Every new parent can relate to the feeling of being buried in baby laundry. Shopping for adorable baby outfits and organizing those tiny clothes in your baby’s closet are some of the sweetest “nesting” moments soon-to-be moms and dads experience. But it’s not until you bring your newborn baby home that you discover just how quickly the laundry can pile up!
Learn how to do your baby’s laundry efficiently and effectively with these tips for washing baby clothes. From what temperature to wash baby clothes to choosing the best baby detergent and how to remove baby clothes stains, these tips will save you time, which means you’ll have more minutes to spend soaking up those sweet newborn cuddles.
Baby Laundry Prep
Even if they’re brand-new, it’s always a good idea to run all of your baby’s new clothes, blankets and burp cloths through one laundry cycle before you use them. Newborn babies have sensitive skin, so washing any clothes before you dress your little one can help remove any potential skin irritants.
Read each item’s label before the first wash for any special instructions for how to wash and dry each garment. Here are a few other general tips for washing baby clothes:
- Follow the basic laundry rules when it comes to separating colors, fabrics, etc., as these rules all apply to washing baby clothes in a washing machine.
- Fasten all snaps, velcro or buttons, and be sure zippers are closed before washing to prevent damage.
- Do not use bleach on flame-resistant fabrics (which includes all children’s sleepwear).
- Use a mesh laundry bag for washing baby socks and other small items that may get lost in the washer.
- Before putting your baby’s clothes away, check for any loose snaps, buttons or embellishments and that all seams are intact and not fraying.
While many parents choose to wash their baby’s clothes separate from other clothing items, this isn’t essential. Baby-safe laundry detergent will work just as well on adult clothes, and you can save time and energy costs by combining your baby’s clothing with your clothes for laundry. Less work doing laundry means more time to spend with your baby.
There are a few considerations to make before tossing your little one’s clothes in with the rest of the household laundry.
- Does your baby have eczema or super-sensitive skin? If your baby requires a special expensive detergent, it would be costly to use that same detergent on all the laundry.
- Does someone in your household work with dangerous chemicals? If so, those items should be washed separately, so as not to expose your baby to a harsh chemical or irritant.
- Scented detergent can be too strong for your baby, so if you prefer your clean clothes to come out of the wash with a strong smell, it’s best to wash them separately.
- Does your baby go through enough clothes, burp clothes and blankets in a day to make up a load? In this case, it would be just as efficient to keep your baby’s clothes separate from the rest of the laundry.
Choosing a Detergent
You have a variety of options when it comes to choosing a detergent to wash baby clothes. As long as your baby does not have allergies or extra-sensitive skin, any regular laundry detergent should do the trick, though liquid detergent is recommended. Powder detergent may leave behind residue, which can be irritating to your baby’s skin.
Many parents opt for natural or free and clear detergents to limit exposure to chemicals. Some babies may be sensitive to products that contain fragrances, which leads some parents to search out natural laundry detergent options, or even make their own homemade laundry detergent. If you’re interested in trying your hand at making laundry detergent, you can find homemade laundry detergent recipes online. Most only include a few ingredients, including grated soap, washing soda, baking soda, Borax, oxyclean and a few drops of essential oils.
Getting Baby Stains Out of Clothes
Finding a stain remover that works is key. No matter how hard you try, it’s nearly impossible to keep little ones from getting their clothes dirty. Whether it’s dribbled milk, a diaper blowout or remnants of lunch, you don’t want stains to ruin your favorite baby outfits.
Stains should be treated while fresh, when possible. For food and protein stains (including breastmilk and even baby poop), soak the item in cool water with a stain remover that contains enzymes, such as OxiClean. Urine stains can be removed by adding vinegar to the wash cycle, or by soaking the item in a diluted vinegar or ammonia solution. (Remember to never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia, as this is a very dangerous combination!)
As with laundry detergent, there are a number of stain removers on the market, including Shout and OxiClean. If your baby is sensitive to chemicals, stain removers may irritate your child’s delicate skin. There are natural options that can be just as effective as a store-bought stain remover. Perhaps the best natural stain remover for baby clothes is a simple combination of rubbing alcohol and vinegar.
To use this method, soak the item for about 15 minutes in one part water, one part rubbing alcohol. You may find the stain is gone after this simple soak. If so, the item is ready for a wash cycle. If it is a stubborn stain, soak again in one part water and one part vinegar, then wash as usual.
How to Dry Baby Clothes
As with washing, be sure to read all instructions on the clothing label for drying. Most baby clothes can be dried on a normal or gentle dry cycle, but some items, such as vintage garments or especially dressy outfits, should be hung up to dry.
Surprisingly, it may actually take longer for those tiny baby clothes to dry than your adult-sized clothing. This is due to the decreased surface area of baby clothes. Toss a clean, dry towel in the dryer with baby clothes to speed up the process. Set your dryer heat setting to low to help prevent the baby clothes from shrinking.
These tips can make doing laundry a little bit easier, but find what works for you. There’s no doubt that even the tiniest newborn babies can create a lot of laundry, but with a little planning ahead and a system that works for you, you’ll be able to tackle that laundry mountain with ease so you can get back to snuggling with your little one.