As you are aware, the health of your children depends on cleanliness and hygiene. If you would like to safeguard their health by having them wear fresh, clean clothes, but don’t want to send them in potentially toxic clothing, use this guide as a reference for how to launder their clothing safely.
1. Read the labels on all of your children’s clothes. Look for the words “low impact dyes” or “eco-friendly”. If a clothing item is made from fabrics colored with eco-friendly dyes, it will be labeled as such.
2. Buy only organic detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets. These products are made from natural ingredients that are much safer than other products that could potentially be harmful to your children.
3. Do not dry clean any of your children’s clothes. Dry cleaning uses chemicals that should never come into contact with skin, especially children’s sensitive skin!
Laundering clothing is a common household chore that many people do on a weekly basis. It is important to make sure you are doing it correctly to ensure the safety of your children.
Wash clothing in hot water every load of laundry you wash. This will kill all germs and viruses that may be on the clothing.
Wash clothes with scented soap and fabric softener. This will make sure that your children’s clothes smell nice and are soft to the touch.
Make sure to dry each load of laundry completely before folding and putting away. This will prevent the fabrics from wrinkling and ensure all bacteria is dead.
1. Separate clothes from other laundry and sort by color.
2. Pre-treat stains.
3. If your child’s clothing has been soiled by poop, vomit, or other body secretions such as sweat, it is recommended that the item be washed in hot water and with a detergent containing bleach.
4. Check the care label on the articles of clothing to determine the proper setting on your washing machine and dryer. Your choice of water temperature is important because it determines how well different types of stains will be removed, and how much soil will be loosened and removed from clothing during the wash cycle.
5. Wash whites in hot water to kill bacteria and remove any stubborn stains. For example, you can wash cloth diapers and items soiled with formula, urine, or saliva in hot water combined with a bleach alternative for brilliant white results.[1]
6. Wash colors in warm or cool water depending on the type of fabric being laundered (see “Machine Washing Care Labels” on page 18). In general, warm water works best for durable fabrics such as jeans and towels while cooler temperatures are fine for most other clothes such as sweaters, shirts, blouses, underwear, pajamas, socks, T
Is it okay to wash my child’s clothes with my own? The answer is NO. Children’s clothes should always be washed separately from your own for many reasons:
Children’s clothing is more likely to contain allergens, body oils and other contaminants.
Children’s clothing may require different washing instructions than your own. For example, you may need to wash a child’s shirt in cold water, but not an adult shirt.
Children often play outside and their clothing can be more soiled than clothing worn by adults. Because of this, children’s clothing should be washed using more detergent than regular loads of laundry to remove ground-in soil and stains.
Can I use bleach on my child’s clothes? Yes, if you wish to do so, but make sure that the fabric can handle a bleaching solution. For example, never apply bleach to wool or silk because they are proteins that will be damaged by bleach. Bleach should also not be used on spandex or other elastic fibers as it will destroy the elasticity of the fabric. Check the manufacturer’s care label on the item before using bleach on the fabric.
What stain removers can I use on my child’s clothes? Many types of stain removers are available for treating difficult stains
If you are a parent, you probably have a lot of experience with stains. Messes happen on a daily basis. If you don’t find yourself trying to remove stains from clothing, then you are likely cleaning them off walls or floors. One of the best ways to remove stains is to keep up a regular cleaning schedule and be prepared for messes that happen.
All Parent’s Should Have A Portable Washer
If you have children, you should consider purchasing a portable washer and dryer unit. This will allow you to wash clothes whenever they get dirty, eliminating the need to take multiple trips to the laundromat. It will also allow you to wash smaller loads of laundry in between your weekly laundry trips, which is more energy efficient and cost effective.