By now you have probably asked yourself countless times how someone so small can produce this amount of laundry. Washing baby clothes is not the easiest of tasks, though it is not as complicated as first-time parents expect it to be. It is, however, a lot of work but keeping clothes properly clean is important for your baby’s comfort and well-being. Weather item is new or a hand-me-down, you should always wash it before it touches your baby’s skin.
Some of the main points to keep in mind are:
- You should use fragrance-free detergent.
- Do not use fabric softener or anti-static products.
- Baby detergent is indeed gentler to your baby’s sensitive skin. However, they are not a necessity. Regular detergent can be used as well, if your baby does not suffer from allergies or any kind of skin condition.
- You can wash their clothes with the laundry of the rest of the family. Nevertheless, the same applies here. You can only do it if your baby does not suffer from a condition that makes their skin extra sensitive.
- Liquid products are the best, since they leave less residue.
Cloth diapers
If you have decided to go with cloth diapers instead of disposable ones, you cannot forget that they need to be washed alone. After you remove all the urine and feces from the diaper, you should rinse it with cold water. After that, soak it in detergent, but remember to not use a regular one. Choose a mild, hypoallergenic detergent with bleach. Lastly, wash it in hot water with baby detergent and double rinse it.
Always watch out for any sign of allergy in your baby’s skin, there is a chance they are a result of the products you are using. In that case, it is a good idea to wash your baby’s clothes separately with hypoallergenic soap or switch the detergent you use at home.
References:
- Laundering Your Baby’s Clothes (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth. (2017, June). Nemours KidsHealth.
- Levine, H. (2019, May 10). Laundry Time for Little One. WebMD.