Tips for moms – the main rules for washing your baby's clothes
It's clear to everyone that a newborn's immune system isn't as strong as an adult's, and their skin is extremely delicate. That's why it's important to follow a few key washing guidelines for your baby. Here are the basics:
The first and perhaps most important rule: children's clothes (and dirty ones) should ALWAYS be washed separately from adult clothes until they reach three years of age. Any burps or bowel movements should, of course, be washed off with water and a brush beforehand.
Laundry Tips
It's best to load dirty baby clothes into the washing machine right away. Don't let them pile up if you want to make your life easier: firstly, it'll be much easier to organize your baby's wardrobe, and secondly, fresh stains are much easier to remove.
In particularly severe cases, you should first soak baby clothes for an hour in either a soap solution or a vinegar solution.
IMPORTANT: After washing, rinse baby clothes as thoroughly as possible, as residual washing powder can cause skin irritation and itching!
It's also advisable to dry children's clothes separately. Hang them so they don't get exposed to street dust.
If a mother is breastfeeding, it's also best to wash and dry her clothes separately. Choosing the right detergent is also important.
Young mothers often neglect washing new baby clothes, thinking that because they're new, they're clean. But that's not true! All new baby clothes must be washed! New clothes have passed through dozens of hands, from the cutter to the salesperson. Can you be sure they're sterile?
Details
To iron or not to iron?
Of course, yes. Carefully iron washed baby clothes on both sides. This is essential for disinfection. High temperatures and steam will kill any germs and bacteria. Furthermore, well-ironed baby clothes are softer to the touch, making them much more comfortable for your baby. It's especially important to iron baby clothes while the umbilical cord is still fresh. During this period, your baby is especially vulnerable to various infections.
How to wash children's clothes
It's crucial to choose the right detergents. Today's industry offers a huge selection of detergents for children's clothes. Always read the ingredients carefully. Don't neglect this rule, even if the packaging says 0+. Remember that allergic dermatitis in children is most often caused by washing children's clothes with detergents containing phosphates or chlorine.
IMPORTANT: Never use detergents containing harsh phosphates, chlorine, or fragrances! Also, avoid washing baby clothes with bleach, fabric softener, or fabric conditioner. They can cause allergies in your child. It's best to replace stain removers with more natural products like hydrogen peroxide or vinegar solution: they're safer, better quality, and less expensive.
By hand or in a machine?
Cotton baby clothes are perfectly suitable for machine washing. The key is to choose the right cycle. Many machines have a "Baby Wash" cycle or similar. It's best to set the temperature to 75-90 degrees Celsius. Be sure to set the extra rinse cycle. Generally, machine washing is preferable for baby clothes. There's no point in wasting time hand-washing them unless absolutely necessary. Besides, the temperature in the washing machine is much higher. The key is choosing the right detergents.
Laundry soap has become all the rage among young mothers lately, apparently inspired by older grandmothers. It certainly won't handle heavy soiling, but it's perfectly adequate for regular baby laundry: it's natural, hypoallergenic, and does a good job of softening laundry. The best option is to grate the soap using a regular grater and place it in the detergent compartment.
As for hand washing, in some cases it's truly essential. The key here is thorough rinsing. This is just as important as choosing the right detergent. Hand-washed laundry should be rinsed at least 2-3 times. Ideally, rinse in hot water, then warm, and then 2-3 times in cold water. Baby's clothes should be soaked first, depending on the soiling, for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
And don't forget to check the care labels for the optimal washing temperature. Knitwear, for example, shouldn't be washed above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) as it will lose its appearance. Wool is best washed at 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).
Wash whites separately, and colors separately. Individual stains can be treated separately with a brush and soap.
There's another category of baby clothing that shouldn't be washed at all. For example, warm sleeping bags or onesies. Only thorough steaming can help here. A steam generator or iron will do the trick.
