Baby Laundry - and another open forum if needed

Question:  I'm planning on using baby detergent to wash all the baby items in (either BabySoft or Ivory Snow), but is it okay to use a regular product (such as Shout) to pre-treat any stains?   I'm just putting the finishing touches on the nursery and was going to keep a bottle of pre-treater by my hamper.

Any thoughts?  Thanks.

Update on my 34 week midwife's appt yesterday - baby did a growth spurt, I gained 4lbs in two weeks!  so much for keeping my weight gain moderate, but belly grew as well, so that's good.  She said the head is down really low and the hearbeat was in the 140's.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

[Kassimom]

Actually Target, Walmart and Babies R Us carry a special pre-treater for baby stains.  It is specially formulated to treat poo, and regurgitated breast milk and formula (BTW, spit up breast milk DOES stain...don't listen if anyone tells you otherwise!)

Not only that, but it has a higher alkalinity level (so I am told) than regular stain treaments so it washed COMPLETELY out of the fabric before you put it back on baby.

Also wanted to note that EVERY baby book I have read states NOT to use fabric softener, liquid or sheets. But I have been experimenting with washing the hand-me downs given to me for my baby. I have found that using Dreft, no fabric softener and no dryer sheet, the clothes came out scratchy even to me. HOWEVER, Bounce makes a Free dryer sheet. Free of scents and additives. I tried that adn the babies clothes came out much softer. I also tried  Downy liquid Free, again free of scents and dyes, and the clothes came out still MUCH softer. So, I am going to defy the books and use liquid fabric softener AND dryer sheets...just the ones I have mentioned.

I also used the baby stain treat on some of the light stains and lemon spray n wash on another. The baby stain treat made the stain appear much lighter (almost invisible) butt he spray n Washed item shoed no difference and I coudl still smell a lemon frangrance on the item.

Okay hope that has helped. And now I am going to get a life! (Actually I am going to steam clean my carpet! wonder if I should try a few different shampoos!)

[micheleB]

Thanks a bunch.  I'm going to try to find that pre-treater.  I've washed all the new stuff and hand me downs in Baby Soft and it worked quite well (I didn't use dryer sheets as had read not to).

[PregnantAGAIN]

I use ALL baby care, much cheaper than DREFT and I think it works better. For stains I use the ALL stainlifter laundry detergent, wash the clothes, then run another cycle with the baby care. I rarely use dryer sheets, only on our towels. I have been looking into the new fabric softners that are free of dyes and such, btu havent tried then YET. My daughter has severe infantile eczema and so far the way I wash clothes isnt affecting her. Before I was washing clothes another way and she would break out.

[babygirl22]

I had no idea you weren't supposed to use fabric softener.  I guess you learn something new every day!

[nanakay]

Ooooo are you talking about totally toddler.....that stuff is so awsome. it works on everything.  beings that my son projectile puked for about 3/4 of the first year of his life i had to find something to treat his clothes otherwise i would have nothing. it worked so well that we went to a baseball tournement one time there was literally 2-3 inches of think goopy mud on the field and it rained the entire time. so the guys decided to have a pete rose contest in the mud, needless to say my dhs WHITE pants were no longer white.
when we got home i decided to use the totally toddler on his pants, since it worked so well everywhere else, and got a bowl and soked his pants in it....he is the only team member that got clean pants back out of the wash.  everyone was asking us what the heck we used on his pants, one girl had even tried bleach and it didn't all come out.
sorry love that stuff
~nanci

[Kassimom]

PregnantAgain-Actually towels are the one thing you are not supposed to use dryer sheets on. Apparently it makes the towels less absorbent. My grandmother is the one who told me that and I have found she is right. My towels are WAY more absorbent if I do not put a dryer sheet in with them! LOL Anyway...worht a try. I sometiems use a dryer sheet anyway...but more for smell than to soften the towels.

Another thing my grandmother taught me that I ALWAYS use is the magical powers of vinegar! Instead of Clorox 2 to brighten colors, pour 1/4 cup of vinegar into your wash. It breaks up detergent that sticks to your clothes. The buildup of detergent is what makes your clothes appear faded.(Along with dryign them too long on too high of heat) ALSO, do not buy jet dry, use vinegar instead. Your glasses come out just as clear and you save boat loads of money! AND mix 1 tbsp vinegar and 1tbsp of rubbing alcohol and you have Swimmer's Ear. I even asked my pedi about that one and she said she does reccomend you mic it at home to save $$$ jsut that way!! My grandma's a genius I say! LOL

Nanakay-I think that's it. Pink bottle with a little stick figure on the front? That's what I have anyway LOL-not sure what it's called, just knew it was next to that bottle of Pampers Cleaning Spray for high chair trays and such. I am a sucker for specialty products like that! LOL

[GinGib]

Wow!!! You guys are some serious laundry whiz women!! Here is a question for ya, I live in oklahoma in a new construction area and I absolutely can't get the red dirt out of my sons socks. I am constantly buying him new as I hate for him to wear them because they look dirty. I have tried soaking my whites all night in bleach and borax I have tried oxiclean and nothing gets my whites white!!! I feel like I am writing to ann landers. Who out there can help this domestic goddess with her RING AROUND THE SOCKS??? Thanks Ginger

[Still_AndiJ]

I use All Free and Clear and it works great! I have even used Tide with my boys (yes even my newborn) and even though we are a family with sensitive skin, we have had no problems. I use Kirkland brand dryer sheets with no problems. I can't use products like Gain as the perfumes are so strong.

Andrea

[nanakay]

actually tide is very gentle....at least for asthma people..tide is the only detergent my sister can use because of my oldest nephew. (he has severe asthma) everything else she has tried caused him to have attacks
~nanci

[nanakay]

yes that's the bottle and that is funny that you say it is next to the pampers wash stuff because in our wal-mart it is nest to the same stuff LOL

oh and yes i agree about the towels, i hate it when my dh washes towels because he always uses softener and sheets and then they feel slick on wet skin like they are just spreading the moisture instead of absorbing it. (jmo)
~nanci

[shari13]

OK, since I am stocking up on everything now, and I havent bought any detergent (to tell the truth, I didnt realize there was a big deal and was planning on using my Tide),  I need to buy ALL baby care and something pink with a stick man figure on it and no fabric softener with dyes or scents.
did i get it correct?

[Kassimom]

LOL Yes. It's called Totally Toddler and it is in a white bottle in the baby care section, most likely NOT in the laundry care section.

And you will find there are several Baby Detergents on the market.

Dreft
ALL
Ivory Snow

To name a few. Another reason I like Dreft is because the alkalinity in it is higher than other detergents. It kills bacteria that is common on baby laundry (mold like) because often you will put damo items in th hamper that promotes this type of growth. (Spit on on clothing, leaky dipaers on clothes, burp rags, etc.)

I have never tried Tide on baby clothes although I don't imagine it would hurt. And as for the others, it's all a matter of preference. I prefer the Dreft myself. If you have friends with babies, you might ask them for a little sample of whatever it is they use and wash a few items in different soaps to find the one you like. Or do a search for the different baby detergents and sign up for a free sample (or call the 800 numer listed) Almost ALL home care product companies are happy to send you samples!

Keep in mind too though, that it is also a matter of trial and error once the baby is born. I worked with a lady once who's baby's skin was so sensitive she couldn't use ANY laundry soap. She pre-treated with totally toddler and washed the clothing in plain water. (She also had to use cloth diapers and had to make her own babywipes with papertowels and plain water!)

[shari13]

Thank you. I guess you are right, trial and error. I shouldnt stock up on the detergent. The free sample idea is a great one!