Should I Use A Disinfectant To Wash My Baby’s Clothes?

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Written by Editorial Team

Editorial Team

With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting..

baby laundry

Many disinfectants actually do help to kill most of the bacteria present in the clothes – mostly “99.9%” according to their claims. However, “Should I Use A Disinfectant To Wash My Baby’s Clothes?” is a frequently asked question in many parent forums.

By adding 1-2 caps full of a disinfectant to the final wash cycle, you could avoid having microbe-rich clothes. However, as your baby’s skin is so sensitive, the clothes soaked in disinfectants, at times, may bring about rashes.

In This Article

Why is it Necessary to Disinfect Baby Clothes?
Can I Wash Baby Clothes with the Rest of the Laundry?
Is it Safe to Use a Disinfectant for Baby Clothes?
Top Tips to Wash Baby Clothes, to Avoid Rashes and Infections
FAQ’s

Why is it Necessary to Disinfect Baby Clothes?

Firstly, you should know that bacteria can spread on the clothes because a baby will spill milk, burp, and vomit on their clothes. These bacteria can sustain multiple washes and detergents. Again, when you use these washed clothes for your baby, the chances of them getting an infection is drastically high. Hence, it is essential that your baby’s clothes are not just visibly clean, but are free from bacteria as well.

Can I Wash Baby Clothes with the Rest of the Laundry?

It is highly advisable to wash baby clothes separately. However, if you do have to wash them with some other clothes, they should be properly disinfected.

However, it should not be washed along with contaminated socks, undergarments, kitchen towels, sports gear, etc. Also, always wash the baby’s clothes separately if someone is sick in the house, or someone has a skin wound or allergy.

Is it Safe to Use a Disinfectant for Baby Clothes?

This brings up the second part of our answer. Using a disinfectant is definitely a great way to ensure that your baby’s clothes are germ and bacteria-free. However, there are other ways to disinfect the baby’s clothes.

Top Tips to Wash Baby Clothes, to Avoid Rashes and Infections

baby laundry

Follow the below tips to ensure that your baby does not get any rashes or infection from the clothes they wear:

Wash all the new clothes prior to using them.
Use a fragrance-free washing powder. General rule of thumb is the more chemicals in the detergent, the higher chances of rashes. There are some detergents available that are specifically for baby clothes.
The higher the temperature of the water, the better the chances of killing the germs. If it is not possible to use hot water for washing all clothes, try to wash ‘high-infection-risk’ items like nappies in hot water.
Wash nappies or wet cloth diapers separately.
When cleaning soiled nappies, make sure all the solid particles are discarded in the toilet. Also, wash the nappy under water before you put it in the machine. Click here how to hand-wash nappies.
If a member of the family is unwell, wash that person’s clothes separately from that of the baby.
Always make sure to give baby clothes an extra rinse. This will make sure all the detergent is positively washed away and no residue remains.
Clean the interiors of the washing machine (or bucket if you hand wash) once in a month to avoid bacteria build up inside the machine.
Don’t leave the washed clothes damp. Dry them as soon as possible to avoid germs from multiplying the damp clothes.
If you must use a disinfectant, then try to dip the clothes in a bucket full of water with 1-2 cups of disinfectant prior to washing with detergents. This will kill the bacteria, and remove the residue from clothes as well.
Alternatively, you can also use branded laundry cleansers which are specifically designed to be used for baby clothes.

It would be ideal to clean your washing machine after every cycle, and use the sun to dry the clothes as much as possible. Though this could seem like hard work, remember your little efforts can go a long way to keep your baby clean and healthy.

FAQ’s

1. How is Baby Laundry Detergent Different From Regular Detergent?

They are softer on the skin. Lesser chemicals are used. This is gentle on a baby’s tender skin.

2. Is a Disinfectant Compulsory for Baby Clothes?

No, not really but it is essential. Baby vomit and poop can cause bacteria and germs. Disinfectants can get rid of them effectively.

3. Should I Disinfect Soiled Nappies?

Yes, it is highly recommended. Poop causes bacteria formation. Regular washing may not suffice.

4. Should I Wash Baby Clothes by Hand?

No, not necessary. You can use a washing machine. However, soaking for a while before washing can give better results.

Editorial Team,

With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.

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