How To Wash Baby Clothes Without Shrinking Them
Wondering how to wash baby clothes without shrinking them? Then let us answer your question and more!
It’s not difficult to get lost in the world of baby clothing, as a new parent. There is a vast range of brands and beautiful outfits to choose from.
But just like your little one, baby clothes are much more delicate and need to be treated with care. So how do we wash them without shrinking them?
Babies grow so quickly as it is, the last thing you want to do is make them smaller and need to repurchase them more frequently!
Well, no more! Keep reading for some handy tips and tricks on how to wash your baby clothes without shrinking them.
And if you love this guide on how to wash baby clothes without shrinking, make sure to check out our guides on when to wash baby clothes, best baby fabric softener and can you bleach baby clothes? Or even this guide on should you wash new baby clothes!
Can Baby Clothes Shrink In The Wash?
Yes, baby clothes can shrink in the wash if you wash them at too high a temperature.
All types of baby clothing are naturally small. They are often made of a range of different fabrics, and this fabric blend means that they can’t be treated like any other kind of clothes.
Each fabric has its fiber structure and therefore, they react in different ways when they are continually washed and worn.
Fabrics with natural fibers, such as cotton and wool, are more flexible and stretchy than the classic synthetic materials, like nylon and polyester.
You can find the kind of fabric on the label of your baby clothes.
We recommend checking the label and the type of fabric before you buy the clothes. This ensures that you get only items that are made of durable fibers and can be cared for easily.
It’s also a good idea to check the weave of the baby’s clothing. Materials with a loose weave allow for a lot of stretching when worn.
However, these items tend to shrink more readily after a few washing and drying cycles.
How To Stop Baby Clothes From Shrinking
Luckily, there are ways to prevent your baby’s clothes from shrinking over time.
Use The Right Temperature For Washing Baby Clothing
When you plan to do laundry with baby clothes, then you should treat infant clothes as delicate items. Most modern washing machines have a delicate cycle option or a delicate setting.
This means your washing machine will wash these clothes with cold water.
If you are using a washer-dryer, then you need to ensure that the dryer is set to low heat.
This is a general rule of thumb. However, it’s best to check the label first. It will indicate the type of fabric and a recommended washing temperature.
The care labels also indicate if you can dry (or even iron) your baby’s clothes. Some pieces of clothing may require hand washing.
While not always practical, hand wash is generally a good option for cleaning baby clothes.
It is a lot more gentle on the garments than your washing machine. As handwashing does take more time, you may want to hand wash only the most delicate baby clothes, or heavily stained items.
Use The Right Detergent
In addition to the right temperature for washing, it’s important to use the right detergent and softener for your baby’s clothes.
Detergents and softeners work by breaking down the chemicals that cause fabrics to shrink. Some detergents contain enzymes that break down stains, but they can also harm the fabric.
Other detergents may also contain bleach. Bleach helps remove stains but it can damage the fabric.
The majority of detergents contain perfumes and dyes that can not only harm the natural or synthetic fibers of the baby’s clothing but also your baby’s sensitive skin.
The best way to prevent any allergies and skin irritations is to use a detergent that’s specifically designed for baby laundry.
These detergents usually don’t contain any dye or fragrances. You should also check for bleach and fabric softener.
While baby laundry detergents are a little more expensive, they are guaranteed to be free of any dangerous ingredients and safe for your toddler.
Wash Infant Clothes Inside Out
You don’t usually have to wash baby clothes inside out but it does cause less wear on the outside of the piece of clothing.
We would also recommend washing baby clothes inside out when the items have zips, buttons, or any other embellishments that could rub against other clothes.
This can cause further wear, and sometimes even cause rips and damage to the clothes.
Tumble Dry Baby Clothes
Most people think that tumble drying their baby clothes is bad because it causes the items to lose shape.
This isn’t true! Tumbling your baby clothes in the right way protects them from fading and makes them last longer.
Saying this, you should always check the care label to ensure you can dry your baby clothes safely.
Most parents we know found that tumble-drying baby clothing on a low heat setting works well, and it prevents shrinking the small garments.
If you try to dry baby items on high heat, you’ll find that it dries the clothes faster but when you do this more often, then the high temperature will ruin the clothes.
If you don’t have a tumble dryer, then you can simply air dry your baby clothes. Just place them out into the sun and allow the items to dry naturally.
This option definitely will not shrink the clothes, and it also saves on energy costs.
Final Thoughts on How to Wash Baby Clothes Without Shrinking Them
There are many different ways to wash your baby’s clothes, and each method has its benefits and drawbacks.
The best way to wash your baby’s clothes is to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Always read the care labels carefully so you know what temperature to use when washing, and whether you can put your delicate baby clothing into the dryer.
Washing baby clothes isn’t difficult when you treat these items as more delicate. Just like your baby, they deserve the best of care to last for a long time.
And if you’re looking for more great baby guides, then check out these clothing guides on how often do you change baby clothes, best dryer sheets for babies, how many baby clothes do I need, and when to start buying baby clothes.
