New born baby clothes often have residue left on them from where they were manufactured. This surprises many parents, who usually wear their clothing right after they buy it without ever worrying about washing it first. While this might not cause a problem for adults, a newborn baby has very sensitive skin, and any residue left on new clothes can irritate it easily. All new clothing should be washed long before it ever is put on a baby, to help avoid itchy and sometimes painful rashes. This can save a lot of misery for the baby, as well as for the parents who not only have to deal with the crying, but the guilt because they just didn’t think to wash the clothes.

When you are going to wash new born baby clothes make sure that you use a detergent that is especially made for baby clothes. These detergents are dye free, soap free, and have no harsh chemicals. Never use a regular detergent to wash new born baby clothes because any kind of fragrance or dye, even starches, can cause an allergic reaction and make your baby miserable. You should also avoid using dryer sheets or fabric softener unless it is made for baby clothes. The perfumes in these fabric softeners can be irritating to the skin, and sometimes fabric softeners get rid of the flame retardant properties many baby clothes have. Try to avoid using bleach or any detergents that have bleach in them, since this can trigger an allergic reaction, especially if your baby is prone to things like eczema.

To make your newborn’s clothes last longer, separate the darks from the lights just like you would any adult’s clothing. You can use a stain remover to get out clothes, provided that it is one that will be completely washed out before the baby wears it again. Even better, use an all-natural stain remover or one made specifically for baby clothes to avoid any kind of irritations. These tips will help you take better care of your baby’s clothes, and help you avoid some of the skin rashes that often come with a new baby.