How to wash baby clothes and keep them soft

Before the first wear

Wash new baby clothes before your baby wears them, to remove dust and anything left on the fabric from making and packing.

Everyday washing

• Check the care label first: it comes before anything here.
• Use a mild, fragrance-free detergent, and not too much of it. Leftover detergent can bother sensitive skin, so make sure clothes are well rinsed.
• Fasten snaps and zips, and turn printed and appliquéd pieces inside out, so they don’t catch or fade.
• Wash at 30 to 40°C unless the label says otherwise. Hotter washes can shrink knits and fade colours.
• Put small pieces such as socks and mittens in a mesh laundry bag.

Milk, food and nappy stains

• Rinse the stain in cold water as soon as you can. Hot water can set milk and food stains.
• For nappy leaks, rinse in cold water, then soak in water with a little detergent before washing.
• Dry white and light pieces in the sun: sunlight helps fade many stains.

Knits, sherpa, prints and appliqué

• Knitted pieces (waffle, ribbed and cable knits): dry them flat, gently pulled back into shape, rather than hanging them, so they don’t stretch.
• Sherpa and fleece: wash cool, and dry in the air or on low heat. High heat can flatten and mat the pile.
• Prints: wash inside out, and don’t iron directly on the print.
• Embroidery and appliqué: wash inside out, and iron on the reverse if you need to.

Drying

Drying in the air is the gentlest. In strong sun, dry coloured pieces inside out or in the shade so they keep their colour.

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