How to Wash Baby Clothes| all® Laundry (2024)

It’s easy to gush over baby clothes. Whether you’re stocking up on sustainable second-hand outfits or have your sights set on buying new, knowing how to clean baby clothes is something you can learn before bringing your baby home.

PRE-WASHING BABY CLOTHES

While you may not always feel inclined to wash before you wear when you’re shopping for yourself, baby clothes should be treated a little differently before first use. It’s a good idea to pre-wash newly purchased baby clothes because they may have been treated with things like flame retardants, have excess dye, etc. For hand-me-down baby clothes, pre-washing just helps ensure the clothes are clean for their newest wearer. Old or new, always start the laundry process bychecking the item’s laundry care symbols.

Pre-washing doesn’t mean you have to wash and dry every single onesie, burp cloth, and towel before the baby is born. Just make sure to wash baby clothes or linen before you use them.

Tip:Pre-wash baby clothes in phases, starting with items marked in sizes newborn through 0-3 months. This helps avoid washing things your baby may grow out of quickly – or items they may not wear at all.

PICKING THE RIGHT DETERGENT FOR WASHING BABY CLOTHES

There are some detergent options that are labeled as being “gentle for baby,” which tend to be dye-free but may have a light scent. If you’re interested in washing baby clothes with regular detergent that you could use for your whole family versus one marketed for babies, considerall® free clear laundry detergent, from the #1 detergent brand recommended by dermatologists, allergists, and pediatricians for sensitive skin.

SORTING BABY CLOTHES BEFORE YOU WASH

It’s a good idea to wash baby clothes separately from other household items and clothing and to sort by level of soil in case any items require pre-treatment for stains. For smaller items like socks, bibs, swaddles, etc., you may want to consider a mesh laundry bag to help minimize snags.

Tip:Baby clothes are notorious for having all types of fasteners – buttons, snaps, zippers. Before you place baby clothes into the washer, be sure to zip, snap, or button the garments to avoid damaging any of the hardware.

WASHING BABY CLOTHES

If you’re washing cloth diapers, you may wish to use warm water, however, when washing baby clothes like onesies, towels, and other linen, you can feel comfortable washing with cold water unless the care label says otherwise.

DRYING BABY CLOTHES

We know that once something is washed it needs to be dried, but with baby clothes, how you choose to dry them matters, too. There aredryer sheetsthat are formulated to be gentle for sensitive skin, but it’s best to steer clear of products with added ingredients that are not necessary for cleaning.

Delicate baby clothes or especially well-loved hand-me-downs may be better off with hang-drying or line-drying versus a machine dryer. For all other items, if the care label gives it the OK, you can use your machine dryer, but may want to use a gentle setting.

STORING BABY CLOTHES

How and where you plan tostore your baby clotheswill depend on what space you have available. If your baby will have its own dedicated closet, getting a set of baby hangers and organizing outfits by size range (0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, etc.).

Tip:If you’re using a closet and hangers, consider repurposing a hanging shoe rack as a hanging shelf system to fold special items, or to hold things like socks, burp cloths, and crib sheets.

Before your baby outgrows their clothes and moves onto the next size range and/or season, think through how you’ll store your clothes to reuse as hand-me-downs in the future. Vacuum storage bags are great, and make it easy to group seasons and sizes together.

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How to Wash Baby Clothes| all® Laundry (2024)

FAQs

How to Wash Baby Clothes| all® Laundry? ›

Wash the clothes in cold or warm water on a gentle cycle. Skip the add ons. Don't forget to avoid using fabric softeners and bleach. These are absolute no-go's for a new baby, to avoid them coming into contact with artificial fragrances and chemicals that can irritate their skin.

How to wash all baby clothes? ›

Baby clothes can usually be washed using warm water on a “normal” or “gentle” wash cycle depending on the fabric. Some materials, like cotton, can be better maintained with cooler water temperatures, so be sure to consult your laundry care tag before selecting a wash temperature.

Do you need a separate washing machine for baby clothes? ›

Alongside, the stains they might create for other clothes are again trouble. Hence, a preferable separate wash for their tiny little clothes is always recommended.

How do you sanitize baby clothes in the washing machine? ›

Sanitize the washer

You'll want to clean the washer and dryer at least once per month using the “tub clean” or “sanitize” cycles.

Should you use dryer sheets for baby clothes? ›

Avoid dryer sheets or fabric softeners. Like with detergent, the chemicals in these products can easily irritate your new baby's sensitive skin. Stick to low heat. While high-heat drying might get the job done quicker, it' a lot more likely to damage clothes.

What is the best detergent to wash baby clothes with? ›

Start with a baby formula detergent, such as ARM & HAMMER™ Baby Liquid Laundry Detergent. You can also try a free and clear formula like ARM & HAMMER™ Sensitive Skin laundry detergents, since dyes and fragrances are often the culprit for skin irritation.

Is it OK to wash all baby clothes together? ›

It's a good idea to wash baby clothes separately from other household items and clothing and to sort by level of soil in case any items require pre-treatment for stains. For smaller items like socks, bibs, swaddles, etc., you may want to consider a mesh laundry bag to help minimize snags.

Do you have to turn baby clothes inside out when washing? ›

It is recommended to wash baby clothes inside out as it can help protect the fabric and seams from general wear and tear. To help maintain the longevity of your baby's clothes, you should also button all buttons and close any zippers before tossing them in your washer.

Do babies need special laundry detergent? ›

In general, you can wash newborn clothes the same way you'd wash an older baby's clothes – in cool water on a gentle cycle setting with regular detergent. If you're worried about your newborn's sensitive skin, you can opt for a baby detergent or any dye- and fragrance-free detergent to start out.

Should you use fabric softener on baby clothes? ›

The answer is NO. You should steer clear of fabric softeners when washing your baby and children's clothes as they can cause irritation and comprise the fabric's fire resistance qualities. Usually, baby clothes are treated with flame-resistant chemicals for safety in case of an emergency or accident.

Can baby clothes go in the dryer? ›

Most baby clothes will hold up just fine in the dryer, so if you have one and want to use it, tumble on! Here are a few things to know about how to dry baby clothes in the dryer: They might take longer than adult clothes!

What disinfectant can you use to wash baby clothes? ›

Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is specially designed to sanitize your laundry and to kill 99.9% of bacteria*. It can be used on most washable fabrics including: Baby Clothes, Gym Clothes, Undergarments, Towels, Bedding, and Delicates.

How do I manage my baby's laundry? ›

Having a mesh bag helps to keep those tiny items in one place. Since baby clothes come with lots of hooks and similar fasteners, they can easily get caught up inside the washing machine and damaged. It's best to fasten all hooks to ensure that nothing comes lose or gets caught up during washing.

What should I wash baby clothes in? ›

The key thing to remember when choosing a detergent for newborn baby clothes is to go for a non-biological detergent. This is because babies have very delicate and sensitive skin, which the stain-busting enzymes in biological detergents can irritate.

Which fabric softener is best for baby clothes? ›

Soft and snuggly clothes without compromise. Nimble Cuddle Lover fabric softener uses only 4 ingredients to soften baby garments whilst being gentle on skin. - MADE FOR SENSITIVE SKIN - only using 4 ingredient to avoid leaving any skin irritating residues on fabric.

Is 30 weeks too early to wash baby clothes? ›

It's recommended that you wash the clothes no earlier than 4-6 weeks before the baby's arrival. Anything between that and the baby's birth is also fine.

Do you wash baby clothes on a delicate cycle? ›

Once the laundry and gentle detergent have been added, start the machine. Jones suggests using a gentle or delicate cycle. “This setting prevents wear and tear on baby clothes and ensures a thorough but gentle cleaning,” she says.

Do I need to wash baby clothes inside out? ›

It is recommended to wash baby clothes inside out as it can help protect the fabric and seams from general wear and tear. To help maintain the longevity of your baby's clothes, you should also button all buttons and close any zippers before tossing them in your washer.

Should I wash baby clothes separately? ›

It's best to wash baby clothes separately from other laundry until baby is at least a few months old. This is to reduce the chance of germs and dirt from other clothing transferring on to baby's clothes and causing irritation to their incredibly sensitive skin.

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