You already knew that your baby’s arrival would mean round-the-clock feedings and diaper changes, but round-the-clock loads of laundry? Chances are this event took you by surprise! In fact, if you are like most parents, you might be doing at least 2-3 loads of laundry per day, everything from spit-up-soaked onesies, and soiled diapers to food-stained bibs and shirts.
The good news is that cleaning your munchkin’s clothes isn’t necessarily difficult, probably just time-consuming. All you need is an effective baby-safe laundry detergent, and a few other washing essentials to tackle your little one’s dirty clothes. To make things easy for you, we’ve shared a step-by-step guide on how to wash baby clothes and the best laundry products to invest in.
Do You Need To Pre-wash Your Baby’s Clothes?
Many pregnancy and parenting books advise you to pre-wash your baby’s clothes, even before they wear them. This is because even if the items are brand new, they’ve been exposed to different environments and chemicals and sat in various warehouses and store shelves during the manufacturing process.
Hence, ensure to pre-wash your baby’s clothes to remove any chemical and spray residue and keep it germ and bacteria-free. This will also help prevent the risk of skin allergies when your little one wears them for the first time.
What You’ll Need To Wash Baby Clothes
Ready for your umpteenth load of laundry? We have shared a list of essentials that will make you ready for the task.
- Baby-safe laundry detergent: It’s a good idea to opt for a baby-specific laundry detergent as that reduces the risk of skin irritation on your baby’s sensitive skin. For instance, you can opt for The Moms Co.’s natural baby detergent, which is enriched with the bio-0cleansing power of enzymes and plant-based cleansers that are tough on dirt, stains, and odour, but gentle on your little one’s clothes.
- Drying rack: Most baby clothes are made of cotton, which is especially prone to shrinking. To prevent your little one’s onesies and other clothes from dwindling, consider investing in an efficient drying rack.
- Laundry mesh bag: A laundry bag can help you store all your little one’s dirty and stained socks and bibs in one place and makes it easier for you to sort them.
How Often Should You Wash Your Baby’s Clothes?
It’s a good idea to wash any clothes with spit-up and poop stains right away. This is because stains can cause germ and bacteria growth in your baby’s clothes, and if not removed, can affect your child’s health, as their immune system is still underdeveloped. You can choose to wash their other clothes every alternate day, and items like hats and socks, once a week.
How To Wash Your Baby’s Clothes?
Step 1: You might want to be extra careful with your baby’s clothes if you want to keep them in tip-top shape. First, sort them into lights and darks, and if possible, try to wash your baby’s clothes and blankets separately from the rest of your household garments.
Step 2: Next, before you prepare your child’s clothes for a wash, check the label for wash instructions, and address any clothing stains if any. Then, prep the clothes to go in the washing machine. Make sure that your little one’s onesies and shirts are buttoned and turned inside out to protect the seams and designs. Put small and delicate items, such as bibs and socks into the laundry mesh bag so that it’s easier for you to sort, without losing them in the washing or drying cycles.
Step 3: Now pour about two tablespoons of the baby detergent to keep your little one’s clothes germ and bacteria-free. You can use the measuring cup on the lid as well. Choose a warm temperature for your baby’s clothes to maintain the integrity of the items, and put them to wash in a normal cycle. If you are washing stained clothes, you can consider an extra rinse cycle as well.
Step 4: Lastly, before placing your little one’s clothes in the dryer, check the status of the previous stains. If you notice that some of the stains are still intact, consider removing them by hand before drying the garment. Finish off the load with a tumble on your dryer in a low setting to avoid shrinkage.
What To Consider While Removing Stains From Your Baby’s Clothes?
Mess happens, and hence while trying to treat a tough stain on your child’s clothes, look for an effective baby-safe detergent, like the one we discussed above. Tough stains require a little bit of extra effort for removal. You can either consider hand washing or resorting to spot treatment for stain removal.
For spot treatment, apply the liquid detergent to the stained area directly, and set it aside for the product to sit and work its magic. Wash the clothes in cool water and set them for drying once the stains are removed.
It’s essential to take special care of your child’s clothing and that’s where our tips on how to wash baby clothes come to your rescue. Besides following these steps, ensure that you are using a hypoallergenic and fragrance-free detergent that doesn’t irritate your little one’s skin but is still tough on stubborn stains.
Also read:
How to care for your baby’s skin in the winter: These skincare steps are a must in your baby’s winter routine. Check them out.
Best baby products: Want to give your little one the best possible care? Invest in these natural skin and hair care products STAT.
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