Caring for Organic Baby Clothes: 5 Tips to Long-Lasting Softness and Extended Sustainability

As more parents turn to organic baby clothes like ours, prioritizing the health and well-being of their little ones, proper care ensures you can maintain these premium, natural fabrics to ensure they last for as long as possible. Our not-so-basic basics are not only non-toxic and free from harmful chemicals, but are preshrunk and designed to be worn on kid after kid after kid due to their high quality knit.

For us, sustainability isn't exclusively about choosing better fabrics and reducing chemical usage. It's doesn't even stop at reusing these products. It's also about ensuring the life cycle of our beautiful basics is as long as possible - which means their care is as important as the fact that you chose them in the first place!

Given this, we thought we'd explore how to care for organic baby clothes to keep fabrics clean, soft, and gentle for your baby's and little ones' skin.

Why Choose GOTS-Certified Organic Baby Clothes?

Choosing organic clothes for your kids offer numerous benefits:

1. Non-Toxic: Organic fabrics are produced without pesticides, harsh dyes, or synthetic chemicals, reducing the risk of skin irritation. (Ours are GOTS-certified and exclusively coloured with AZO-free dyes.)
2. Ultra-Soft: Organic cotton fabrics are naturally softer and more breathable, providing a comfortable feel for your baby’s sensitive skin. (And our proprietary knit? Well, it's the softest on this planet!)
3. Super-sustainable: While organic cotton will always be superior to any alternative (we're looking at you, bamboo rayon), it's also important to note that GOTS-certified organic materials are third-party verified to be produced using environmentally friendly methods, making them the most sustainable choice for conscious families.

The softness and purity of GOTS-certified organics call for a few simple steps to maintain their integrity and longevity. When it comes to everything in your laundry bin, traditional methods, including harsh detergents and high temperatures, can wear down fibers quickly, diminishing their softness and causing colors to fade. We recommend a more sustainable approach (and this is a recommendation for everything in your laundry basket!).

Key Steps to Caring for Organic Baby Clothes

1. Choose a Gentle Detergent

The first step in caring for organic baby clothes is selecting a mild, chemical-free detergent. Organic fabrics can absorb harsh chemicals from traditional detergents, which may irritate your baby’s skin. Opt for natural detergents like those from The Unscented Company, known for their gentle, fragrance-free formula. These products are ideal for washing baby clothes as they do not leave behind any irritating residue.

Look for labels that confirm the detergent is:

• Fragrance-free: Artificial fragrances can cause skin irritation.
• Free of harsh chemicals: Avoid bleach, parabens, sulfates, and phosphates.
• Eco-friendly: Sustainable detergents reduce the environmental impact.

Fabrics can lose their shape or softness if washed too aggressively. Whenever possible, hand wash clothes using cold water. When you're using a machine (which no doubt you are, seeing as you are a parent!), choose the delicate or gentle cycle to minimize agitation. Don't forget: cold water helps preserve the fabric's strength and reduces the risk of shrinking.

2. Laundry Strips Minimize Packaging

For parents looking for a simple, eco-friendly laundry solution, laundry strips are a fantastic option. These pre-measured, ultra-concentrated strips of detergent dissolve easily in water, making them an ideal choice for washing organic baby clothes. Tru Earth strips are free from harsh chemicals, such as parabens, sulfates, and phosphates, and come in a hypoallergenic, fragrance-free formula that is gentle on both the environment and your baby’s sensitive skin. Since these strips are lightweight and zero-waste, they’re a sustainable choice that reduces packaging and environmental impact. (Plus, their compact size makes them incredibly convenient for quick loads, without compromising on cleaning power.)

3. Give Hand Washing a Shot 

For extra gentle cleaning, we love a hand wash - and. for us, the Soak Wash method is perfect for organic baby clothes. Soak is a natural, rinse-free, eco-friendly wash that’s specifically designed for delicate fabrics. Bonus points? They're Canadian, woman-owned, and a great company we personally have big love for.

1. Fill a basin with cool water.
2. Add a small amount of Soak detergent (about a teaspoon per gallon of water).
3. Submerge the clothes and leave them to soak for about 15 minutes. No need to agitate.
4. Once done, gently squeeze the excess water out (do not wring or twist).
5. Lay flat to dry or hang to dry indoors, away from direct sunlight to avoid fabric fading.

The benefit of the Soak Wash method is that you don’t need to rinse the clothes afterward, preserving the gentle formula on the fabric and protecting the natural fibers. I also absolutely love the travel sachets when we're on the road - quick and easy way to manage little people crises!

4. Tumble Dry Low to Maintain Softness if You Can't Air Dry

Using a dryer, especially at high temperatures, can cause clothes to shrink, fade, or lose their softness. While in an ideal world, we'd all be hanging everything on a drying rack, we know you're a busy parent living in reality doing your best to take a sustainable approach without being tied to the washing machine. Of note: both the planet and our organic basics prefer a low tumble dry. (So does pretty much everything in your closet!) This is an easy switch for parents who don't have time to hang everything to dry but want to make a more earth-friendly (and wardrobe-preservation-friendly!) choice.

5. Always Avoid Fabric Softeners

While you may be tempted to use a fabric softener, it’s best to avoid them for organic baby clothes (and for overall sustainability). Fabric softeners often contain chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin and leave a residue that reduces the fabric’s breathability. Besides, extra chemicals simply aren't required when the fabric is already the softest in the whole wide world.

Bonus Tips for Long-Lasting Organic Baby Clothes

• Spot Clean: For small stains, try spot cleaning instead of running the entire garment through a wash cycle. A mixture of water and a few drops of natural soap can do the trick.
• Use Laundry Bags: Place delicate baby clothes in mesh laundry bags during machine washing to prevent snagging or unnecessary wear.
• Iron on Low Heat: If ironing is necessary (psst: we really don't think it is), use a low heat setting, as high temperatures can break down natural fibers.

Organic baby clothes are a wonderful choice for both your baby and the environment, and taking a little extra care to maintain their quality ensures they'll last as long as possible, extending their life cycle and reducing their impact. With the right products, such as natural detergents, you can keep your baby’s clothes soft, clean, and free from irritating chemicals. By hand washing or using gentle cycles, air drying, and avoiding fabric softeners, you’ll ensure that these delicate fabrics stay fresh, soft, and gentle on your baby’s sensitive skin.