Washing Baby Clothes

by Marissa Zumbo, July 2022

For how small a baby is, you might be surprised at the volume of laundry you end up doing for your new beloved tiny human. Here’s some helpful tips on washing baby clothes to keep your baby safe and their clothes in tip top shape (even though they are rapidly growing out of them).

Babies' skin is incredibly sensitive, so you have to be careful about what kind of detergent you use. It isn’t necessary to use a specific baby brand formula, but at least look for one that is fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and dye-free.

Detergent

Even if your baby clothes and items are brand new, you still don’t know where they’ve been before arriving in your shopping cart. It’s important to pre-wash baby clothes before your baby ever wears them as they could have collected chemicals, sprays, or dust in the factories they were made in.

Pre-Wash

Babies are messy, so make sure to pretreat stains and remove any food solids from the clothes before putting them in the wash. Similar to the detergent, you want to use a stain removing product that is fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and dye-free. If you’re in a pinch, you could also use a 50-50 vinegar-water solution or dawn dish soap, depending on the type of stain. Some clothes will be so “exposed” that stains will set regardless of your efforts - your mission is to maximize stain reduction and get the clothes as clean as possible.

Stains

When it comes to the pre-wash and every wash after that, try to wash your baby clothes and items (blankets, stuffed animals, etc.) in a separate cycle than adult clothes or other household items. As per usual, separate lights and darks. To help preserve the clothing’s integrity, button or zip up items and then turn them inside out. You can also put more sensitive items in a mesh bag. Remember to check all care labels first in case some items are hand wash only.

Once everything is in the machine, add the free and clear detergent, set the cycle to cold and delicate, and press start. It may also be a good idea to add another rinse cycle, if possible.

Washing

Dry baby items on low heat to avoid shrinkage. Skip the dryer sheets as they can contain chemicals that are bad for babies skin.

Drying

  • If you’re using cloth diapers with your baby, make sure those are in a load of their own, separate from anything else. Don’t use any kind of fabric softener as that could cause further build up.

  • Poop stains in clothing can be particularly difficult to get out. One of the top recommended solutions is to soak the item in warm water and treat with either lemon juice or your favorite pre-treatment. After 10-15 minutes, use a new or clean toothbrush to scrub the stain area. Then wash as usual.

  • We mentioned washing baby clothes before they wear them, but make sure you also wash any fabric items their skin will be in contact with, like: swaddle blankets, towels, stuffed animals, and other cloth toys.

Your little bundle of joy is amazing, but boy oh boy, do they still generate a lot of laundry. It’s important to take care when dealing with baby clothes and accessories, as you wouldn’t want anything irritating their skin or system and causing problems down the line. Happy washing, and congrats on the addition to your family!

Here’s some other, quick suggestions:

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Sources Cited for Article:

https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-to-wash-baby-clothes-5213799

https://www.dreft.com/en-us/washing-tips/washing-baby-clothes/how-to-wash-baby-clothes

https://momlovesbest.com/wash-baby-clothes