Special Laundry Challenges When You Have A Newborn

baby laundryIf you have never cared for a newborn before, you will be surprised at just how much laundry that tiny bundle of joy can generate.

Here are our tips to help you handle all those dirty sleepers, and blankets, and bibs, and bedding, and… well, you got the idea.

  1. Choose a laundry detergent especially made for baby laundry. Not only do these products, like Dreft, smell wonderful, they have ingredients designed to deal with laundry made dirty from leaky diapers, baby food, formula and milk, etc. These products are also designed to rinse out more completely so that less residue remains that could irritate babies tender skin. An extra rinse with just plain cold water will also help remove any detergent residue.
  2. As your child gets older, consider detergents free of dyes and fragrances, which can also be irritating to sensitive skin.
  3. Generally speaking, liquid detergents do a better job with food stains than powdered detergents.
  4. Use the recommended amount of detergent, or slightly less than the recommended amount. Too much detergent will not improve cleaning and can cause build up.
  5. Adding a half cup of baking soda to the water when pre-washing or washing can help remove stains and odors.
  6. Do not use fabric softener. It can interfere with the flame retardant properties of infant and children’s clothing. [Infant clothing]
  7. Instead of fabric softener, try adding one-half cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse water. Not only will this add softness and prevent static cling, it also helps eliminate any soap build up.
  8. Pre-treat stains as soon as you can. When possible, use a pre-treater especially designed for baby and children’s clothing, or one that contains enzymes.
  9. If you use cloth diapers, consider using a diaper service or a pre-soak with washing soda, baking soda, or vinegar.
  10. Small clothing, like baby socks, can get lost in a washer. Use a mesh lingerie bag to keep baby’s tiny clothing together for easier handling.

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