Best Laundry Detergents For Baby Clothes
Some parents might feel compelled to seek out the best baby laundry detergent specifically for their infant’s clothes. However, health experts say that isn’t necessary, as long as your baby doesn’t have allergies or very sensitive skin. If you have questions, talk to your pediatrician. Washing your infant’s clothes in regular detergent with the rest of the family’s laundry should not be a problem. Note that a liquid detergent might be preferable to powder formulas. Liquid detergents typically rinse out more completely than powders, which can leave behind flakes that might irritate an infant’s skin.
If you’re concerned that regular detergent might be too harsh, first wash one or two baby items in the detergent. After your baby wears the clothing, check his or her skin for irritation or note whether your infant is acting uncomfortable or itchy. If that’s the case, the best laundry detergent for sensitive skin will have no dyes or perfumes. If that doesn’t work, double-rinsing clothing or using baby laundry soap until your baby is at least 1 year old might help.
Next to the baby laundry detergent selection, you’ll likely find a whole host of baby fabric softeners, baby clothes stain removers, and more. Before purchasing, read the labels, assess your baby’s skin sensitivity, and decide if baby-specific laundry items are right for you.
Can You Put Baby Clothes In The Washing Machine
If you’re a new or soon-to-be parent, you’ve been exposed to the many safety concerns regarding babies, and you know what to do: Back is best, bumpers are questionable, no blankets for the first year, no toys that can fit in a teeny-tiny throat.
But laundry? If ever there were a seemingly harmless process, it’s washing clothes. Water, cleanser, some effective drying method — what can go wrong?
Most of the time, nothing. Washing baby clothes is not a complicated process. It may not, however, be the exact same process you use to wash your clothes. Babies, and especially newborns, have some specific needs that can affect the way you do their laundry.
First, let’s be clear: This is not something to lose sleep over. All it takes to ensure a baby-friendly wash is a bit of knowledge, an eye to labels and perhaps a few extra minutes.
To begin with, the basic question of technique: Is it OK to just throw those onesies in the machine?
How To Get Poop Stains Out Of Baby Clothes
Poopy clothes can be cleaned by scraping off any remnants and allowing them to soak in cold water. Afterward, use a cleaner like Oxi-Clean to deep clean the fabric.
Warm water is best for washing poop stains because it is more efficient at removing the stain. Youll want to select the normal cycle for poop stains because it has the right amount of agitation to clean the clothes.
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What Kind Of Detergent To Use
Probably the easiest thing to do is to buy a special laundry detergent thats specifically formulated for babies.
But if youre on a budget and want to just buy something the whole household can use, theres really no need. The American Academy of Pediatrics even says that most household laundry detergents are fine for babies that dont have any special allergies.
The best and safest detergent for baby clothes, though, will be:
- Fragrance-free
- Have no fabric softener
Pretty simple!
Another easy option if you want to make your own baby laundry detergent is to simply mix equal parts baking soda and warm water.
Use the mixture the same way you would any other detergent. Its great for getting out stains and will be super gentle on babys skin.
To go the simple route, stock up on Babyganics laundry detergent on Amazon. Its free of additives and harsh chemicals, and is almost completely plant-based.
When Should I Wash Newborn Clothes
While theres no hard-and-fast rule on the best time in pregnancy to wash baby clothes, the expert consensus is that all baby clothes should always be washed before theyre worn. Newborns have sensitive skin and its not known who has handled bubs clothing before you purchased it.
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How Can You Disinfect Babys Clothes
It is important to not just wash but disinfect your babys clothes, here are a few ways you can disinfect your babys clothes.
How To Wash Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers should be kept and washed separately from other laundry. Immediately rinse dirty diapers in the toilet. You might want to invest in a diaper sprayer, which hooks onto the toilet and is used to spray off the diapers. Store the diapers in a diaper pail with a tight-fitting lid until it’s time to wash them. You can also use a disposable or washable liner in the diaper pail.
Wash diapers every two to three days. First, do a cold prewash or soak diapers overnight. Do not use detergents with dyes or perfumes. Wash in hot water, rinsing each load twice. Do not use fabric softeners, which can be irritating to an infant’s skin. Line-dry the diapers or put them in the dryer.
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Laundry Time For Little One
Ah, the life of a new parent. Your schedule follows a predictable pattern: feeding, sleeping, constant diaper changes, and yes, the joy of seemingly endless laundry. Some days, your baby can go through so many outfit changes, it can make your head spin faster than your washer or dryer.
But is your laundry routine safe for your little ones delicate skin? There are a few things to keep in mind as youre tackling that mountain of baby clothes, washcloths, bedding, blankies, and even cloth diapers.
Always wash before wear. Babies, especially newborns, have sensitive skin, so throw most of your babys new items into the laundry before they wear them. Use a mesh bag for washing and drying socks, and fasten any Velcro tabs so they dont catch on other clothes.
No need to clean your babys clothes separately. And most people dont need to invest in a special baby detergent. In most cases, you can toss their clothes in with the rest of the familys stuff.
If your baby has allergies, eczema, or youre simply worried that regular detergent may cause problems, use it to wash one or two baby items and then check their skin for irritation after they wear them. If they do have a reaction, baby detergent could be a good investment. Or look for a soap that is hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. You can wash the whole familys clothes with that.
Continued
How To Wash Newborn Clothes
To know how to wash your newborn babys clothes, just follow three fundamental rules. The first is not to use common detergents, but only those specialized for babies. Also, you should never use fabric softener and, lastly, each piece should be washed separately.
As you can see, with the naked eye it is quite easy to ensure that the newborn is not exposed to the harmful chemicals in detergents. However, if we want to be more incisive on the subject, it is worth considering the opinion of specialists.
Recently, the American Academy of Dermatology issued a controversial statement regarding detergents. In the opinion of this entity, there is no real evidence that a baby can be affected if their clothes are washed with regular detergents, as long as the exact amounts suggested are used.
They further state that only in cases in which the baby has tested positive for allergies after exposure to the chemicals in laundry detergents, will the suspension of their use be recommended.
Without further ado, and thinking about the particular needs of newborn babies, pay attention to the recommendations that we will give you below.
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The Dirt Company Laundry Detergent
Formulated with 100% plant-based and biodegradable ingredients, this liquid detergent is kind to the planet and tough on stains. Refillable packs use at least 30% post-consumer recycled waste and cost you nothing to post back to The Dirt Company for reuse.
The Dirt Company Discount Code:
from The Dirt Company
This all-natural and Australian-made baby laundry detergent is pH-neutral, antibacterial and deodorising. Lightly fragranced with Blue Gum and Neroli, its effective for both machine and hand-washing and contains no nasties that could bother bubs precious skin.
Bondi Wash Discount Code:
from Bondi Wash website
Reasons To Opt For Baby
That being said, there may be times where you shouldnt wash your clothes with your babys.
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How To Get Stains Out Of Baby Clothes
With any stain, you should start by removing any remnants that are left on the clothes before you put them in the wash. Scrape off any food or spit-up beforehand. Then soak the stained clothes in cold water to help loosen the stain.
If the stain is protein-based like food, diapers, formula, spit up or breast milk, use an enzyme cleaner to remove the stain and a soft-bristled brush. Follow the directions on the bottle before using it on the stain. If anything is left, use a general, all-purpose stain remover like SprayNWash or Shout to get the rest of the stain.
For oily or greasy stains, use talcum powder or cornstarch to absorb the oil. After waiting for 15 to 20 minutes, remove the powder and use a pre-treater on the spot.
If your mechanic hubby cuddled your little one after work, you may notice some residual grease stains transferred to the babys clothes. Remove motor oil stains by absorbing the oil first and pretreating it with dish soap or another cleaner. Once finished, you can toss it into the laundry with everything else.
- Breast milk
If your baby likes berries and fruit juices, you will have a harder time removing the stain. Pre-treat the fabric with a one-part vinegar and two-part water mixture. Use an eye dropper to apply the vinegar solution so that it does not spread to the rest of the fabric.
Allow the fabric to sit for ten minutes before using a general stain remover. Afterward, wash it with the rest of your laundry and your regular homemade washing powder.
Tips To Keep In Mind When Washing Baby Clothes
- Avoid using fabric softeners and products that contain dyes and perfumes.
- Always look out for signs of an allergic reaction on your baby, even if youre using mild soaps.
- Do not hesitate to call your doctor if you notice any dryness, rash, tiny red bumps on your babys skin.
- Make sure you read the care label of the garment before washing it for the first time.
- Always wash your babys clothes separately from the rest of your familys clothing, however, this is not a must, as long as you use the same mild soap for everyone.
- Make sure you put your babys clothes away neat as dirt tends to attract pets and stains can set in and become difficult to remove.
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Washing Machine Or Hand Carved
For washing newborn clothes, both the use of the washing machine and hand carving are good options. In the case of hand carving, you must ensure that the rinsing is optimal so that no soap residue remains on the garment.
Now, if your baby has delicate garments such as those made with lace or embroidery, do not put them in the washing machine these will deteriorate more quickly.
Other recommendations about washing are to program the washing machine on the delicate cycle and never mix adult clothes with baby clothes. Newborn clothes should be washed separately.
Can I Wash Baby Clothes With The Rest Of The Laundry
It is highly advisable to wash baby clothes separately. However, if you do have to wash them with some other clothes, it should be properly disinfected.
However it should not be washed along with contaminated socks, undergarments, kitchen towels, sports gear etc. Also, always wash the babys clothes separately if someone is sick in the house, or someone has a skin wound or allergy.
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Precautions To Take While Washing Infants Clothes
It is extremely important to understand that you need to take some major precautions before and while washing your infants clothes. Here are a few precautions to take while washing them:
- Do not use fabric softeners during a babys wash
- Dont use drying paper with chemicals to dry your clothes
- Stay off chemical detergents
- Wash the babys nappies separately from their clothes
- Dry clothes in the sunlight
- In case of skin allergies, consult your doctor on special requirements when washing your childs clothes
- Read the clothes washing instructions carefully for material integrity purposes
- Do not use strong fragrance products during the wash