Disinfecting baby clothes

[Maybemaybenot76]

Baby number 2 could arrive anytime in the next couple weeks, and DS1 has been choked with some virus/cold, snot, cough, temp, the lot!

Yesterday I was sorting through all babies clothes and DS1 was jumping on the piles, snorting all over them and being a typical 3 year old.

I’ve read viruses and bacteria can survive for quite some time on fabrics, and I plan to wash the clothing anyway, then tumble dry - but has anyone used anything like Napisan or Dettol laundry disinfectant/detergent on newborn clothes? I was thinking to do that, then a non bio cycle with Fairy.

I don’t think you need to do that. Just wash with a bio powder on a long cotton wash. This will give everything a full rinse and wash off all the powder properly. Bio is best for kids as it gets rid of stains.

I’d say just a long wash with fairy bio would be fine unless your DS1 has something awfully dangerous and contagious.

I don't think that is necessary. I used Napisan on my DC's clothes because it's the best thing for getting yellow newborn poo stains out but it will fade colours over time (I mostly put my babies in white). Just wash and dry as normal. Your second baby is going to be exposed to a lot more bugs than your first because of their older brother and there's not much you can do about it beyond encouraging hand washing, making sure they are up-to-date with their vaccinations, and breastfeeding if you want to and are able to.

Viruses are passed person to person through shared space and air. They don't survive on fabric.

Your baby will catch everything your toddler has, but not because your toddler sneezed on a babygro before their sibling was even born.

Not sure what would be worse the chemicals if you tried or the very small chance of anything being picked up that way without all the chemicals