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How to Remove Stains and Whiten Yellowed Baby Clothes

By Louisa Price

Most parents know that baby clothes need to be washed before their first use so that they are clean and free from any chemicals that may have been used during the manufacturing process. However, many conventional laundry detergents are made from synthetic, petroleum-based chemicals that are loaded with artificial dyes, fragrances and optical brighteners which are harsh against your baby's delicate skin.

And, if those laundry products specially designed for washing babies and kids clothing put a strain on your finances, read on. Here are a few effective methods to remove stains and whiten baby clothes, wallet-and-eco-friendly way.

How to Whiten Baby Clothes

Your first step in removing any baby stain is to scrape off as much as you can and get the clothing into cold water as soon as possible.

Never use chlorine bleach to whiten baby clothing. It eats away at the fibers, contributes to environment pollution and irritate your baby's skin. Even a minor skin irritation can make your baby uncomfortable. Instead, use lemons.

Lemons are a natural way to whiten yellowed baby clothing. Fill a pot with water and add a few slices of fresh lemon. Bring the water to a boil. Turn off heat and add baby clothing. Soak clothes for about an hour and then launder as usual.

For extra brightening, spread them out in the sunlight to dry.

Baking soda and club soda make a very powerful stain remover to lighten old, set-in stains. Sprinkle some baking powder and drizzle some club soda over the stain.

Use a soft toothbrush and scrub the stain lightly. Let it set until the paste dries before washing the baby clothes as usual. Let clothes dry naturally.

Avoid commercial fabric softeners when washing baby clothes. Use white vinegar to soften fabric naturally. Add ¼ cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle to keep baby clothes soft and to help clean out detergent residue from the clothing fibers.

You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to each load of wash deodorize and disinfect baby clothes.

Dry baby clothes on a clothes line, if possible. That way, you save a great deal of money on your electric bill and help protect the environment.

You also take advantage of the sun's brightening, drying, and freshening power when you dry baby clothing on an outdoor clothes line.

To avoid stiff diapers, dry them out on the line during early morning or late afternoon hours. Line drying your diapers will also prolong their life.

With these laundry whitening tips for baby clothing in mind, you can be sure that your baby is comfortable and happy in all of his clothes.

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