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August 2011 Moms
SoxFan777
member
Tips for washing baby clothes...
SoxFan777
member
Hi, there!
I have been getting a LOT of clothes at garage sales, and while lots are in great condition, I want to make sure I'm washing them properly. I usually wash my own clothes all in warm on gentle cycle and then tumble dry low or air dry. But I'm not sure that works for used clothes? I want to make sure I'm getting rid of germs or (eek!) potential other bugs... Bed bugs are rampant on the east coast and you never know. Soo...
To get out EVERYTHING to I have to wash or dry on "hot"?
Is it safe to dry or wash baby clothes on hotter settings or will it shrink/run the colors? I don't want to look like a total loser who doesn't know how to do laundry, but help would be appreciated. I'm a bit of a germaphobe if you can't tell. 
Thank in advance! I'm also washing soft toys right in the washer but I know maybe we can't wash them in the dryer or whatever. (Meltable plastic parts, right?)
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Re: Tips for washing baby clothes...
I am a bit of a laundry nut myself so I get it.
If you have a lot of whites I would wash those in hot with a little Clorox (my HE washer has the little cup for the right amount but for baby clothes I go way less) and then use whatever soap you have chosen. I love Dreft because of the smell but there is also a baby Purex that I love too.
As far as "killing germs", I always think that hot is for killing the germs but realistically you should probably just follow the label so that you don't ruin the items. I would probably do everything in warm and count on the soap to help with that. I assume you bought from homes that you felt comfortable with and that you will likely have no issue with bed bugs or any other critters.
As far as the toys, some you will need to lay out to dry because they will either damage your dryer or become damaged in the process. ALSO, don't forget to buy little bags to wash/dry tiny socks or hats in...I had to pay Sears $250 to tell me that the reason my washer was broken was that a baby sock was stuck in the interior of the machine!
Good luck!
I'm assuming that most of the stuff bought at garage sales is used.. so if that's the case most the shrinking and color fading has probably already happened.
In the NICU at our local hospital they wash everything on the hot cycle with All Free & Clear and 3/4 cup bleach (regardless of load size) for maximum cleanliness. Then dry everything on the hot cycle as well.
I wouldn't recommend this washing method with each load as it will degrade clothing over time, but for the initial washing the clothes should be just fine.
Yes, but I suggest you add an extra rinse cycle just to make sure you get all the detergent and bleach out.
Yup, just be sure to use the regular agitation cycle on your washer.. or if you have a spiffy washer you can use a high agitation cycle, but it's not necessary.
this. Unless the people that you bought from at the garage sale seemed especially filthy, I'm pretty sure just washing the clothes normal would be fine.