That is why many moms stress about how many baby clothes they will need.
Remember these tips on how to wash new-born clothes.
Consider using a baby-friendly detergent
If you notice that your baby’s skin is becoming irritated, you may want to switch to a baby-friendly laundry detergent.
Wash cloth diapers separately
Cloth diapers are the preferred option for people concerned about climate change and want to do all they can to mitigate its effects. Thus, when using cloth diapers, you should always wash them in a separate load.
Make use of a fabric conditioner
You should always use fabric softeners with every load of wash cycle. The fibers are loosened up, which results in a softer and more wearable fabric.
Sort laundry
When washing your baby’s clothes, be careful to sort them into dark and light loads and separate the items by categories, such as shirts and pants.
Switch the baby cloth inside-out
Remember that you will wash your baby’s clothes more frequently than ever; turning them inside-out is an excellent technique to extend their useful life.
Pre-wash baby clothes
To reduce the risk of mildew being transferred from the store to the infant, it is recommended to pre-wash baby clothes before giving them to the customer.
Check the care label instructions
Garments might be damaged in the washing machine if you don’t follow the instructions on the care label. You should also follow the directions for drying the item.
Dealing with Stubborn Stains
Accidental stains are inevitable. Sometimes at an alarming rate, your baby will be releasing fluids from both ends. Poop, spit-up, and baby oil are the three most common causes of stains.
Poop
Those diaper blowouts are the primary source of feces stains. It is recommended to soak the stained garment in warm water before attempting to remove the poop stain. Then, use some lemon juice on it before washing it as usual.
Removing Formula Stains
A garment stained with formula should first be soaked in lukewarm water. The next step is to use baking soda to neutralize the odor, then use a toothbrush to scrub. After letting them soak in the soda mixture for 5-10 minutes, you can wash the clothes as usual.
Baby oil
Before washing, the best technique to remove the baby oil stain is to pretreat clothing with grease-cutting dish soap. To ensure the dish soap gets deep into the fabric’s fibers and lifts the oil, you might want to use a toothbrush to scrub the area.
Spit-up
Babies of any age are prone to spitting up. A pretreatment with little lemon juice should remove breastfeeding stains; these additional tips should also help spit up stains.
Medications
To get rid of these stains, soak the garment in warm water, rub white vinegar into the spot, and then launder as usual.
5 tips for hand washing baby clothes
Since babies’ clothes do not tend to get as dirty as adults’, washing them by hand is a good idea. It also has the potential to increase the fabric’s durability.
Pre-soak and post-soaking after the wash
This is to eliminate any lingering bacteria in your baby’s garments; soak them for half an hour before and after washing them. Avoid giving your kid wet clothing or not completely drying their clothes to prevent fungal infections.
Consider the non-chemical detergents
Use an eco-friendly and non-chemical washing detergent to ensure your child’s safety.
Make sure your hands are clean
Most of the time, we use our hands. Be sure to wash and sterilize your hands thoroughly before washing.
What temperature to wash baby clothes
Wondering if to wash baby clothes warm or cold? Ensure the water temperature is not excessively high, which could alter the fabric and cause rips and tears.
How long before your baby arrives should you wash clothes?
If this is your first child, you may be unsure-when should you wash baby clothes before birth. You can always pre-wash the larger sizes when your child is ready to wear them, but if you have been given a wide range of sizes, start with the smallest.
How to wash wool baby clothes for the first time?
Baby garments made from wool can be a pain to clean. Following these guidelines will help ensure that they appear fresh even after many washing items.
Wash and dry—no heat, no hangers!
Wool should only be washed in cold water, as hot water might cause the fabric to shrink. Wool should not be hung to dry, as the hangers could distort the garment’s original shape.
Read the label
Do not just throw your wool clothes in the laundry with your onesie and footie pajamas; check the label first.
Skip the wash sometimes
Wool baby garments can be protected from washing-related wear and tear by being washed less frequently than those produced from other fibers.
How to Hand Wash Baby Clothes?
Prepare the laundry detergent
Baby garments cleaned with detergent are just as good after being washed by hand as in the washing machine. If you have sensitive skin, use a hypoallergenic detergent devoid of perfumes and brighteners.
Get the mind-set of a washing machine
Once your laundry, water, and detergent are all in the tub, it is time to agitate like you would in a washing machine. Move the clothing around in the soapy water and soak them for half an hour. Return to the bathroom to re-rinse the garments and wring them out against the sink.
Dry Baby Clothing
Baby garments that have been hand washed are best dried in direct sunshine.
How to Treat Baby Clothes Stains?
Babies are notorious for making a mess, so it is crucial to be prepared for the inevitable spills. Here is how to clean baby clothes:
How to remove Urine Stains?
Initial Step: Soak soiled diapers in a solution of one part cold water to one part white distilled vinegar for at least 30 minutes. Second, spray the stain with Laundry Stain Remover to thoroughly soak the garment. Massage it in and let it sit for a few minutes. Third, examine the material after it has been washed.
How to Remove Baby Oil Stains?
The key to successfully removing baby oil is prompt action to absorb and pretreat the stain. Apply hairspray to the stain, and wait 20-30 minutes for the hairspray to “reactivate” the oil.
How to Remove Protein-Based Stains?
Get rid of the surplus with a damp towel, soak the garment in cold water, and apply a pretreatment like Dreft Laundry Spray before washing as usual.
Final thoughts on washing baby clothes
Now that we have helped you figure out how to wash your baby’s clothes, the best tips for pre-washing baby clothes, and how to deal with stained baby clothes, this should give you a little peace of mind. If you decide to machine wash or handwash baby clothes, ensure to use the gentle cycle and some gentle detergent. Your baby has delicate skin, thus, ensure all new clothes are thoroughly washed before dressing your little one.
