Your Guide to Doing Baby Laundry
In the clothing industry, there isn’t anything cuter than tiny baby clothes. From polka dot onesies to miniature frilled socks, you can’t help but say “awwww” when you hold one of those soft, cuddly garments.
Yet, these small pieces of clothing can add up—fast. First-time parents are often amazed at just how much laundry a newborn requires. From pajamas to burp cloth to cotton baby blankets, there is a seemingly endless stream of laundry. To keep you from feeling overwhelmed by the influx of dirty garments, we’ve gathered the most important baby laundry tips, including how to sort, treat stains, choose detergents, and dry delicate fabrics.
Choosing a Detergent
Babies can have very sensitive skin, so it’s smart to avoid any detergents with heavy chemicals or scents. Liquid detergent is also preferred over powder or pods, as the latter can leave residue on clothes. Even liquid detergent can leave residue, however, so make sure you’re adding the proper amount of detergent for the load size. If you think there may be residue after a wash, throw on another rinse cycle.
A few highly rated detergents include Seventh Generation Free & Clear and Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent Free & Clear. If you want a detergent that’s gentle for the baby and works for the whole family’s laundry, Tide Free & Gentle is The New York Times’ pick for best detergent for babies.
Treating Stains
With a newborn, you’ll quickly become a master of treating stains. Babies are magnets for every type of spill, splatter, and splotch possible.
It’s best to treat a stain while it’s still wet. Rinse off the garment as best you can, and then assess the damage. Sometimes, a few sprays from a stain remover will be enough to break down the stain. If it’s particularly deep, dark, or spread out, soak the clothing in cool water mixed with a stain remover. For food drips and diaper blowouts, use a stain remover with enzymes. OxiClean is a good option, but there are plenty of other stain removers out there as well. Look for ones that prioritize natural ingredients and are fragrance-free.
When in a pinch, try a mix of one part vinegar and one part water (this works especially well for urine).
Sorting Laundry
It’s time to start a load. But do you mix your baby’s clothes with your own laundry?
This comes down mostly to the detergent you use. If you don’t mind using a scent-free detergent, then it’s typically fine to mix the clothes of your family. But some parents have so many baby clothes that they choose to do specific “baby loads.” This makes folding laundry a little easier, so you’re not constantly finding little socks hidden away in your shirt sleeves.
With that said, if you want to keep track of those especially small pieces of clothing, throw them into a mesh laundry bag. Then you can avoid the dreaded “where’s the other sock?” game.
Drying Baby Clothes
For drying, it’s best to look at the clothing’s label. While this is time-consuming at first, soon you’ll be able to recognize which items can be thrown in the dryer and which need to be laid out. The difference often comes down to the material. For example, our onesies for kids are made from 100% Pima Cotton. While cotton is soft and cozy for your little one, it’s notorious for shrinking from the dryer. So it’s best to play it safe and lay these high-quality cotton items out to dry.
Washing Delicate Fabrics
There are certain outfits that you may not want to run through the washing machine, like an heirloom christening gown or a homemade knitted sweater. For special materials, you can handwash these items in lukewarm water, add a little detergent, and swish the clothes around your sink or bucket.
Leave them in the water for 30 minutes, then give them a thorough rinse and hang flat to dry.
Wrap Your Baby in Cozy Hadley’s Bungalow Clothing
At Hadley’s Bungalow, we designed our baby clothing to be incredibly soft, comfortable, and cozy. Check out our full line of cotton onesies to see which set is the perfect match for your beautiful baby.
