How do you wash your baby's clothes?
Updated: Sep 24
During the postpartum period, your washing machine is often working overtime. Mini clothes, muslin cloths, sheets... and yes, that includes stains like blood, spit, milk, poop, and urine.
But what's really necessary? Should you wash baby clothes separately? And which detergent is safe for baby skin? And how do you get those stains out?
Contents
Always wash new baby clothes first
First, it's wise to wash new baby clothes before wearing them. This removes chemical finishes, loose dyes, and production residues. This reduces the risk of skin irritation for your baby.
Still working out what to have at home? The complete baby clothes guide shows what is useful per size.
Should you use unscented laundry detergent?
For babies unscented laundry detergent is the gentlest choice.
Why?
perfume = common contact allergen
Baby skin = thinner, more vulnerable and more permeable to irritants.
Small amounts of detergent remain in clothing, which can be irritating.
That's why, for most babies, a mild, preferably perfume-free detergent without fabric softener is the best choice.
A good rinse helps remove any detergent residue. If your baby has sensitive skin, you can add an extra rinse.
You can also choose something else. Think of a fragrance-free liquid detergent, a detergent with the European Ecolabel, or a wool detergent without fragrance for delicate items. Check the packaging for perfume and dose as the label says.
Should you wash baby laundry separately?
Short answer: no. For most babies, it's not necessary to wash clothes separately.
Yet many parents believe it is necessary, and that's not surprising. This advice has largely evolved historically, out of caution. Let's delve into this in more detail.
In the past, washing machines and detergents were less effective, and infectious diseases were more common . Therefore, it was recommended to wash baby clothes separately. Today, modern machines and detergents clean much better, making separate washing unnecessary for most families.
From the 1970s and 1980s onward, detergents and fabric softeners became increasingly heavily scented. Perfume can cause skin irritation and contact allergies, especially on sensitive skin or with eczema. Maternity nurses and dermatologists at the time therefore recommended washing baby laundry separately.
Things have changed now: there are many fragrance-free, skin-friendly detergents available. As a result, baby laundry usually does not need to be washed separately. Wash gently and fragrance-free, and add an extra rinse if your baby has sensitive skin.
Practical considerations also play a role. Many parents wash baby laundry separately because babies need clean clothes more often. The clothes are often light or white, small items are easily lost, and because it's "always said that way." So, a gentle tip eventually becomes a habit.
What does modern advice say?
The main line is:
Baby laundry does not need to be washed separately as standard
Choose perfume-free detergent, especially for young babies or those with eczema
An extra rinse can help with sensitive skin
It is best to avoid fabric softener , especially with muslin cloths.
When is it smart to wash separately?
Consider this when:
eczema or sensitive skin
atopy/allergies in the family
strongly perfumed family laundry
work clothes with oil/chemicals
illness or diarrhoea, and poo or blood stains
Washing together is allowed unless there is reason to be extra careful.
And now: removing stains
In baby laundry (or maternity laundry) you will mainly encounter stains of blood, milk, spit and poo.
Important to know: these stains contain proteins .
Protein sets in hot water and then the stain sets into the fabric.
Therefore: always rinse or pre-treat with cold water first.
Blood
Cold rinse
Dab (do not rub hard)
Soak for 30-60 minutes with pre-soak agent
Wash at 40°C
Do not dry until the stain is gone, heat sets
Spit / Milk
Cold rinse
Leave to work for 30-60 minutes
Wash at 40°C
Yellow haze? Daylight bleaches mildly.
Poo
Carefully remove any solid residue
Cold rinse
Soak for 30-60 minutes with pre-soak agent
Wash at 40-60°C (follow label)
Urine
Rinse with cold or lukewarm water
Wash at 40°C
Extra rinse in case of odor
Air drying helps against residual odor
Hand hygiene is really important
Washing with blood, poo, or diarrhoea requires extra hygiene. Poo and blood can contain bacteria and viruses. If you do not wash your hands well afterwards, you can pass those microorganisms on without noticing. Think of door handles, your phone, or contact with your baby while feeding.
Therefore, always wash your hands with soap and water after handling this laundry, especially before handling your baby or preparing food.
Handy hack for your day
Do you have several rompers or muslin cloths with blood, spit or
Poo stains? Here's what you can do:
take a small bucket like this
fill it with cold water and a scoop of pre-soak agent
Place stained clothes here to soak until washing time
Using a small bucket often fits perfectly in the opening of the washing machine . You can then pour the water and wet clothes directly into the drum . You do not have to put your hands in the dirty water.
Handy: take two buckets ; one for light/white laundry and one for colored laundry, so you can separate them straight away.
A small bucket is one of those things you set out in advance. What else is useful to have at home is in the baby inventory checklist.
At what temperature do you wash baby clothes?
For most baby clothes, 40°C is sufficient. It's gentle on the fabric and cleans very well even with modern washing machines and enzyme detergents. At 30°C to 40°C clothes get properly clean. For hygienically clean laundry you need washing powder with bleach or a higher temperature.
60°C is only needed for
illness or infection
diarrhoea or poo leakage
after a hospital stay
or when the laundry is really heavily soiled
What washing program do you use for baby clothes?
For most baby clothes, you can simply use the "Cotton" or "Mixed Wash" program at 40°C . This is strong enough to wash thoroughly, but still gentle on the fabric.
Use 60°C (preferably also 'Cotton') only when it is really needed. Think of illness, diarrhoea or heavily soiled laundry, and check that the label allows it.
For wool, merino wool, or other delicate fabrics, always choose the 'Wool' or 'Delicates' program at 20-30°C. Use a wool detergent and a low spin cycle.
The same goes for sleeping bags. Which TOG value suits which season is explained separately.
An extra rinse can be helpful for eczema or sensitive skin, as it helps to minimize detergent residue.
Situation | Program | Temperature | Pre-wash? | Extra rinse? | Extra / Please note |
Normal baby laundry (rompers, pajamas, clothes in cotton or a cotton blend) | Cotton / Mixed | 40°C | Not necessary | Optional | Avoid fabric softener. |
Clothing with protein stains (blood, spit, milk, poo) | Program by fabric type | By fabric type | Only if heavily soiled | Optional | Always pre-treat |
Sensitive skin / eczema / atopy | Cotton / Mixed | 40°C | Not necessary | Yes | Perfume-free detergent, no fabric softener. |
Illness / diarrhoea / poo leakage / lots of spit-up | Cotton / Hygiene | 60°C | Only when visibly heavily soiled | Optional | Pre-treat + Check label to ensure material can withstand temperatures of 60°C. |
Muslin cloths / spit cloths | Cotton | 40°C | Usually not necessary | Optional | 60°C in case of illness/poo. |
Sheets & fitted sheets (cotton) | Cotton / Bedding | 40°C | Not necessary | Optional | Pre-treat + 60°C in case of illness/urine/poo. |
Wool/merino clothing or sleeping bag | Wool / Delicate wash / Hand wash | 20-30°C | Never pre-wash | Optional | Mild wool detergent without fragrance. Low spin cycle or none. Dry flat. |
Bamboo / viscose / other delicate fabrics | Fine wash | 30°C | Not necessary | Optional | A laundry bag is nice. |
Cuddly toys (cloth) | Delicate wash / Hand wash | 30°C | Not necessary | Optional | In a washing bag, dry well. |
Frequently asked questions
Should you wash baby laundry separately?
For most babies this is not necessary. As long as you wash mild and preferably perfume-free and rinse well, baby laundry can go in with the rest.
Which detergent is best for baby clothes?
A mild detergent without perfume and without fabric softener is the gentlest choice for most babies.
At what temperature do you wash baby clothes?
40°C is usually enough. 60°C is only needed for illness, diarrhoea or heavily soiled laundry.
How do you remove blood or poo stains from baby clothes?
Always rinse or soak with cold water first. Hot water makes protein stains set into the fabric.
Is fabric softener suitable for baby laundry?
Better not. Fabric softener can leave perfume and residue that may irritate baby skin.
When is extra careful washing needed?
With eczema, sensitive skin, illness, diarrhoea or strongly perfumed family laundry, washing extra carefully is wise.
With a baby in the house, a whole new set of chores suddenly appears, along with a mountain of laundry. But… there are no extra hours in the day.
By using small, practical hacks and not making things unnecessarily complicated, you can make things a little easier for yourself.
This way you have more energy and time for what really matters: rest, recovery and enjoying your baby.
Love,
Bobby
Sources
Written by Bobby, maternity nurse at Bobby Kraamzorg. Last updated: September 2026.
Bobby believes in being transparent. Some links in this article are affiliate links. This information is free and stays free, for everyone. Bobby only recommends products she would recommend without a fee, and works with no sponsors. If you order through such a link, a small commission goes to Bobby. It is a way to support her, if you want to.
