The Right Way to Wash Baby Blankets to Keep Them Soft and Safe

After days of consideration and hunting, there you have it—the ideal blanket for your little one. But that is not the end of the story! How to wash baby blankets so they’re clean, soft, safe, and durable after countless washes? Proper care not only extends the blanket's longevity but also ensures a safe, hygienic environment for your baby’s sensitive skin.

SwaddleAn understands that quality and caring must go hand in hand. That’s why we’ve compiled this handbook, as part of our baby blanket safety guides. It is here to help you with everything from everyday washing to handling the toughest stains.

General Washing Principles: The Foundation of Good Care

Before diving deeper into the care guide for each fabric, equip yourself with these general washing rules.

Always Wash Before First Use

Remember to wash the blanket before using it for your baby.

Karen Leonas, a textile professor at North Carolina State University, suggests washing new baby clothing and bedding before use. This is because their delicate skin is much thinner than that of adults.

Chemicals used in the manufacturing process, such as surfactants, dyes, and bleaches, still linger on the fabric. That’s not to mention the dirt, grime, fungi, and even insects that clung to the blankets during shipping and delivery. So, it’s really important to wash off these residual chemicals and contaminants before using.

Choose a Gentle, Baby-Safe Detergent

Look for odor-free, dye-free, and hypoallergenic detergents. As mentioned, your baby’s skin is thin and delicate and can absorb residual chemicals more easily than adults.

So, the detergent you normally use for your family might be too harsh for your little one. Plant-based, eco-friendly products are also a wonderful choice, balancing safety and sustainability.

The Right Settings: Cool Water & Gentle Cycles

Pay attention to the temperature and wash cycle:

1. Temperature: Prioritize cool or warm water (86°F at max). Hot water can cause shrinking, fading, or damage to the delicate natural fibers.
2. Wash cycle: Always choose the gentle or delicate cycle to minimize the impact on the fabric. For lace or knitted blankets, toss them into a laundry bag to prevent snags and damage.

Specific Care Instructions by Material

Since each fabric boasts different properties, they need specific care to keep them in good condition. Below are the care instructions for common baby blanket materials.

Caring for Bamboo & Cotton (The SwaddleAn Specialty)

Use a gentle wash cycle for bamboo and cotton baby blankets.

SwaddleAn swears by these high-quality natural fabrics, ensuring our baby blankets offer the ultimate softness and breathability. But with this superiority comes more special wash and dry requirements:

1. Washing: Keep cool water and gentle cycles in mind. Steer clear of chlorine-based detergents because they can wear out cotton and bamboo fabrics easily.
2. Drying: Air-drying is best, but you can also tumble dry on a low setting. High heat is bamboo fabric’s biggest enemy, making it stiff and causing shrinkage.
3. Ironing: Iron blankets using a low heat setting, if needed.

Washing Fleece & Minky Baby Blankets

To preserve fleece and minky blankets’ softness, remember to:

1. Wash them using cool water
2. Avoid fabric softeners. Chemicals in these products can deposit on tiny fibers and make them less soft. As the gaps between fibers are blocked, the fabric also becomes less absorbent over time.
3. Dry these baby blankets on a low setting and take them out right away after finishing to prevent static.

Handling Wool & Knit Baby Blankets

These are the most vulnerable materials, so keep in mind:

1. Hand-washing is the go-to option. Soak the blanket in cool water with a wool-specific detergent. Then, knead and squeeze it gently. Don’t rub or wring it roughly!
2. For machine-wash, select the “wool” or “hand wash” setting using cool water.
3. Lay the blanket flat for drying to prevent stretching and misshaping.

How-To Guides for Common Challenges

“Accidents” happen to the best of us, so don’t fret! No matter what challenges come your way, here are the tips to follow:

How to Tackle Common Baby Stains

Clean the spit-ups and stains as soon as possible.

Act fast: Treat stains as soon as possible with these four easy steps:

1. Rinse: Use cold water to flush out the stain from the back of the fabric, pushing it out instead of rubbing it deeper in.
2. Soak: Let the stained area sit in cold water mixed with a little baby-safe detergent for about 30 minutes.
3. Wash: Wash the whole blanket following the care instructions above.
4.  Sun-dry (for whites): Sunlight is a natural stain remover, acting as a bleach and disinfectant to fade any leftover organic stains.

How to Fold and Store Baby Blankets

1. Folding: Fold the blanket into a rectangle or roll it up to save space and prevent creases.
2. Storing: Store the blanket in a cool, dry place like a drawer or a cloth basket. Avoid storing it in sealed plastic bags, as this can trap moisture and lead to mildew.

Care is an Act of Love

Caring for baby blankets isn’t just a chore. It’s an act of love, ensuring that the very items wrapping your little one are always clean, safe, and soft. By following these simple guidelines, you can easily keep your baby blanket collection in the best possible condition.

At SwaddleAn, we create products designed to last. With a little tender loving care from you, they’ll become cherished companions throughout your child’s precious early years.

References

1. Why You Should Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them for the First Time: https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/laundry/wash-new-clothes-before-wearing-them-for-the-first-time-a8763351216/