Clothes of babies have to be washed thoroughly to remove any traces of soap or detergents, as these are harmful for baby's skin. Choice of soaps or detergents for washing the clothes depends on type of water and one's preference. Here are some smart tips, read on.
Is it better to use
detergents or soaps
Traditionalists advocate washing baby clothes separately for about the first six months. Soap is recommended
because it tends to have fewer additives that might irritate the skin.
However, soap works best in soft water - the extra minerals found in hard water combine chemically with soap, leaving a film on clothes. If
you are in hard water area, you can install a water softener, or add a
softener like borax to your wash, or use a detergent instead of soap.
If you choose to use a detergent
you will need to find the one that works best for you, as detergent formulas
vary widely. To avoid potential skin irritations, be sure the clothes
are thoroughly rinsed. Whatever product you use, measure carefully.
Remember that the purpose of soap or detergent is not only to get the dirt
out of the clothes but also to keep it suspended in the water until it
can be rinsed away. If there is not enough soap, dirt may settle
back into the clothes.
How much detergent
or soap should I be adding to the load
Start with the amount recommended
on the package, and add more if you have hard water, or cool wash water,
or a larger than average load or especially heavy soil. If the amount
of soap needed to clean your clothes makes more suds than your washer can
handle, switch to a low sudsing product. (A serious overflow can
be contained by sprinkling salt on suds to melt them away.)
Should I use fabric
softeners for my baby's clothes
Use fabric softener in your baby's
wash - it leaves clothes feathery soft and eliminates the static that makes
one pair of stretchies cling for dear life to another. Many softeners
must be added during the rinse cycle, because they leave greasy-looking
stains on the clothes if they combine with detergents or soap during the
wash cycle. (The stains can be removed by wetting the clothes, rubbing
in a liquid detergent and rewashing).
If your machine does not have a fabric
softener dispenser that automatically puts in the softener during the final
rinse cycle, either buy the kind that can be added during the wash cycle
or one of the treated strips that you toss into the dryer. Softeners
work by coating the fibers in the fabric so that they don't mat into hard
little bunches. Over time, the softener may build up, making fabrics
less absorbent, so you may not want to use it every time you wash.
Name:
jazmine
Country: usa
what chemicals are in fabric softeners?
Name:
Anastasia
Country: france
would fabric softener be irritated by the chemicals
Name:
Melissa
Country: usa
please note that using a fabric softner on infants sleepwear is no longer recommended because the softner removes the flame resisitant coating on infant sleepwear.
Name:
diamond
Country: france
are your products good?
Name:
Amrita
Country: india
should i wash the new clothes before using them on the baby?
Name:
paula
Country: other
they should have sports clothes as they are light and looks good
Name:
Cynthia
Country: usa
thank you for your help on cloth diapers. i need help with lipstick stain on clothing,any help out there i sure need it.
Name:
Luvbug
Country: usa
cloth diapers shouldn't be bleached to remove stains as it weakens the fibers and over time will ruin them. placing the diapers in the sun will get the stains out just as effectively as bleaching with out the negative effects. also fabric softener acts as a waterproofer and should never be used on cloth diapers. cloth diapers are better line dried and then fluffed in the dryer to prevent fiber breakdown.
Name:
Me-Me
Country: usa
what kind of fabric softeners can i use for my baby clothes.
Name:
Seema
Country: canada
when washing cloth diapers be sure to use the hottest available water. this not only deep cleans the diapers but as well, helps to kill bacteria. rubber pants should be gently hand washed in warm water, rinsed, then pinned up on the outdoor clothesline. care should be taken to not overload your washing machine when washing cloth diapers. a maximum of 24 flat fold type cotton diapers should only be washed at one given time.
Name:
Seema
Country: canada
when it comes to laundering cloth diapers using any sort of fabric softener will definitely make the diapers feel greasy and make them less absorbant. i once knew a mother that ironed her baby's cloth diapers and this too will lessen the absorbancy. it's best to just wash cloth diapers in hot water with a mild detergent and line dry them when at all possible. if you do find that the diapers are a little stiff after you take them down off the washline, simply toss them into the electric clothes dryer with a damp towel for a minute or so and they'll come out baby soft and super absorbant.
Name:
Seema
Country: canada
when it comes to sorting baby's laundry a good rule of thumb is always keeping the baby's diapers and things away from other clothing items. i use one diaper pail for wet and soiled diapers, rubber pants, and baby wash cloths while the other diaper pail is reserved for pyjama bottoms, t-shirts, and underwear. this keeps bacteria down to a minimum and helps keep non diapering items smelling clean and fresh.
Name:
Seema
Country: canada
staining of both cloth diapers and rubber pants is common, perfectly natural, and all part of using re-usable diapers. in a lot of cases diaper staining is usually not overly obvious as staining is often light in color and usually fades somewhat over time with laundering and exposure to direct sunlight. i have yet to come across either cloth baby diapers or rubber panties that have not suffered some sort of staining and i'm talking right from as far back as my babysitting days.
Name:
Talya
Country: canada
proper diaper rinsing is absolutely crucial in the prevention of permanent staining. some mothers i know dry soak their babies cloth diapers in the diaper pail which can result in heavy, permanent staining. before tossing soiled cloth diapers into the diaper pail rinse them inside the swirling water of a flushing toilet, while the whole time dunking the dirty diaper up and down. this up and down motion will help loosen any bm from the fabric of the diapers and help to keep staining down to a minimum.
Name:
Laurie
Country: canada
if you need to remove a stain, particularly baby spit-up or inevitable leakage from diapers, try using the stain remover called zout! it works best if you address the stain right away. just apply to fresh stain, let it sit, then rinse out the item. it even removed fresh raspberry stains from a linen outfit!! awesome stuff.
Name:
nursery nurse
Country: usa
if you wish to use fabric softners, make sure to read the label. many fabric softners are not recommrnded on infant sleepwear labeled as flame resistant(it may reduce the flame resistance in the material).
Name: Country: hong kong
Name: Country: mauritius
Name: Country: mauritius
Name: Country: equatorial guinea
Name:
jonny13
Country: jonny15
jonny13
Name: Country: Luxembourg
Name:
jazmine
Country: usa
would the fabric softener be affective to other things like people or plants?
Name:
Lialah
Country: kenya
what do i do if a bleach stain gets on my new clothes but it's had time to settle (2 hrs.)
Name:
Carolyn Cestnick
Country: canada
as soon as thse the potential stain hits the garment - coat it with spray & wasp and you can leave it until you have time to clean it - stain usually comes out!
