How to wash newborn diapers in a washing machine?

After the birth of a child, a new mother is faced with a whole new set of responsibilities. These include feeding, bathing, and putting the baby to bed, as well as washing and ironing baby items such as rompers, onesies, and bedding. It's especially important to understand how to wash newborn diapers. We'll explain whether they can be thrown in the washing machine or whether hand washing is recommended.

First you need to wash it

To achieve the ideal washing results, first wash the baby-soiled diaper. If the baby only wet the fabric, simply rinse away the baby's mess under the tap with some soap.

When the diaper is more seriously “attacked,” that is, there are traces of feces on it, the fabric is pre-treated as follows:

• the stains are wetted and rubbed with laundry or baby soap;
• the product is left to “soak” for 10 minutes;
• The sheet is rinsed in clean water.

After this, you can put the item through its main wash cycle. Usually, by the end of the day, you'll have accumulated just the right number of diapers to load into the washing machine.

Machine washable

An automatic machine is a real lifesaver, especially for new mothers, saving time and energy. Modern washing machines have “Baby Clothes” or “Children's Wash” programs, which are ideal for cleaning diapers. In these modes, the water is heated to high temperatures (60-90°C), and intensive rinsing is provided.

If the machine does not have a baby mode in its memory, the program is selected based on the type of fabric the diaper is made of.

For example, the "Cotton" or "Gentle Boil" function might be suitable. It's important to remember to add an extra rinse to the main program to ensure any remaining detergent or gel is completely removed from the fabric fibers. It's advisable to use a safe baby detergent with no fragrances or phosphates. The washing algorithm for baby items in an automatic washing machine is simple.

1. Load pre-washed diapers into the drum.
2. Pour washing gel, baby soap, or safe powder into the tray.
3. Select the appropriate program. If it's not a special program for washing baby clothes, enable the "Extra Rinse" option.
4. Make sure the water temperature is 60-90°C. This will ensure antibacterial treatment of the items. Set the spin cycle to 800-1000 rpm.
5. Start the cycle.

Next, wait for the program to finish, remove the sheets, shake them out, and hang them to dry. It's important to turn on the intensive rinse option. This will ensure that detergent particles are removed from the fabric fibers and prevent any allergic reactions or skin irritations.

Traditional washing

If you only have 1-2 diapers, it's easier to quickly wash them by hand. The process takes no more than 10-15 minutes. Here's the procedure:

• Fill a basin with hot water and dilute the detergent in it;
• soak the diapers for 10 minutes;
• wash away stains with baby or laundry soap;
• rub the fabric well with your hands;
• Rinse the items until the water runs clear.

If your diapers have turned gray or yellowish after several washes, you can refresh them with regular hydrogen peroxide. Fill a basin with 5 liters of water, add 2 tablespoons of the solution, and soak the sheets for five minutes. Then simply rinse.

Which powder should I buy?

The skin of newborns is very sensitive to various irritants. To avoid contact dermatitis and allergic reactions, it is important to use a high-quality baby detergent. A safe powder should:

• does not contain phosphates, chlorine, or optical brighteners;
• dissolve completely in warm water;
• easy to rinse out of fabric fibers;
• does not contain fragrances and dyes.

Therefore, when washing a newborn's clothes, it's best to choose special cleaning gels for baby clothes, natural laundry soap, or baby soap. These products contain minimal synthetic additives.

Make your own powder

You can make your own safe laundry detergent for baby clothes. You'll only need three ingredients: water, baking soda, and laundry soap. Here's how:

• grate the soap bar;
• Dissolve the resulting shavings in 500 ml of water at a temperature of 60-80°C. Make sure that no grains remain;
• while heating the mixture on the stove, add 100 grams of soda;
• Without bringing the solution to a boil, turn off the stove.

Do not leave the resulting mixture on the stovetop. It's important to cool the mixture gradually to room temperature. Store the mixture in a tightly sealed container.

Drying and ironing

To keep diapers soft, avoid drying them on radiators, near electrical appliances, or in direct sunlight. Otherwise, the fabric will become stiff and uncomfortable against the skin. The ideal option is to dry the items on the balcony, avoiding exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

During the first months of your baby's life, it's advisable to iron washed diapers on both sides. The iron's temperature should be adjusted depending on the fabric type. It's a good idea to use the steam function.

Ironing provides additional antibacterial treatment. It also helps remove creases and folds in the fabric, which can be uncomfortable for the newborn.

   

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