Baby clothes laundry question

[minniebride]

Please no flames for my incredibly stupid question!!!

I am a soon-to-be first time mom and I was just given an entire box of adorable hand me downs.

A few of the clothes have patterns that I can't figure out whether to wash with dark colors or light ones.

1. White and cream colored shirts with little pink flowers on them-can I wash those with solid white tops??

2. Cream colored flannel pullover with dark blue and violet purple flowers all over it. It is part of a set and matches flannel Violet pants. The pants look like I wash with dark colors. Do i wash the top with dark colors too?

3. A white turtleneck shirt that has a navy blue thread embroidered around the color and the sleeves-wash with other white tops???? Similar question with another white turtleneck with a red collar-do I wash with other whites or darks??

4. White stretchy pants with green dots on them. Do i wash with light colors or dark colors?

5. Pullover cotton top with tiny blue, green, red flowers all over it-wash with dark or light colors? The base of the shirt is white but there are flowers all over it. It is part of a set and matches jeans.

Thank you for any advice you might have. I never wear patterns so I am not used to washing clothes with so many patterns and colors!!!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Here's what I do with my daughter's clothes and I have done this since her very first load of laundry. I was all of the baby stuff together (yeap, whites, darks, colors, whatever) and I always use cold water on the gentle cycle and a gentle detergent. I haven't had a problem with any clothes fading, bleeding, stretching, or shrinking yet.

 

[taylor3297]

Here's what I do with my daughter's clothes and I have done this since her very first load of laundry. I was all of the baby stuff together (yeap, whites, darks, colors, whatever) and I always use cold water on the gentle cycle and a gentle detergent. I haven't had a problem with any clothes fading, bleeding, stretching, or shrinking yet.

I did the same thing as this poster. All the clothes together, cold water, and gentle detergent. We used Dreft.

 

[Minnesota!]

I did the same thing as this poster. All the clothes together, cold water, and gentle detergent. We used Dreft.

Same thing here - but reds got washed separately. And we only used the Dreft we got for shower presents.

 

[pixiewings71]

I did the same as well, washing reds in a different load (red bleeds very easily). I've had 3 kids and all their clothes washed fine. I used Dreft on the baby clothes for many years, washed in cold.

 

[bjscheel]

You can do the above, otherwise, I generally go with the base color- a light background goes with lights, even if the print is dark.

 

[Coconut36]

Here's what I do with my daughter's clothes and I have done this since her very first load of laundry. I was all of the baby stuff together (yeap, whites, darks, colors, whatever) and I always use cold water on the gentle cycle and a gentle detergent. I haven't had a problem with any clothes fading, bleeding, stretching, or shrinking yet.

Same here..2 kids later (they are 5 and 8 now) and it was never an issue. If you really worry you can throw a Shout Color Catcher in each load to be safe.

My kids clothes held up well enough to go from #1 to #2 and then to a 3rd child (great nephew) and they were still in great shape.

 

[Christine]

You can do the above, otherwise, I generally go with the base color- a light background goes with lights, even if the print is dark.

Me too.

Also, since these are hand-me-downs, I would assume that most of the color bleeding is done--I mean, they are not brand new, correct?

 

[twinboysmom]

Yep, sounds like we all basically did the same. Everything except red, on cold. We used tide unscented detergent wise per the advice of our pediatrician who said drift has just as much fragrance as regular detergents. I love the smell of deft but he's right. It's just "baby" scented.

 

[aprilgail2]

I didn't use dreft I just used regular detergant and threw everything in together, same as I do for my clothes.

 

[navywifetill2002]

I never washed DD's clothes together and my mom decided to "help" one time and washed all her stuff together...it did not turn out so well!

I would go with the main color of the shirt or item. Don't worry about washing tops and bottoms together, we have lots that get separated when washed. If they are hand me downs they are most likely pretty color set but I would still wash separately just to be safe.

I used All Free and Clear on DD's clothes. Dreft was way too pricey for me and the Free and Clear seemed to do well on her delicate skin.

Remember that all baby clothes (and kids PJ's) that are flame retardant can't be washed with fabric softener or dryer sheets or it negates the flame retardant product.

 

[Poohforyou]

I use a regular free & clear detergent and have always just washed my dd's clothes with ours. I sort darks, lights and whites plus sheets/towels.

I can't get over someone never wearing patterned clothing though.

 

[Desert Dwellers]

I would just separate lights from darks. I always rinsed baby clothes twice, so there wouldn't be any detergent residue to bother baby skin. Also, as noted above, no fabric softener on baby clothes. Actually, I think fabric softener is the debil, so shouldn't be used on anyone's clothes.

 

[Bungle]

We washed the boys clothes in cold with a dye and fragrance free detergent and used vinegar in the rinse cycle so we didn't have to use fabric softener. If you are worried about colors bleeding you can just toss in one of those color catching sheets.

 

[minniebride]

Thank you all so much!! And thank you for not thinking I am an idiot Lol

I purchased Dreft and before I read all of these replies, I used fragrance free hypo-allergenic fabric softener sheets. Do you think thats ok?

So I can wash everything together in cold, huh? Wow, that makes things much easier!

You guys noted except for reds. What about dark purples or blacks or hot pinks? Can those be washed together with whiter or lighter clothing?

Yes, most of the clothes I received were hand me downs. There were. Few outfits that were new though-tags still on them.

Should I wash new clothing differently?

Last question-what about tights? Can I wash those in the machine or should I handwash?

Thank you again!!!

 

[clh2]

About those tights: I washed my DD's in a lingerie bag. Kind of a white bag with a bunch of holes in it. Otherwise -the HE washing mashines will turn those into a ball of knots. You can put several pairs into one bag.

I did not put tights in the dryer. Don't know why other than - that is what my mom did.

You will be too busy with a little one to waste time hand-washing tights.

Congrats!

 

[englishteacha]

Heck, you'll be too busy to even bother putting her in tights! Changing a squirmy baby is tough enough without trying to take tights on and off, too! Regarding your laundry question, I washed all my baby's clothes in cold with a free/clear detergent and dried on low or hung to dry. For the first washing of new stuff, I separated light from dark, but now, everything goes together on cold (except for red, which I do with darks). I wash all of her clothes with mine.

Oh, a tip I got that has been fabulous: put baby socks in a lingerie bag to wash! It really saves on sock-hunting! I also keep a stain stick in the diaper bag and one near the changing table. Makes it much easier to pretreat a stain if you do it when you're changing clothes anyway.

 

[DaisyLynn]

This is what I do (and I'm basically echoing what others have already said):

Wash everything for baby together. Whites, reds, clothing, tights, blankets, towels, etc. It all goes in on delicate cycle, cold water. All socks go in a lingerie bag. I use Dreft and throw in a Shout Color Catcher. If there are new items in there, the catcher usually comes out pinkish in the end.

I toss everything in the dryer, timed cycle 60-90 minutes depending on how much I have, low heat. I don't use fabric softener and her clothes feel plenty soft without it. *When I remember to, I take the socks out of the lingerie bag before drying. Otherwise I end up with damp little balls to be laid out to dry.

 

[SandrA9810]

Careful with the color catcher, especially on new items. The directions on the box clearly state to wash the red items at least 6 times prior to using the color catcher sheet. Especially when the holidays roll around and you start buying red Christmas outfits. Or look for colorfast items.

 

[minniebride]

Thank you all so much!!! You have all been really helpful

I'm off to buy a lingerie bag today for her socks and tights (just in case I brave her wearing tights-she will be born at the end of September though, so I'm expecting chilly months ahead of her).