Washing Silk Items

Because silk is a delicate fabric it should be handled with care. Even though it is fairly easy to clean. Silk has a natural tendency to release dirt quickly so it does not always require dry cleaning

WASHING SILK ITEMS
Gently hand wash silk items in cold water.
Applying a very mild detergent such as Woolite or Dr. Bronner's Baby Soap will help preserve the garments natural oils.
When rinsing the items be sure to do so in cold water until the soap residue is gone. Adding a few drops of hair conditioner to the rinse water will help the silk to stay soft and flexible.
When done rinsing put the fabric in a towel and roll the the towel and the fabric at the same time,DO NOT RING OR TWIST THIS WILL DAMAGE THE MATERIAL.
Hang the wet garment. Let it air dry completely. NOT IN THE SUN THIS WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FABRIC.
IRON ONLY IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!!! If you do iron use a COOL setting and press it with a cloth between the iron and the fabric.

ADDITIONAL TIPS:
Unless the tag on your silk fabric says dry clean only avoid doing so as it will cause certain types of silk to shrink.
You can use lemon or vinegar to spot clean but test an inconspicuous area first for colorfastness.
Avoid using the washing machine to clean your fabric as eve the gentle cycle is too rough for this delicate fabric.
To keep silk from yellowing add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse water. DO NOT USE BLEACH IT WILL DAMAGE THE FIBERS.
Be careful not to let hairspray or perfume get on the silk the alcohol in them will damage the fabric.
If you have hard water you can add a tablespoon of Borax to the water before washing the garment.

Caring for Cotton Garments

Cottons are easily laundered. It can hold up to high temperatures even boiling water.

Any good detergent can be used to wash cotton. Chlorine bleach can also be used on cotton whites and color safe bleach on dyed cottons.

Cotton fabric are now treated with wrinkle resistant finish to they are not susceptible to wrinkles as they were formally.

Higher heat setting is required in the dryer for cotton and it takes much longer to dry that less absorbent fibers.

When ironing cotton use a hot iron.

Basic Stain Removal

Pre-treating is the best way to keep your baby's clothes looking new. Stains that can be difficult to remove such as formulas, diaper accidents, and brightly colored foods, but taking a little extra time to work on the stains before washing can greatly improve the out come. If it is going to be a while before you can get to the stains, try using a paste-type pretreatment that can sit on the fabric for up to a week if necessary. If you are going to wash right away you can use a spray-on stain treatment or laundry additive for most stains.

Should you wash baby's clothes in special detergent?

Many new parents buy special detergents for theirbaby's clothes. Is it necessary to do so? Probably not. It is a personal preference. It can also depend upon family history and any skin reactions after the baby arrives.

The special detergents that are available are usually sent-free and have ingredients that would be imitative to baby's delicate skin. Some of these detergent also have a classic baby scent that most everyone recognizes. If that is some thing that you like that is fine. But some find that the special detergents do not do well in removing stains, so you would probably find that it would be best to use a pretreatment for best results.

Should you wash baby clothes before wearing?

It has been said that one should wash their baby's clothes before wearing. Though it is unlikely that your baby would be seriously harmed by the new unwashed clothing , there can be a possibility of some minor skin irritation or allergic reaction that could make your baby uncomfortable.

Baby's can sometimes become sensitive to the sizing in the clothing. This is a finish that the manufacturers put on new clothes to keep them looking nice in the stores.

Then there is the shipping of clothes which is a messy process and the clothes may possibly have come in contact with different types of Dirt,Bugs, or even Rodents.

So in answer to the question :Should You wash your baby's clothes before wearing them? The answer is Yes. It is a good idea.