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Detergents and Fabric Softeners 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. To add your views on this article or read others comments Click Here
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