Now, we could start out this post with a lot of should’s and should not’s about how it’s important to wash your baby’s clothes before wearing and only use special detergent for baby’s sensitive skin. And these things may be good and appropriate things to do. But the fact of the matter is (as it is with so many other aspects of parenting) is that when it comes to the proper care and cleaning of baby clothes, some things just boil down to personal preference. These are baby clothing care tips some moms have used that work for them to make their laundry lives a little simpler. We will cover a few baby laundry essentials, tips, and answers to common questions.
Baby Clothes Laundry Tips And Answers To Your Questions
Photo Credit: Handmade christening gown christening gown supplier christeninggowns.com.
Before You Buy Baby Clothing Check Care Tips
Generally, it’s a good idea to read the care instructions even before buying baby clothes. Baby clothes get washed a LOT, because spit up, diaper accidents, etc. happen quite frequently, and except for a few special occasion items (such as a christening gown), it’s nice to have clothes that hold up under the wear and tear of everyday living and don’t require a lot of special care. If you are going to preserve keepsake clothing, have it dry-cleaned soon after the event to prevent stains from settling in.
Choosing a Baby Safe Laundry Detergent
Here’s where the debate gets a little more lively; do you need a special detergent in order to protect baby’s sensitive skin? Well, it’s an option. However, many moms have found that they can wash baby clothes in with everyone else’s and baby will be just fine. Consider, though, that if you or other members of your family have sensitive skin, baby may as well, and a dye-free, scent-free detergent is a good choice in that case. It has been said that detergent is a better option than soap flakes, because soap flakes don’t rinse out as well, and they can also affect the flame-retardant properties of sleepers.
Which detergent is best for baby clothes?
Choosing the best baby laundry detergent is a matter of opinion but everyone can agree that it should be the safest baby detergent. So you are looking for a natural, mild detergent that will be gentle on baby’s sensitive skin but will be tough on stains. By general consensus, Dreft is one of the best know baby detergents. If you are looking for a more natural alternative, you might want to try Babyganics 3X Baby Laundry Detergent which is dermatologist tested and has plant-based cleaning power.
Best Stain Remover For Baby Clothes
I’ve come across quite a few different tried-and-true methods for treating stains, but there were a few things that came up pretty consistently. First, treat stains while fresh, if possible. No brainer, right? Even using a baby wipe to get some of the stuff off right away can help. However, life happens, and laundry doesn’t always get done right away. For stains that are more entrenched, pre-treat stains before washing. Some options are an Oxi-Clean soak or treating with Dreft before scrubbing with an electric toothbrush. Wash in the hottest water that is safe for that particular article of clothing.
General Tips For Baby’s Laundry
- Consider putting small items like socks in a mesh bag to keep them together.
- Fasten Velcro straps on baby bibs and cloth diapers to keep them from snagging other clothing.
- Wash cloth diapers separately so you can give them an extra rinse cycle.
- You may want to take a look at these HealthyChildren.org important laundry room safety tips.
Baby Laundry Q&A
Do babies need special laundry?
Not necessarily. However, it is important to use a very mild, fragrance-free detergent. If you don’t want to use baby safe detergent for the whole family, then you should wash your baby clothing separately.
How often do you do baby laundry?
There is no hard and fast rule on this. However, baby’s can go through a surprising number of baby blankets and outfits in a day if their diaper leaks or if they spit up. You will likely have a load every 2-3 days and at least once a week. It is better not to wait more than a few days for the most part because many of the clothing items may have milky spit up that will grow nasty quickly.
Can I wash baby clothes in washing machine?
Certainly! Well, this really goes back to the first tip I gave about checking labels. If you are buying the right things you can! However, specialty keepsake clothing will likely not be safe in the washing machine.
Laundry is one of those chores that needs to be done almost every day, especially with a baby in the house. As a result, many of us probably count a washing machine as a blessing in our lives and are grateful for any tip that makes this job a little easier. I hope these baby laundry essentials and tips are helpful to you. What do you do to make your laundry life simpler?
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Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
Putting the socks into a mesh bag is a great idea. I lost so many of my boys socks when they were babies by not doing that.
Regina Ryerson says
Thanks for this helpful article with tips for washing baby clothing!
An effective, safer, greener alternative to stain remover: Make a paste from baking soda and pure castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner’s.)
Shey Smith says
It will always be good to use mild scents soap for baby’s clothes. Me, I don’t use fabric conditioners because the smells are quite irritating for baby skin.