How to Wash Baby Clothes So They Stay Soft

The short answer: wash cotton baby clothes in cold or lukewarm water on a gentle cycle with a small amount of fragrance-free, dye-free detergent. Skip fabric softener and bleach, then air dry or tumble dry on low. Most stiffness in cotton comes from detergent build-up, softener residue and high dryer heat, not from the fabric itself. Always check the care label first. It overrides any general guide, including this one.

Before the first wear

Wash new baby clothes before your baby wears them. It rinses off dust and handling from the journey, and it's a good chance to check each piece for loose threads.

Step by step: washing

• Sort by color. Wash lights and darks separately, especially printed pieces for the first few washes.
• Turn prints inside out. It protects the printed surface and reduces rubbing.
• Treat stains gently. Rinse from the back with cold water as soon as you can, then work in a little of your usual detergent. Hot water can set protein stains like milk and spit-up.
• Use cold or lukewarm water. Hot washes are the most common cause of cotton shrinking and prints fading.
• Choose a gentle cycle. Less agitation means less wear on the fabric.
• Use less detergent than you think. Leftover detergent is a big reason cotton feels stiff. A fragrance-free, dye-free formula is the usual choice for babies.
• Skip fabric softener and bleach. Softener leaves a coating on cotton, and bleach weakens fibers and fades color.

Muslin needs one extra step

Muslin is woven with an open, airy weave, so it can snag on zippers, hooks and hook-and-loop fasteners. Wash swaddles, burp cloths and muslin towels on their own or in a mesh laundry bag. Otherwise, follow the same cold, gentle, low-detergent routine.

Drying

• Air dry when you can. Hang or lay flat. It is the gentlest option for cotton.
• If you tumble dry, use low heat and take things out promptly. High heat shrinks cotton and over-drying makes it feel rough.
• Line-dried and a little crisp? Five minutes in the dryer on a no-heat or low setting relaxes the fibers.

If clothes already feel stiff

Run an extra rinse cycle with no detergent to clear build-up. If you live in a hard-water area, mineral deposits can also leave cotton feeling rough, and an extra rinse helps there too.

Storing between sizes

• Make sure everything is completely clean and dry before you pack it away.
• Fold rather than hang knits so they keep their shape.
• Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.

For our muslin pieces, such as swaddle blankets, burp cloths and towels, the care label is your final word. You can find everything in Baby Essentials.