Sustainability is important to us at Humble Children, and one of the best ways of practicing a sustainable lifestyle is ensuring you make the most of your clothing. This includes buying high quality clothing that is more durable than your average fast fashion piece, but it’s also up to us to maintain quality with proper care. Taking care of children’s clothing is a little bit different to adult clothing, so we’ve put together this easy guide on how to care for children’s clothing. Read on to find out the key differences and considerations to make.
Choose Your Materials Wisely
The easier a material is to take care of, the longer it will last. Look for natural fabrics that are breathable and comfortable to wear, and quick to dry. We recommend organic cotton and linen. They tick all of the boxes of easy maintenance and sustainability. Avoid clothing that comes with special or difficult care instructions. As cute as sequins may be, they are tricky to wash and hard to maintain.
Use A Special Laundry Detergent
Children, especially babies, have extra sensitive skin. Your regular laundry detergent may cause irritation or allergies on their skin. You can avoid this by choosing a detergent that has been specially formulated for babies. Alternatively, you can also switch to an eco-friendly laundry detergent that is made without harsh chemicals or fragrances. We do love going the organic route, as it’s always nice to use products that are gentle on humans and the environment.
Things to look for:
- Non-bio detergent
- The British Skin Foundation logo
- Delicate detergent
- Hand-washing detergent
Treat Stains As Soon As Possible
Being a parent means learning how to act fast. We all know that a child’s outfit can go from spotless to messy in the blink of an eye. Clean and rinse stains as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage. Baby wipes are an excellent solution for on-the-go cleaning if your child has an accident while you’re out (pro tip: they’re also great for treating carpet stains). As always, we recommend eco-friendly wipes made of biodegradable materials like bamboo or you can always make your own with reusable cloths. If you have the luxury of immediately treating a stain at home, leave the garment to soak in cold water for a bit after the initial rinsing. Hot water may permanently set the stain and should be avoided. If it’s a sunny day, you can also leave the dirty garment outside to let the sun naturally bleach the stain.
Try one of these natural solutions for stain removal:
- Baking soda
- Borax
- White distilled vinegar
Invest In A Mesh Laundry Bag
We all know how easy it is to lose small items like socks in the wash. As you can imagine, tiny baby clothes have a high risk factor for laundry loss. A mesh laundry bag is a simple and easy way to make sure your baby’s clothes and accessories stay intact. An eco-friendly laundry bag will also prevent microplastics pollution, so it’s an all-around great laundry tool.
Thoroughly Check Your Garments Before Washing Them
Many of us are guilty of simply throwing things in the wash, especially if it’s a children’s item that’s recently been stained or dirtied. There’s nothing wrong with speed and convenience, but taking an extra second to give your garments a once-over can prevent damage. Verify you are washing at the correct temperature. Make sure any clasps are fastened to avoid snags during the wash. Before putting dry clothes away, get in the habit of doing a quick inspection. A bit of fraying might not seem like a big deal to an adult, but it can cause irritation against a baby’s delicate skin.
Hang To Dry
Tumble-drying is quick and convenient, but it’s not always ideal for long-term clothing care. Heat may cause clothing to shrink and isn’t stain-friendly, plus it eats into your energy bill. Hang to dry clothing as much as possible to maintain the quality and shape of your pieces.
Learn How To Mend Clothing
It might have been a while since the last time you sewed, but we promise that basic mending isn’t hard to pick up. A small sewing kit is an inexpensive yet worthwhile investment that will go a long way. Resewing buttons and small tears will prolong the longevity of your childrens’ clothing, and it really doesn’t take as long as you think.
We hope this guide will make laundry easier for you! Remember, a little bit of extra care goes a long way.
Photography by Miriam Caterina Wahl
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