How to wash baby clothes: first wash, detergent, stains and sleepwear

Step by step: how to wash baby clothes

Safety first. Keep laundry detergent pods and all laundry products locked up or high out of reach of babies and toddlers. Pods are small, colorful and can burst in a child’s mouth. If a child swallows or squirts detergent, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away.

1. 1

   Wash everything new before the first wear

   Wash new clothes, bibs, blankets and crib sheets before your baby uses them. This removes finishing chemicals, dust and whatever the clothes picked up in stores and warehouses. Coats and snowsuits that barely touch skin can wait.

2. 2

   Read the labels and sort

   Check each tag for wash temperature and for sleepwear labeled flame resistant or snug fitting. Sort by color, and keep heavily soiled items apart until they have been rinsed.

3. 3

   Fasten snaps, zips and Velcro

   Close snaps and zippers and fasten Velcro tabs on bibs so they do not snag other clothes. Put socks, mittens and tiny hats in a mesh bag so they do not vanish into the washer seal.

4. 4

   Rinse and pretreat stains right away

   Rinse spit-up, milk, formula and poop out under cold running water as soon as you can, then rub a gentle stain remover or a drop of detergent into the spot. If you cannot get to it, drop the item in a bucket of cool water and detergent until laundry time.

5. 5

   Choose a gentle detergent and the normal dose

   Use a detergent your family already uses, or a fragrance-free, dye-free one if your baby has sensitive skin, eczema or rashes. Measure to the cap line; extra detergent leaves residue that can irritate skin.

6. 6

   Wash warm, or as the label allows

   Wash on a normal cycle in the warmest water the care labels allow. Add an extra rinse if your baby has sensitive skin or you have hard water. Baby clothes can go in with the family wash unless the label or a rash says otherwise.

7. 7

   Dry on low and store when fully dry

   Tumble dry on low or medium, or hang to dry. Cotton can shrink on high heat, and tiny sleepers have no room to spare. Fold and store only once everything is completely dry.

Do you need a special baby detergent?

No, most babies do not need a special baby detergent, and baby clothes can usually be washed with the family laundry. Switch to a fragrance-free, dye-free detergent if your baby shows signs of skin irritation.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org page on cleaning baby clothes says it is a good idea to wash all clothes before using them, notes that many parents simply wash baby clothes with the rest of the family laundry without problems, and suggests moving to a milder baby or hypoallergenic, fragrance-free detergent only if your baby develops skin irritation. It also recommends mesh bags for small items like socks and fastening Velcro tabs before washing.

Tide’s baby laundry guidance suggests a fragrance-free, gentle detergent for sensitive skin and pretreating stains with a small amount of detergent before washing.

How to get common baby stains out

Most baby stains are protein or fat, so cold rinse first, then detergent, then a warm wash. Hot water first can set protein stains.

The AAP suggests stocking a good stain remover and a spot for soaking soiled clothes, because getting even some of a stain off while fresh makes a big difference. OxiClean points to its fragrance-free and baby stain remover versions for baby clothes, used as a 1 to 6 hour soak before washing. For ointment stains, follow how to get Aquaphor out of clothes.

Washing flame-resistant sleepwear

Wash flame-resistant pajamas with regular detergent and avoid soap flakes. In the US, children’s sleepwear above infant sizes is either flame resistant or snug fitting, and the label tells you which.

According to the AAP, ordinary detergents do not strip the flame-retardant properties of sleepwear, but soap flakes can. Follow the care label on flame-resistant pieces, and check whether it advises against fabric softener or dryer sheets, since some manufacturers say these can affect the finish. Snug-fitting cotton sleepwear has no chemical finish and washes like any other cotton.

Mistakes to avoid

• Skipping the first wash on new clothes and blankets.
• Rinsing milk or poop stains in hot water, which sets the protein.
• Using extra detergent “to be safe,” which leaves residue against sensitive skin.
• Washing flame-resistant pajamas with soap flakes.
• Drying tiny cotton sleepers on high heat until they shrink a size.
• Leaving detergent pods on top of the washer where a toddler can reach them.