Washing the baby's clothes in washing machine saves a lot of time and energy. It eases out the washing process. Washing the clothes in a washing machine requires sorting out of the clothes. Here are few tips for washing your baby’s clothes in a washing machine.Are there any special tips for loading the washing machine?
Loading an automatic washer to capacity saves time and energy, but overloading causes poor cleaning because the clothes will not swish around. Do not pack them down, say the experts; drop them loosely into the basket. Permanent press clothes especially will retain their shade better if they are not crammed together. Clothes also get cleaner when you have a mix of large and small items. But be sure to load evenly. Do not, for instance put all the towels on one side and all the underwear on the other.
Should I use hot water or cold water?
Cold water is fine for the average wash so long as your tap water is around 70 degrees. Some liquid detergents will do okay at lower temperatures, but powdered detergents need warm water to dissolve completely. Hot water is unnecessary unless you are disinfecting diapers and beddings or washing whites. Rinse water can always be cold - it actually keeps the clothes from wrinkling.
Which items require special care?
Here are some items which require special care.
Plastic items
Pants, bibs - should be washed on a short cycle for about 4 minutes and tumbled in the dryer without heat. The same thing applies to vinyl-backed soaker pants.
Woollen blankets
These should be soaked in detergent water for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then water should be drained out of the washer and the usual rinse cycle should be used. Dry for 10-15 minutes in the dryer. While the blankets are still damp, take them out and spread them on a flat surface to finish drying.
Sleepwear
Flame-retardant sleepwear should not be washed with soap because it leaves residue which interferes with the flame-retardant properties.
What precautions should be taken?
Have a quick look at the precautions that should be taken while washing your baby’s clothes in washing machine.
Wash Baby’s Clothes Separately
Do not mix your clothes with your baby’s clothes. A baby’s clothes are dirtier than an adult’s clothes. Therefore, while washing them together can cause the stains from your baby’s clothes to get passed on to your clothes.
Sort Baby’s Clothes Properly
Before dumping your baby’s clothes into the washing machine, you will have to sort them carefully. Make sure that you keep and clean the clothes in which your baby has pooped separately. It can become quite a mess if these clothes enter your washing machine. There are the chances of other clothes getting the stains of poop. The best way is to wash such clothes immediately instead of keeping them stocked for washing them in bulk.
Choose the Right Detergent
There is no need to buy a separate detergent for washing your baby’s clothes. You can use the one which you are use for washing your clothes provided that it is not too harsh. Make sure that the detergent does not contain fabric softener, bleaches or perfumes.
Do not put too much of detergent in the washing machine. Before putting it in the washing machine, make sure that you let it dissolve in water and put it in the washing machine after that. The detergent particles may not dissolve properly and get stuck in your baby’s clothes. Such remains of detergent in baby’s clothes can prove harmful to her skin.
You must also take few precautions after you finish washing your baby’s clothes in your washing machine. Do not leave clothes damp for long time and let them dry in sun or air. While putting the clothes for drying, check that there are no remains of detergent in them. After clothes get dried, fold them properly and check that there are no ants or other insects in them.
