How to Wash Newborn Clothes? 5-Step Guide for New Parents

New member arriving at your home soon? It is as exciting as it is concerning new parents. 

The mountain of newborn laundry can get stressful sometimes. Washing a baby’s new and used clothes requires significant considerations. There are a few common mistakes parents often make while washing baby clothes that affect the baby’s skin. 

Here’s How to Wash Newborn Clothes correctly. Also, find pre-treating stains and the importance of disinfection. 

Types of Baby Laundry Detergents 

Baby skins are super sensitive. Parents often wonder if they should wash newborn clothes using the same detergent they use to wash their clothes. No! 

Before you start the exploration of How to Wash Newborn Clothes, you must find the accurate detergent that can accommodate your baby’s skin. Skin issues like rashes, eczema, and candle caps can cause major irritations due to the wrong detergents. 

A lot of detergent companies have made detergents made specifically for baby garments. Here are some safe choices that you should consider while choosing the right detergent: 

• Mild and gentle 
• Contain no bleach 
• Free of fragrance 
• Contain no fabric softener 

Now that you have the perfect detergent that causes no harm to your baby’s skin, let’s explore 5 steps on How to Wash Newborn Clothes:

How to Wash Newborn Clothes?

1. Sort Clothes 

Baby skin tends to be more delicate so the manufacturers use soft fabrics to make baby clothes. It is best to wash newborn garments separately from the rest of the family’s laundry. 

You can create a “Baby only” pile to sort baby clothes. You can also check the clothing care labels to divide according to fabric type, hand wash, machine wash, temperature cycles, and more.

2. Pre-treat Stains 

Baby apparels often get stains from food, diaper blowouts, and spit-ups. Pre-treating solid stains is essential before directly jumping into the washing step. You can use a gentle stain remover and scrub with a soft brush. It can help you break the stain. 

After treating the stain, place the clothes into the washing machine, add baby cloth detergent, and select the correct mode. You can also choose to hand wash if preferable. 

3. Perform Double Rinse

Once the cleaning cycle is complete, it is time to double-rinse the clothes. Paediatricians suggest that the double-rinse method ensures that the clothes are completely detergent-free. This step is essential as with even baby detergents there might be still chances of skin irritations. 

Double rinsing is the most crucial step of How to Wash Newborn Clothes. A second thorough rinse can ensure newborn’s clothes are allergen-free and fragrance-free. 

4. Dry The Clothes 

Now it is finally time to dry the clothes. To dry newborn garments, you should use the lowest heat settings or the best air drying. High heat can damage the gentle fabric of the clothes and irritate the baby’s skin. 

5. Inspect Carefully 

The most common mistake new parents make is starting to assemble the clothes right after drying them. You should always inspect the clothes to ensure the buttons are not too sharp or there are no insects in the clothes. 

Tips for Hand Washing 

When we talk about How to Wash Newborn Clothes, we mean washing using a machine. Cleaning baby clothes manually is the best way to follow all instructions on the label. Here are some tips that you can follow to hand-wash the tiny attire: 

• You can use warm water for washing baby clothes as it helps in killing bacteria. 
• Soak the clothes for 30 minutes to break all strains. 
• Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear. 
• Hand-clean wires to air dry the clothes. 

When to Wash Newborn Clothes?

You may think that washing the clothes is necessary when the baby’s get them dirty. No way! You need to wash the clothes every single day even if they are not dirty. 

You also need to wash the clothes when you first buy them. The simple reason is, that when you buy a new dress, you really do not know what is on it even though it looks fresh. Free-washing the clothes ensures that there is no strong fragrance or harmful additional colours on them. 

How to Pre-Treat Stains?

Pre-treating stains from baby clothes can be a challenge if not treated early. It is one of the most crucial processes when we talk about How to Wash Newborn Clothes. 

Stains from baby food, poop, and spit-ups require immediate actions and avoid excess clothing mess. Here are some steps that you can follow to pre-treat stains: 

• The best way is to use stain removers on the messed area. Put some drops of stain remover and gently rub using a soft-bristled brush. 
• If you do not want to use chemical stain removal, you can use white vinegar. Let the vinegar soak for several minutes and then process for the washing step. 
• If the stain is old, make a paste of vinegar and baking soda. Apply on the stain, leave for a few minutes, and wash with mild detergent. 

No matter what process of How to Wash Newborn Clothes you follow, make sure the laundry products are not harmful to the baby’s skin. 

Importance of Disinfecting Newborn Clothes 

Disinfecting newborn clothes is important to avoid bacterial infections. Suppose you have two kids at home. If one has a bacterial infection, it tends to spread quickly among kids. 

Sanitising the clothes ensures that the infection is not spread and is cured quickly. You can add laundry sanitising products while rinsing the clothes. Checking the sanitiser’s level will help you understand the correct cycle of regular sanitisation. 

Dos and Don’ts

Understanding How to Wash Newborn Clothes also requires significant consideration of some dos and don’ts. There is nothing fancy; I just have shared some of my personal suggestions that I follow for my kids: 

Dos	Don’ts
Using the gentle cycle mode of the washing machine can do the job perfectly.	Prefer not to use fabric softeners as they contain harmful chemicals and fragrances.
You should use a separate laundry basket to maintain hygiene and prevent spreading infections.	There is no need to go for fancy detergent. Go for simple, fragrance-free, and dye that works best.
Treat the stains as soon as possible to prevent them from getting messier and more strong.	Highly avoid bleach as they are harsh for newborn baby’s sensitive skin.

Best Ways to Store Washed Newborn Clothes

No matter how well you research How to Wash Newborn Clothes, if you don’t know how to store the washed clothes properly, it can still affect your newborn’s clothes. Explore some of my suggestions that can be handy for the changing seasons: 

• Storages: You need to gather storage supplies like boxes, bags, or separate cupboards, especially for your newborn. It will protect you from dust, moisture, bacteria, and pests. 
• Clean and Sort: Spart of storing in separate storage, it is essential to separate the garments. Make sure that all clothes are properly cleaned and dried. Separate by newborn clothes sizing, seasons, footwear, regular wares, dresses, and sleepwear. It ensures that you are not mixing the clothes every time. 
• Fold and Pack: Fold the baby clothes neatly to save space and minimise wrinkles. Avoid storing too many clothes in one place. Overstuffing can cause excessive wrinkles and damage. 

Conclusion 

Are you concerned about your baby’s clothes? We hope the above guide on How to Wash Newborn Clothes has been helpful to you. Following the proper steps will ensure that the baby’s garments are safe and do not cause any harm to their super-sensitive skin. 

But remember, washing a newborn’s clothes does not have to be too fancy, really! Just using a mild detergent, stain remover, and clothes sanitiser can do the job perfectly. 

Frequently Asked Questions