The day is almost here, and your new-born is coming to meet you. Whether this is your first or tenth baby, the concern you have about what goes on to their skin is the same.
A lot of companies use chemicals and dyes that, while they make the clothes look good, could potentially make your baby feel uncomfortable in their own, new skin.
Organic cotton and non-toxic low-impact dyes create wonderful clothes that are still versatile and long-lasting but reduce the risk of skin irritation or eczema.
Organic baby clothes are not only a great decision to keep your child’s skin healthy but also have a positive environmental impact, especially when they are made locally using Global Organic Textile Standard (or GOTS) cotton.
This certification is recognized worldwide as the leading processing standard for organic cotton, ensuring that the plants are grown organically and that no harmful chemicals or dyes are used, thus helping to protect you and your family.
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How to Remove Stains in an Eco-Friendly Way
When you have children, it can feel like the laundry will never end, especially the stains!
Clothes will keep their new, straight-off-the-hanger look for all of 30 seconds when you dress your child. The moment they move, stains seem to appear out of nowhere.
Don’t panic, though!
The faster you can deal with the stain, the better it is for the outfit. And you can easily treat the stain with common items you have in your kitchen and bathroom.
While you can buy and use eco-friendly soaps and stain removers, this can add extra dollars to your grocery bill.
So, by using what you already have, you can save money, time, and the outfit as well.
For light stains, you can use a diluted mix of distilled white vinegar and water.
Gently rub it on the stain, let it sit for 20 minutes, rinse, and allow it to air dry.
Oily or stubborn stains need a bit more elbow grease to get them out.
Place a piece of card under the stain, cover it in baking soda, and let it sit.
Then, brush off the excess.
Next, using a soft toothbrush with a small, rice-sized drop of toothpaste, gently rub it over the stain, and then wash on a gentle cycle.
Tips for Washing and Drying Your Organic Baby Clothes
Organic cotton, and the clothes made from them, are not chemically treated.
This means that there is a risk of shrinking or colours bleeding in the wash and when drying.
By following a few simple tricks, you can prevent this issue, and help to prolong their life (before your child grows out of them).
When it comes to washing the items, cold is best.
The lower temperatures will help to protect the fibres and colours, while preventing shrinking.
If you can use the cold water setting and the delicate cycle, this is even better.
Try to use eco-friendly or environmentally safe detergents.
They are more gentle on the clothes, while still ensuring a good and thorough clean, as well as being safer for the environment.
If it’s the first time you are washing the clothes, then you can also add a ¼ cup of distilled white vinegar to the final cycle of the wash.
The natural acids in the vinegar will protect the fibres and help to set the colours, thus preventing bleeding and fading.
You only need to do this the first time you wash new items.
If they seem a little misshapen when they come out of the washing machine, then you can gently reshape them as you hang them up to dry.
Do Not Wash Organic Baby Clothes with Other Items
We have all grown up being told to wash dark colours and light colours separately.
Don’t mix this with that, put this in a mesh bag first, or even turn printed items inside out. How many of us still follow these rules?
However, when it comes to organic baby clothes, this is really important.
Organic clothes should be washed inside out, and with other organic fibres.
This protects them from exposure to chemicals that may be used in the production of other items.
Chemicals such as pesticides, flame retardants, chlorine bleach, and even volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), including formaldehyde, can all break down the organic fibres, fade colours, and cause the clothes to fall apart before their time.
They can also contaminate the entire laundry load and subsequent loads afterward.
So, if organics are mixed with non-organics, they can all be affected by these chemicals and deteriorate faster.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to run a rinse cycle with the machine empty in order to eliminate these potential risks.
A little extra care when washing these items will help to protect them, and the environmental concern and this new routine will soon become second nature to you.
Choose Air Drying
You’ve taken so much care now in the cleaning and washing of your baby’s clothes.
The last thing you want to do is to throw them in the dryer and have them shrink beyond recognition.
Air drying is not only great for the environment, especially in the summer when it’s naturally warm and there is a light breeze, but it’s also free.
Tumble-drying organic cotton can lead to the item becoming misshapen, and as mentioned, shrunk.
Still, there are times when we do need to use the dryer, so we need to make sure we are doing so in a way that dries the items and protects them at the same time.
Use the air-dry setting or even the cool-down setting if your machine has one.
If you don’t have these settings, then make sure you have it set to the lowest temperature possible. High heat will cause shrinkage.
Protect Your Clothes, Protect Your Family
Organic baby clothes protect your child’s skin from irritants and chemical exposure, which is great for their health.
The fibres are softer on babies’ skin, too, lessening the risk of skin irritations such as eczema.
Proper care for your organic clothing extends their life, which, in turn, protects your child longer while protecting the environment.
Ultimately, using cold washes, air drying techniques, and everyday household items in place of chemical detergents all add up to healthier choices and longer-lasting, softer clothes.
