to not separate new born clothes?

[mindthegap01]

I never gave it any thought before, but a couple of people were surprised that I don't wash my baby's clothes separately from mine and DH's. AND I use fabric softener. Am I normal? What do other people do? Thanks!

[splasheeny]

I don't know why you would separate?

[arethereanyleftatall]

I've never heard of separating out stuff before this thread. Why would you?
we just put all dirty stuff straight in washing machine and when it's full, it goes on.

[Firsttimmemummy]

Everything gets flung in the washing machine as soon as we have a load (mine, DH, and babies, whites, colours, delicates...whatever.) Am constantly washing so can't be bothered to seperate. We do use non bio though. And I DID separate Newborn from 0-3 months in DD's wardrobe, I found them to be completely different sizes! :-)

[purplemurple1]

Washed everything together in bio basics powder with some softener its never been a problem.

I did separate new born clothes in the cupboard though!

[HopeClearwater]

Eh? This is madness! Why on earth would you separate baby's clothes from anyone else's? Next people will be filling their washing machine with Evian.

[Helpyourself]

I guess of you use biological detergent for the main wash, it makes sense to separate the baby's clothes. But like most posters here I use non bio for us all.

[splasheeny]

I thought using non bio was standard, why add something that may cause irritation?

[mateysmum]

Not washing towels with clothes tiredoutgran? I can understand it if you want to do a hot towels wash but otherwise doesn't everything get cleaned and rinsed anyway?
I do separate out the dog's rugs and towels though, so I do retain some standards

[AlpacaPicnic]

Could I ask a daft question?
Can someone explain to me, In really simple terms, the difference between bio and non bio washing stuffs.
I cannot believe I have got to the age of thirty something and I do not know this.

just bungs a couple of tablets in the machine normally

[tiredoutgran]

mateysmum I think I just have weird perceptions of it all! OH's clothes are often muddy/dusty, mine are too but not to the same level, hence them not being washed together or with the children's clothes. The girls obviously were 'muckier' than the Dgs when he first came to us, he was 12 weeks old but was 12 weeks prem, so tiny, and I kept his stuff separate, it has just stuck I think. I have always washed underwear on it's own, and towels, but I think I have got worse over the last few years, probably since LO came. I laugh about it but really it is a bit of an obsession I think and causes no end of stress, perhaps I need to deal with it! It wasn't so bad when there were just 3 of us but the household suddenly increasing to 6, and then a new baby being thrown into the mix, has made it somewhat of an issue.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Bios have enzymes which break down biological stains such as food and therefore get stains cleaner. The enzymes are killed at high temps (higher than 40) so only any use for low temp washing. It used to be thought that the enzymes were more likely to cause eczema, so people with sensitive skin stopped using them but there isn't actually much evidence to support this apparently. I've stuck with non bio for years out of habit, but use bio for bad stains. DD and I have sensitive skin and bio doesn't affect us but perfumed things sometimes do, so we use non fragranced detergent (I hate the smells anyway)

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

I am a terrible mother - I separate lights and darks but that is it, everyones goes in together - I use the cheapest Tesco value bio washing powder and softner AND I chuck a bit of BLEACH in the light wash... we all have skins of rhinos :D

[SauceForTheGander]

What? Is this a thing? I would have done it for PFB because I was in a constant state of panic back then - but I'm on baby number 3 now and I barely feed him.

[AlpacaPicnic]

Thanks whoknows....

So, let me think about this...
Bio stuff is a bit stronger but you need a colder wash or it kills the cleaning stuff.
Non bio stuff is gentler but you can use hotter water.
If that right? Or so completely wrong that I have to hand in my 'adult' card?

[TheDetective]

I do separate washes for DS2. Only because his stuff would be utterly ruined otherwise.

Soft babygrows and vests? Baby clothes are fairly delicate - or mine are! I have had too many things ruined. So now everything is washed inside out, buttoned up, and in delicate bags.

I wish it wasn't. But I'm not having them ruined well, at least by the washer anyway!.

By the way - it's not my machine - I'm on machine number 4 in 10 years. They've all ruined baby clothes in their time .

I'm used to it now though, he's 14 months. He's got some toddler clothing now, which is more robust, so I guess when all his clothes are like that, I'll put them in with everyone else's washing.

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

Ive never noticed baby clothes ruining any quicker than anyone elses... honestly they seem to last longer as less wear and they don't do a lot in them. Most of DC4 clothes have been through at least 2 other DC and they look near new.

Are you buying paper baby clothes :D

[FredFredGeorge]

There's not a lot of point using fabric softener with baby clothes (all it does is make the clothes last longer which isn't an issue when it's grown out of so quickly) so it is a bit of a waste using of conditioner using it on the babies stuff.

We did separate, but only with all the other clothes that we also wash without softener (sports clothes, which you don't want conditioner in as it limits "breathability".)

[legoplayingmumsunite]

Only some PFBs get their clothes washed separately. All other children survive having their things washed with adults and other children's clothing.

[TheDetective]

Nah, Next/Mothercare mostly, some supermarket - which wash terribly.

He didn't wear much in the way of denim. Lots of cardis and babygrows til walking, only now is he wearing more hardwearing stuff.

DS1 had similar - with similar problems, and that was 12 years ago. Although I really can't remember what I used to do about washing his.

[scantilymad]

We have one pfb and I vaguely remember doing his laundry separately for ooooh about two weeks. Then I just sort of forgot and now his clothes at chucked in with ours (non bio and fabric softener).

Although I will confess to still organising drawers and wardrobe on a sized by month system. (Right to left in the wardrobe if you really want to know.)

[drspouse]

I have noticed baby clothes shrink quite a bit and no, it's not the baby growing - seems to happen after the first wash. I think it's partly that it's more noticeable. All our hand me downs are smaller for the same item/brand though, and I think it's just too many hot washes, as our clothes donor doesn't use a dryer.

There is no difference in delicacy, that's just bananas, they are all made of the same fabric as toddler and adult clothes.

[PumpkinPie2013]

I don't - just because I have terrible eczema so can only wash my clothes in fairy nom bio anyway so I just use it for all three of us.

[Melonbreath]

If there was a terrible poo explosion dds things would be washed separately with a couple of tablespoons of napisan.

[MrsCosmopilite]

Never separated anything, although I only ever use non-bio powder and no conditioner. I never washed brand new clothes before wear either. Or sheets before use. And I only washed second-hand stuff before use if it was actually dirty.